Snowboarder Valentine

It's a busy day here, where we've been prepping for the big day tomorrow - I think you know the one. It's Valentine's Day, so Mommy is out buying groceries for a little surprise tomorrow, but also helping Madison create a Valentine's Day box for the other student friends to put cards into.   Madison had piano today, but also her "Live to Give" club after school.  They've been writing things to encourage other students and teachers, and also collect coins for a "wishing well" that benefits charities.  Meanwhile, Madison is also working her yearbook artwork, which is just unexpected, really.  I think it's related to Daddy getting somewhat plugged in, but it just so happens that her artwork is going to be scattered throughout the final yearbook of the school for her.

Lots of driving around today, but it's all good.  We're also setting up for a quick vacation out of here this weekend.  It'll be a super brief trip to Florida, but it will be nice down there, visiting with Nana and Ba-Ba.  

Here below is a little something Daddy is working on for service tomorrow, tying the themes of Valentine's Day with the snowboarding we've been seeing on television thus far.

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HOST:  "Valentine's Day is almost here, and love is in the air.  At least that's what they always say this time of year.  And when we think of the word love, you of course start thinking of hearts, cards, chocolates, flowers and all that mushy stuff.  But real love is a little different than that.  In fact, since it is winter, let's quote our good buddy Olaf, who nails it:"

CUE SLIDE:  "Love is putting someone else's needs before yours."

HOST:  "It's really that simple.  It's what makes Christmas so wonderful, the spirit of giving.  It's what God Himself is so wonderful at:  giving.  And it's what we ourselves should be doing: giving."

HOST:  "Because it's the Olympics, I wanted to share this one video with you about a guy who gave something pretty big.  It was his hair.  But it wasn't just any hair.  This is a snowboarder named Shaun White, who had long red hair and it was all part of his image.  Everyone knew who he was, because of that talent, but also because of that hair.  But one day, he got this idea..."

CUE VIDEO:  "Shaun gets a hair cut"

HOST:  "He got an idea.  Some of you may have done this before.  My daughter Madison has done it too.  This snowboarder donated his hair to a good cause.  When some kids go through cancer treatment, they start to lose their hair.  It happened to my wife a little when she was going through chemotherapy.  Locks of Love is an organization that takes your hair and makes it into a nice wig that you can wear.  Imagine this:  somewhere out there is a kid who is wearing Shaun White's hair!  Olympic gold medal hair!"

HOST:  "That's the simple of definition of what love is.  It's giving of yourself.  Shaun was ready to give up some of his hair.  But some people give a lot more than others, even more than an extreme hair cut.  Let's think about parents, for example."

HOST:  "Did anyone catch the other snowboarder, Chloe Kim?  She's just seventeen, and we were watching her incredible run on the half pipe the other night.  Amazing.  Stunning!  But she's always said she has someone to thank for her gift, someone who showed her what love really is."

CUE VIDEO:  CHLOE'S DAD

HOST:  "Chloe's dad literally quit his job to help her achieve her dreams.  He gave up time to drive her up, and all this money just to get her to competitions.  And did anyone catch how she did?  Let's take a glimpse now!"

CUE VIDEO:  CHLOE'S RUN

HOST:  "She wouldn't have been there if not for her parents.  Her dad showed the kind of love our Heavenly Father shows, because God is always there with us to help us along.  He's there in the morning and the evening, and He's there to encourage us, get us moving, and see us win.  And of course, you have people in your life that are trying to do the same exact thing.  The best thing for you to do right now - especially with Valentine's Day - is remember how everyone I just mentioned here loves you.  How can you show some love back?  We have one idea in just a moment, so let's hold on to that thought."

HOST:  "But before we get there, I have to introduce you to one more snowboarder.  Her name is Kelly Clark, and last night she was at her fifth Olympic Games!  Here she is at her very first:"

CUE VIDEO:  KELLLY CLARK wins GOLD

HOST:  "She's inspired an entire generation of snowboarders, and helps as a mentor for Chloe, someone that Chloe really looks up to.  Consider this:  Kelly Clark has won more than any other snowboarder in the history of the game.

HOST:  "But you know what's printed on her snowboard?  Listen to this quote from an article I found."

HOST:  (reading) "Clark demonstrates her commitment to Christ with a message printed on the topside of her snowboard: “Jesus, I cannot hide my love.”

HOST:  "Here she is with Chloe at one competition.  It was some time ago that Kelly had just been in Chloe's shoes, fresh off a gold medal and just empty inside.  She was struggling.  A fellow snowboarder was praying for her.  Would that be you?"

HOST:  "One fateful day, she was at a competition, and she heard one snowboarder say to another that had fallen, "Hey, it's all right.  God still loves you."

HOST:  "Kelly Clark couldn't get that phrase out of her head:  'God still loves you.'  She went back to her hotel room, and everyone knows there are those little Bibles in the nightstand at a hotel.  But she had no idea where to start in it.  So instead, she went to another snowboarder's room, and knocked on the door.   "I think you may be a Christian," she said, "and I think you need to tell me about God."  She knocked on the right door, didn't she?"

HOST:  "God is knocking on our door right now.  He's wanting to share His incredible love for us.  He gave so much, and all He wants is a relationship with each of us."

HOST:  "You can't give any more than He has.  This Valentine's Day, it's time to stop thinking about love the way the world does.  Love is not just flowers, chocolates, cards and so forth.  Although that stuff is nice, real love is thinking of others before yourself.  It's putting someone else's needs before yourself.  Just like God did for us."

HOST:  "Tonight, we're going to work on a little craft, and I thought it'd be fun to design our own snowboards as well.  But here's the deal:  on the other side, we're going to write a personal note to someone.  That's right, we'll make these snowboards a card.  Write down a note of encouragement or a note of thanks.  It just depends on who you're writing to.  The important thing is thinking of others first."

HOST:  "As a motivation, our judges here are going to give out prizes, just like in the Olympics.  We'll reward the three best designs for the snowboards, but we'll also give out three prizes for the most thoughtful notes.  Now if you want to keep your note a secret, we can work with that.  The important thing is to do it, and put someone else first.  Are you ready?  Let's get going!"