A Box of Love Arrived In The Mail From a Sweet Blog Friend

     When Karen @ Some Days Are Diamonds said she was having a blog swap for the Bloggerette Sorority I decided to give it a try. I have to admit that I didn't really think about the fact that I would have to MAKE SOMETHING and also DECORATE SOMETHING to hold the other things. You see I know my limitations. I cook, I can do pretty amazing things with flowers, bows and Christmas trees...but put scissors, glue, paint or glitter in my hands and I function at about the level of a 5-year-old. Needless to say, when told to get a vintage cigar box and decorate it and fill it with treasures, one of which to be homemade...I freaked out. I am not a quitter, so I did the best I could with my very limited skills. I got lucky. My secret swap partner was Sherry @ Country Wings In Phoenix. If you know Sherry, you know that she is the sweetest person you will ever meet. I knew that even if I failed, she would still find the positive in my efforts. What I didn't know, was that Sherry also had my name.

     Our exchange was supposed to be written about on October 30th. I was going to be in Florida, so Sherry waited to send my box until I got home. It arrived Friday and I can't begin to tell you what a thoughtful and wonderful gift she sent me. I opened the mailing box to find a few wonderful treasures before I even got to my actual swap gift. Then, I saw the box. I was in awe of the gorgeous sparkly top. The shell and mermaid, so perfect for my love of the sea..."I Need Mom" in letters on the top, such a great idea. The vintage key looked perfect in the corner. The detail was wonderful and I really wanted to call Sherry and tell her to send back what I made and I would start over!

Then I opened the box...and the tears began.

     At first I couldn't even process how she did it. How could she have these pictures of my parents? Then I remembered that I posted my parent's wedding pictures while going through my mother's things this summer. As most of you know, this year has been all about my parents for me. I have been on a 6 month roller coaster and to think that Sherry would even think to make me something that is a tribute to the love my parents shared leaves me speechless.

     I don't want to ignore all of the fun things inside the box. A darling necklace with my initial made from a domino. How do people make such cute things? Do you see the sweet little angel on the chain?

     Wonderful homemade soap, wax melts that smell like wedding cake (to go with my parent's wedding picture), a wonderful witch tassel for my almost Halloween birthday, a cute PEZ pumpkin, cookie cutter, cupcake ornament and kleenix...don't you just love it? Each and every item a treasure.

     I really don't have the words to express how touched I am that someone I've never met put so much thought into each detail and made something so perfect for me. She told me that the key on the top was to hold the secrets that I shared with my mom and that the box could hold treasures from my parents. I think the real treasure is Sherry. Thank you Sherry for sending me such a wonderful gift. I will treasure it, and you, always.