Following my 70th birthday in Jan of 2005, my four grown children got together and sent me a beautifully hand-decorated box of little slips of paper.
On each little slip of paper was written a Thank-You note for something I'd taught one of them during their early childhood, teenage and young adult years.
There was over 300 little Thank-You notes in the box.
From my oldest daughter and firstborn, I laughed when I read, "Thank you Mother for teaching me that there are other colors besides just red and green". Those were the only two colors she wanted to use in her first coloring book, and dogs, cats, chickens, houses and trees were all either red or green. I remembered sitting down with her one day, and talking about the sky being blue, and some flowers yellow, etc.
From my middle daughter, I laughed when I read, "Thank you Mother for making me wear that dress to Jimmy's birthday party. It got me my first kiss". Sure enough, she'd come home that day from her little friend's birthday party so full of herself. She had a "boyfriend". It lasted 4 days, then it was a new boyfriend. What was special was that first kiss though, and she gave me the credit for it because I wouldn't let her wear her raggedy old blue jeans. (She was my tomboy).
From my youngest daughter, I almost cried when I read, "Thank you Mother. Thank you so much for helping me to save the money for my horse". Her first horse was a 17 hands high jumper and she looked so tiny up there on him, but she wanted that horse so much and I matched her dollar for dollar in order for her to save up enough to buy him.
And from my youngest child, a son, I cracked up laughing when I read, "Thank you Mother for showing me 1573 times how to tie my shoes".
Everything they could think of that I'd taught or helped them with was written separately on a little "Thank-You" note. It took hours for me to read them all, and for all the laughing and crying and talking about each one... but I'll say this. It was the most wonderful gift I've ever gotten in my whole entire life.
That pretty little box is my most precious treasure, more than any diamonds or gold or rubies worth millions of dollars. If this house were to catch on fire, (God forbid), I'd grab my kitty cat and that little box and hit the door.
As far as I'm concerned, I've been given everything I'll need now for the rest of my life.
I just wish I'd thought to do that for my Mother. I have so many things to thank her for.
Source: My four children.
By Julia from Boca Raton, FL
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Why pay for expensive greeting cards, when you can make your own? I make a design and make copies of it to paste on the cards. It's quick and easy and has a nice homemade touch.
I love the little surprise of a pop up card. This particular one is a thank you card. You could also hold the item that you are thanking the person for, in the picture. Alternatively, you could turn this into any kind of card. The sky's the limit!
A great idea for grandma or teacher. Make printed thank you notes out of art work. Choose colors of ink that work together; I'd limit it to two.
I came up with this idea. I let my two year old loose with a bucket of acrylic paints (you can use any paints you want) and a pad of newsprint paper. Construction paper works as well....
