Happy Friday lovebugs!

I so hope that you have found a lot to be inspired by this week and so far throughout the project!  If you’re just finding us you can find the background and details in Day One or Day Eleven.  I have to say I’ve been so excited to hear the wonderful feedback about the project in both digital and paper scrapbooking circles!  I know there are some playing along with both the templates and prompts and others just with the prompts…and Crystal and I are so encouraged by the stories we see being shared!  Seriously some of the most beautiful pages are emerging as you all work through these prompts.

So let’s dive in to today.  We’ve had a few heavy prompts this week as we reflect on our own (sometimes) bad behaviors and attitudes and how we can improve ourselves.  Yesterday we got to share (and gush) about our loved ones and the things they love. Today’s prompt is another really wonderful “act” prompt — where we encourage you to try something in a tangible way in your lives.  Let’s take a look:

So maybe this sounds a little cheesy to you, or maybe you are thinking this is kinda weird and uncomfortable, or maybe you already go out of your way to greet your spouse in a special way when you see them so this seems like “no big deal”.  But I will share that both Crystal and I have found that this little action — of really giving our spouse our undivided and sincere attention when we greet them — has made an impact in our relationships in ways we may not have thought mattered before.  I know my husband really appreciates this gesture..I can read it on his face and in his demeanor.

The idea is to make a conscious effort to greet your spouse with warmth (at the door perhaps with a kiss and a hug and a welcome home or a “good morning” with a cup of coffee).  Remember when you were courting and you couldn’t wait to see your loved one again after a parting?  And when you did see him you beamed and you greeted him as though you couldn’t wait for that moment?  That’s what we’re talking about here, at least to a certain degree.  Because since then, it’s probably been easy for life, kids, work, responsibilities to kind of make those little moments seem wholly unimportant.

I know that I hadn’t really thought about it much until Crystal and I were challenged to try this.  I used to be busy with our daughter, making dinner, or on the computer working on something and many times my husband would walk in the door and we’d just say “hey!” to each other from afar.  Then, when I consciously thought about my greeting him, I made a point of letting him know just how pleased we were to see him.  And he felt respected in a way, and home felt warmer.  He knew that he mattered to us..more than the puzzle or drawing we were working on, the show we were watching, the page we were scrapping or whatever it may be.

It seems a little thing or maybe a little unnatural or contrived, but I think you’ll see greeting with authenticity will be a little thing that can go a long way.  And this works just as well when you are the one doing the “coming home”…if the first thing you do when you walk in the door isn’t to go and give a special warm greeting to your spouse, try it.

As always, if you’re not feeling it, you could simply scrap about the little kindnesses that go a long way in telling a loved one you care.  In a general sense.  Ultimately it’s about what’s comfortable to you.  We hope you’ll have fun with this one.

Here’s my page…again I went with photoless.  I’ve found for some reason that I’m driven to let my words be central lately and so that’s the direction I went with here as well.  Feel free to scrap a special welcome home photo or in any way you feel inspired.

Hope you all enjoy acting and reflecting on the little kindnesses or more specifically the greetings.

Also, I wanted to offer a little encouragement to everyone who has been playing along and remind you not to stress too too much about the pace…the single most important thing is that you happy and proud of your process and your pages in the end, as you create pages and tell your story, reflect on everything.  And don’t forget if you’re playing along for the giveaways, we will be giving you ten days or so at the conclusion of the project to finish up your pages.  But anyone is more than welcome (and we’d love it so much actually!) if you continue to play along no matter what pace you take.  ♥

There are some really wonderful and fun prompts ahead for next week…the final week of Grow With Love that Crystal and I can’t wait to share with you!  So be sure to swing by Crystal’s blog on Monday for the start of Week Four with Day Sixteen. Until then we hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Happy Scrapping and Happy Growing!!