My Favorite Just Because

My favorite types of gifts are not for any particular occasion.  Christmas and Birthday gifts are wonderful, but expected .  This is why I love the "just-because- gifts" best of all, typically thoughtful, usually unique and always a surprise.  I am incredibly fortunate that one of my closest friends is the best just-becauser I know. Innocently enough, we were invited over to her house for pizza and there waiting for me was my new favorite just-because. She surprised me with this lovely succulent and a very special book.

The succulent is so sweet, but this book is perfect.  I haven't been able to take my eyes off of it since she gave it to me.  Every time I crack it open my heart turns to mush, I get a lump in my throat and I ever so gently trace the photos with my fingers, convinced I can feel their energy this way.  It is full of photos of children from the past, the 1800's to the mid 1970's, all different cultures, races, walks of life and ages.  Every photograph evokes some type of emotion: happiness, joy, sadness, love, nostalgia, compassion, etc.  It is touching.  Mr. French said it best:

"Children remind us of how much we have in common instead of focusing, as adults, on our differences."

I think this is particularly fitting in times such as these.