Wonderful Wedding Gift Box- Set This As A Memorial

We are entering the wedding season and I was remembering my daughters' weddings and how important it was to give them something of their father and my hearts.  I realized I wanted something for my children to hold onto and remember how God worked in and throughout their entire lives. I wanted them to have those 'stones' that they could see and remember. I share this with you all today as it is a wonderful gift to give your child. Recently I was reminded of the boxes I did for my girls before they were married, now ten years ago when I saw Tammy at  Cuttlebug Challenge feature on Faith Booking. She will be doing this on the second Saturday each month... be sure to watch for it. How I wished I had known about faith books way back then.

A little Biblical history very condensed...

Before the Isreaelites entered the promise land they had to cross the  river Jordon. God instructed the leaders to place 12 stones in the water representing each of their tribes. After they obeyed the water stood in a heap and they crossed over with the arc of the covenant on dry land (find in Joshua 3). When they had crossed over to the promised land God instructed them to have one man from each tribe take a stone from the Jordan and to place it where they camped that night. Then in the morning they were to take that stone and place it on their shoulder to "serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?'  Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:6-7) Throughout the Bible we are continually reminded of God's greatness and of the everyday people that He puts in peoples lives to help, assist, teach, and mold us.

I want my children to remember how God worked in our lives, of His faithfulness. The times He held us through, the times we cried and laughed and loved. God's word says: "You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well. Deuteronomy 4:9.

The boxes I put together remind them of  God's never ending love, His faithfulness and helps them to remember to trust and turn to God for all their cares.

Above is Heather's box and below how it looked when we opened it. She leaves it in her living room so there is usually a few extra goodies in them that Heather is unaware of. I chuckled as the little ones had added a few important things of their own. Heather has a Christian day care and of course this does sit prominately in her home and many of the children have gone through this with her.

You are looking at the flower girls head piece. I want to add that they received this box at the last session of a 12 week class that our Pastor gives before he married them. Pastor Bob made them go through this entire box together.

I typed notes and Bible passages for them to remind them of what God says is love and our love for them.

Birth photos of Husband and Wife. Our little Heather was a preemie, weighing in at 2lbs 14oz... so her baby photo was a memorial stone in itself. Her photo wasn't even taken until she was 5 weeks old.

Also little moments in our lives that were overwhelming at the time that we now look back at. This dresser is a prime example of one of those moments where my daughter didn't listen to her father. The drawer was broke so he told her to bring it down (her bedroom was upstairs) and he would fix it.... She a new teenager at the time brought the whole dresser down! We have laughed for years over this story and she learned to listen. 

The little crayon in the box is one of those times we prayed... seems our little one pushed a little yellow crayon all the way up her nose and had to be rushed to the emergency room. Mommy and Daddy were at work and did some quick manuevering to get to the hospital in Chicago traffic! This isn't the actual! But she didn't want to tell Pastor or her future hubby what it was!!! She is going to KILL me!

I love seeing little things that the children have stuck in...and there are new things they have added that we didn't place in the box.

This is the 12 page report we put it together after her missions trip to Australia. She spent the summer working with the Aborigines on a banana plantation while her Mom and Dad prayed and prayed!!! The little stinker would send me letter saying she knew she was going to die there... don't you just love teenagers!?!

This is a photo of Heather and her travel buddy Pam on the airplaine to Hong Kong on her second missions trip. Talk about an answer to prayer! My 2 pound baby went on 3 seperate missions trip to share the gosple. 

This was a copy of a portion of the letter explaining these memorial boxes that had a few momentoes of their past and lots of room to grow memories in their futures.

This is Jennifer's box, my eldest. She had a totally different style and the box just fit her and Sam perfectly. When I opened it I couldn't believe all the goodies they had placed in their box over the last 10 years....

I promise I will only share a few just like I only shared a couple of Heathers.... I love the little silver boxes.

This was crammed full of notes and even the tags from their kitty that has gone on to kitty heaven. And yes I do believe we will see our pet again just like I believe I will see family other loved ones.

This is just a little part of a note we placed into the box for Jen. a little too personal so show its entirety.

And I love this little book, all three of my children have one altered to their sex, hair color and personality... I changed the pages to fit them.

And this is Jen's little candle holder and candle is from Pensacola Christian College. She used this when she carried a candle to the alter and dedicated her life to helping others and the nursing field before our Lord. The next year was a disaster for Jen and she left school and entered the working world leaving her education behind. She met Sam, they fell in love and yet she never told him about wanting to become a nurse. That is until this box was opened in Pastor Bob's office. Jen told them with tears in her eyes as her heart was broken that she had not followed through with that promise she made. Sam insisted that she go back to college, she did and graduated with high honors. Today she is a wonderful nurse and doing what she loves.

Jen and I chuckled as we pulled the cassette tape out of one of Pastor Bob's sermons as it had been many years since we handled a cassette.

The headpiece from her wedding and the garter that my friend Judy made for her... Judy hand beaded it and said she said a prayer with every bead she placed on the garter.

See a reminded that she placed in the box.

And one of Sydney's first hats and outfits. The little silver boxes; one contains a lock of hair of Sydney and the other the first few teeth she lost! I really feel it is important for our children to know our hearts and how much we really love them. I believe God gives us our children not only to nuture them but so we have a better understanding of how much He loves us!

Remember God's word says: "You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourselves, and tell your children and grandchildren as well. Deuteronomy 4:9.

I hope you enjoyed todays post... I am not used to sharing such an intimate part of my family and of our hearts. Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement as they continually inspire me.