Church Library Builder With Hearts

Years ago the local Christian Supply Centers joined a program whereby people would "earn" a stamp worth 5 cents for every dollar they spent in the stores. They would save the stamps in a special "book" and, when it was full, their church could redeem it for free books for their libraries!

I found this partially filled out Savings Stamp Book in a drawer of clippings and miscellaneous papers that mom asked me to help clean out.

While this was a wonderful program, and an interesting piece of ephemera, my REAL thrill came when I realized I finally found some of mom's "41 heart" doodles!!!

Let me explain about the "41 heart" doodles ... ever since I can remember, my mom would draw the number 41 with a heart around it. On church bulletins, on little bits and pieces of paper ... while she was talking on the phone, while she was in the mood to doodle. I remember when I was maybe 10 years old I asked her "why". I remember her answer distinctly. She said, with all of her motherly authority "something very BIG and SPECIAL is going to happen on my 41st birthday."

Mom's 41st birthday fell on Sunday, May 18th, 1980.
Does that date sound vaguely familiar?
It is the day Mt. St. Helens in Washington state erupted.
We drove to the top of the hill behind our house and watched it - in stunned disbelief.

And told mom she was NEVER to doodle again!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

To see other fun things found and scanned, visit Al's "Sunday Scans" - this monthly link is closed for October - but November will be here soon - and we want to see what you have scanned!!!