LOVE: FEBRUARY 2022

His love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12

As I have done the work of putting this collection together, my thoughts keep taking me back to my grandmothers. One will be 98 on February 13th and the other has been in heaven for the last fifteen years.

There is something special about the ways my grandmas have loved me. It feels unconditional, sweet and tender. They showed me love through the little things they did, like always having milk and Oreos on hand, allowing me to play with her rings and trace the veins on her hands as she sat next to me in church, and even making me mashed potatoes for breakfast, once, when we were only making the briefest of overnight visits. They have always greeted me with joy - a smile and a hug no matter how long it has been since we saw each other last. My Grandma Benson signed her cards, “love you oodles!” and my Grandma Drake would often sing “I love you, a bushel and a peck."

These little actions and remembrances have shaped me. They have helped me to know that I was cared for and to feel valued. They were and are a building block in the legacy I get to share with the people in my life and also a building block in God's kingdom.

These little things are so big. They matter. These little things are what love looks like. This love is what Jesus looks like.

His love - and our ability to be his love in this world - are at the heart of this collection.

More than anything, I want this collection to go out into the world and make his love known.

This collection has been intentionally designed to include a lot of small, affordable pieces that can be easily shared as tokens of love and also easily placed in your world as a reminder of God’s great love to you.