I don’t know why I didn’t write about this before now regardless I have a story for you…

My sister made me a Christmas present a few years ago, when my kids were still just babies, that I have treasured ever since and will continue to love as the years go by. One of the many many things that I love about my sister is that she makes so many of the gifts she gives to her friends and family so you know that there was thought and time and love behind it.
She made me a board.
I know. Pretty fancy hey? But this board has a hook on the back of it so I can hang it on the wall. And it has little lines and numbers down the length of it so I can always remember how to count from 1 to 5. It also is covered with messy hand and footprints. It is a very special board. I have continued her work in adding my own lines and numbers to the board a couple times a year and sometimes I even write words on it. Really small though because I wouldn’t want to wreck the board.
If I were to get rid of every article of furniture and bulky item in my possession I would find room under the seat of my car or van or what have you for this board it is that special. It has my name on it. My sisters name too. And the name of both of my kids. Lots of times. And a bunch of dates with marks of how high on the board they reached on that date. It is a growth chart and is the coolest, simplest gift I ever got. She made it with a fancy 4×6 board, stained it darker (to make it extra nice) and then carefully drew marks for the inches on it (yeah it is in feet and inches). Then she invited my very small children into the basement of my mothers house and secretly painted their hands and feet. I can just imagine how this might have gone all those years ago… They stamped their hands and feet in the perfect spots on this board to make it that irreplaceable family heirloom it has and will continue to become.
I don’t know why I wrote about this now or why I haven’t until now. But thank you Nicole for that gift. It is one that we continue to treasure and maybe will inspire another family to create one of their own.