In October, my daughter and her boyfriend came for a visit on my birthday. It was so good to see them because since they live near Austin, I don’t drive to see them often.

My daughter always spends the first few minutes of every visit, walking through the house eyeing the familiar things that have been with us for years, but she’s also looking for subtle changes that have been made. I enjoy moving things around and try sticking to the rule of minimalists everywhere by moving something out when bringing something new in, but no matter what changes are made, she tells me this house always feels and smells like home.

She walked by an area where my lip balm usually sits and noticed it wasn’t the brand I normally use. For years I’ve ordered lotion and lip balm from a lavender farm in Ohio called, “Onederings”, but had let myself run out of both products. When I order the lip balm it comes as a set of three, so I’d always give one to my daughter, keep one for myself and place the extra one in the bathroom cabinet for whoever needs it first. I had made a note to place an order the next time I got paid, but am glad the order was delayed after hearing what my daughter said.

She was distraught that she was out of Onederings lip balm and had resorted to using one our Dentist provides. I had done the same thing and she had seen the lip balm from our Dentist sitting where our favorite usually sits. I shared in her sadness and confessed that I was out of it too, but would order more. She shared that she hadn’t found another one that compares to the quality of our favored one and I agreed. When I placed the order, I ordered two 3-packs.

Giving my daughter her own 3-pack seems like such a small thing, but it warmed my heart. When we think of leaving a legacy for our children, we often think it needs to be remarkable, or add financial stability, but maybe it’s the little ways they see us live our life, so once they’re on their own they know the little things matter. A 3-pack of the lavender lip balm costs $12.00, but without it there’s a void. The moments in life worth remembering, become our legacy.