Fruit Inspection

A few weeks back I was visiting my parents and my Mom gave me an envelope and the instructions “do not open this until you get home”. So I stuck it in my purse and then forgot about it. But just for a little while. When I remembered, I hurried to open it up, anxious to see what it could be.

Inside I found a cute little note card and a letter. In the letter she explained that she would like to give me “the gift of time”. Is there a better gift to give a stay at home mom of 2 tots??? I think not. She went on to say that she would like to come over one evening and after the kids go to bed, we could work on our scrapbooks together. The next morning she would get up with the youngsters and I could either sleep in or get right back to work on my cropping. She offered to stay THE ENTIRE DAY, taking care of the kids and even cooking dinner for my family, before going home to my Dad.

I know…are you speechless too?

Well, yesterday was my day. And let me tell you…it was fantastic!!! I’ve had a stack of albums sitting next to my computer for months, yes MONTHS, that only needed the finishing touches. Mostly journalling, but some just needed a photo cropped in or I had to print an extra picture to complete the page. All that got done yesterday.

Plus I was able to work on Jeremy’s work albums. I am so glad I have kept up with those. It was really fun looking back through them, beginning when we first went into business in 2001. This week I had taken some more pictures of subdivision entrances and new house plans we tried this year. I downloaded those yesterday too, and will be able to put them in the book quickly after I pick ’em up from Target.

But the project I wanted to finish up the most was the one for my housekeeper, Marina. Do you remember her story from last fall? If not, you should read it now. It’s very touching. Go ahead…I’ll wait…

Okay, now that you know how precious she is, you know why I really wanted to get this done for her. She let me have those pictures she brought to my house that day in hopes that I could put them in a frame for her with the note her daughter wrote. Since that time I have been racking my brain trying to come up with something special. Something more than just photo’s mounted behind a frame.

Over the past few months I have probed her for information about Priscilla and also asked her if she had any more of her daughter’s items. She found a locket of hair, a rosary, and a soft, small pouch with an angel on the front. When I opened it up and saw the contents, it made me cry.

Inside were several little note cards. On each card was a prayer. All of them were handwritten and signed by family and friends, apparently while Priscilla was in intensive care. They were so heartfelt. So sincere.

I ended up doing a shadow box. I cropped the photos and mounted them to cardstock, along with Priscilla’s note to her Mom. I mounted the rosary and angel pouch directly to the backing, then wrote her stats on vellum and attached the locket of hair with a bow to the top. Finally I added a bible verse and heart stickers. I think she’s really going to love it.