Winter

Winter

Monday, April 23, 2012

Small Treasures

My sister lives in my parents house. In Oklahoma. We live in California. We haven't cleaned out the house. My sister decided she would do it since she is going to stay back there. She sent me some things she thought I would like and today I got the box. One of the things I will admit to you, is I am a very emotional person. I am a crier. A Hallmark ad or a something sad, it doesn't even have to be sad, I cry over happy things too. I hate it about myself more than you can possibly know. Today I got the box, I stared at it. I didn't want to open it. My daughter came in and we opened it together.

Here are some things that were in it.

 Little tiny medicine bottles. She wanted to send things to put on the shelf that my husband made for me.

A little tiny salt and pepper shaker. I thought it was really cute.

A little tiny oil lamp that hangs on the wall. I love that it is cobalt blue. I wish I used oil lamps sometime. I love to watch them flicker.

She sent me a hen on the nest. This one is made of Carnival Glass. My Mom had three, so she asked which one I wanted and I told her to pick one for me. I think it is so cute.


 

Then she sent this too. Just a tiny little house for my shelf. She found in the things she was going through a letter sent to me in January 1969 It seems that I sent my Grandpa a thank you letter for the Christmas presents he sent that year and he wrote me back and sent a picture. Why my parents kept it I don't know but I was so thankful to receive it today. It made me remember that I was living a normal happy life and nine months later, my Mom would be gone and my life as I knew it would be forever changed. My sister also sent a notebook filled with my birth Mom's handwriting. Do you know that since she died when I was eleven I have wanted something with her handwriting. Anything at all. I opened today, and to see her handwriting. It was like receiving a gift I have longed for all of my life. So deep has been the longing even after all of these years, for one more touch. To see her handwriting helped me just a bit. To put back a missing piece in my life.
I think this poems says it the best of how I feel when God allows things I don't understand.


~Kim~ 
 
 



My life is but a weaving Between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily.
Oft-times He weaveth sorrow,
And I, in foolish pride
forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful,
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern he has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares -
Nothing this truth can dim;
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.

26 comments:

Meg said...

I am so glad you got that package today. I have been thinking about you all weekend hoping it would be a good package when you got it. I think it is just the best thing that you got that notebook.

Kessie said...

Oh man. What awesome treasures, especially the notebook and the letter. But the medicine bottles and the lantern! They're all so wonderful!

TexWisGirl said...

oh, kim. you made me cry. i don't know how you managed to put this post together.

Alica said...

What a treasure box...and what a wonderful sister to pick those things out, just for you!

Florence said...

What a beautiful gift to receive the gift of one's hand writing, a part of the person's essence! You have been blessed. Hugs! Florence

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I am also a crier. So it is not unusual that I have tears in my eyes reading about your beloved mother's handwriting. I'm so happy for you.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

What a treasure trove ... and how special that you got something you've been longing for. What a blessing!

I have a nesting hen of my grandmother's ... made of milk glass. I can't wait to see all this on your shelf.

Debbie said...

Oh Kim, SUCH treasures. How wonderful to get it all, but especially that letter with your mother's handwriting. I am soo happy for you. And your tender heart that makes you a crier is a blessing to all those around you. Hope you have a good day!

Sue said...

I am a crier too, Kim, and I am crying joyful tears as I read this precious post, I am also thinking of how gracious God is in giving us the desires of our heart. Reading this just blesses my heart so, because I am such a sentimentalist. To have such treasures, especially having your mother's handwritten notebook is indeed placing the puzzle of your life together. This is one reason I still write in a hand written journal. I also have one of those hen in a nest mine is clear glass. Enjoy this day and your treasures.
Hugs,
Sue

Empty Nester said...

Your sister is so sweet- she chose some very nice things for your shelf! Are we going to get a picture when you have placed them in their very own spots? Another thing similar between us- the crier thing. I hate it too but I am. I can cry over an injustice against a person or an animal on the evening news, those Hallmark ads KILL me, a sentimental movie, a look through our scrapbooks, a pop up memory of my grandparents...you name, I either have or will cry over it.

Debbie said...

goosebumps kim, you are so lucky to have those precious items. we need to connect with and remember our past, all of our family members, it's so important.

i only have one item from my grandmother and i will treasure it always. xo

Julia said...

Wow Kim, what a touching post today. I'm glad that you finally got something from your mom that means so much to you.

I can't imagine loosing my mom so young. It must have been so tragic.

I've been behind leaving comments and have managed leaving a few here and there yesterday so I'm glad catching up with you. I've been dealing with an injured older calf who got herself wedged badly in a place where she couldn't move and was in a bad position and had to be rescued by cutting bars from the top to the bottom. It took my husband and I about an hour to get her out.

The rain has finally stopped. I love your header. No weeds and beautiful straight rectangles of soil awaiting the seeds.

I hope that you have a great week with nice weather.
Hugs

Julia

WhiteWhispers2u said...

It's so hard to go through your parents or even grandparents things.I have had to go through my Dad's, Grandma's and Aunt's things and I had less than about 4 hours to do so.They were all in a storage unit and we had to empty it and take what we wanted and part with what we didn't want in a matter of seconds looking at them.My Dad chose a friend to be the Estate holder due to my sister,brother and I all have different Mothers he felt it was best.So we had no control over it.I did get a few nice things but also wished I had kept a few other things as well.
Love the Hen on the nest my Mom always had these growing up to and I too have a few oil lanterns and I have used mine but very carefully.They do kind of smell.It's all very emotional isn't it!
Love all the farming and flowers you always show us.Thanks for the visit~Cheers Kim

Ellen said...

Well Kim, I guess I'm an emotional crier too. I'm reading your post and the tears are flowing. I lost my mother 25 years ago and there is nothing I like better than seeing her handwriting. I have several books of hers which she had written in. I will never part with them. Every bit of the contents of your box was amazing. I know you will certainly cherish it.

Anonymous said...

What a nice post, and what wonderful treasures!
Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed each item and picture.

Anonymous said...

What a nice post, and what wonderful treasures!
Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed each item and picture.

Anonymous said...

What a nice post, and what wonderful treasures!
Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed each item and picture.

Nellie said...

What wonderful treasures you have received! Actual handwriting from your mother is very special!

Miss Debbie said...

Those are wonderful treasures!I have some recipes in my mom's handwriting and some birthday cards she signed. So, I know just what you mean. What a sweet gift from God to you!:-)

Christine said...

Kim, I'm in tears just reading this post. Thank you for sharing your heart, so special.
I'm so glad you know the blessedness of God's help through the years.
BTW thanks for asking about the wrist. The hard cast is off and I hope to get good movement in it soon.

Kim said...

Aww Kim, I opened every one of those treasures like I was right by your side. (I'm a cryer too). I know exactly how you felt looking at that hand writing. I saved my grandma's last christmas shopping list and I cherish it. What a wonderful and emotional day for you.
Big hugs, Kim

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh sweetie, I pray those small treasures fill the hole in your heart. I can't imagine how blessed ya feel readin' the words your mother wrote. I'm so happy your sis sent you a treasure box!!!

I've got a feelin' she needed to add a box of tissues!

Have a blessed and beautiful day sweetie!!! :o)

myletterstoemily said...

whoa, now i need some kleenex. this is such a beautiful
post about love and family connections. every item was
full of sweet memories.

Will and Tracy said...

Kim I have been on pins and needles waiting for you to get the box. When I discovered Momma's handwriting I stood holding my breath and my hands shook. I too felt a puzzle piece snap into place. I put it in the box as a surprise because I love you and knew you needed to hold it too and that you would treasure it. Will you show it to Allan please? I am your sister but am not a crier; however I cried reading your lovely post. I love you so much. I wanted to call you all day yesterday and today. This was the best though.

Will and Tracy said...

Kim I have been on pins and needles waiting for you to get the box. When I discovered Momma's handwriting I stood holding my breath and my hands shook. I too felt a puzzle piece snap into place. I put it in the box as a surprise because I love you and knew you needed to hold it too and that you would treasure it. Will you show it to Allan please? I am your sister but am not a crier; however I cried reading your lovely post. I love you so much. I wanted to call you all day yesterday and today. This was the best though.

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

Beautiful. I can so empathize, as you know. Losing a parent as a young child is one of the hardest things. I'm very glad for you to have those pieces of your mom. I really appreciate your prayers for me this past week. I needed them so.
Blessings to you,
Courtney