A gift from Grandma

In case you missed my Saturday post, go back and take a look! My hubby and I aren't big on getting gifts for each other, but about once a year for one of the gift-giving holidays, we tend to get each other one big doozie. Given that I turned 30 this year AND its our five year anniversary AND our anniversary falls just after Mother's Day, I took the liberty of making gift giving easier for Jay and told him exactly what I wanted as a joint gift for all three. And he did a very good job following that, um, suggestion. It really is beautiful.

We really had no big plans for Mother's Day. My own Mom works in a restaurant on holidays and other than Jay making me breakfast, it was a pretty "go with the flow" kind of day. (Exactly the kind of day I love.) So when my Aunt suggested we get together so my Grandpa wouldn't have to be alone for Mother's Day so soon after Grandma's passing, we thought it was a great idea. (This also left Jay alone in the house to get some schoolwork done.)

After lunch, most of us were all sitting around in the living room. My Aunts (there are four of them) came in with five little boxes.

"OK, girls. Gift time. Grandma wanted each of her Granddaughters to have a piece of her jewelry after she was gone." And at that she handed each of us girls a little box. Kari's was an emerald ring, Rachelle's was a ring made from the diamonds from Grandma's original wedding ring, Maggie got an opal and Suze had to work so I'm not entirely certain what she got, but some ring of Grandma's. This was my treasure:


This was a necklace my Grandma got for her First Communion, probably around 1940. I cried.

It's beautiful, but I don't know if I'll ever wear it. Maybe when my children get married. I'm too afraid I'll lose it. My Grandma's family were poor farmers. For her to get a gift like this was very special, and the fact that she still had it 65+ years later, even more special.

My Aunt leaned in close. "Grandma specifically told me weeks ago that she wanted you to have this."

There aren't many pictures of us kids growing up. All that is left of the four of us fits inside a single shoebox. Many moves and evictions and a stint being homeless will do that.

Its funny - I don't own much fine jewelry, but here, in three days, I have two new pieces. One representing my future with my own family, the other my past and the roots that make me who I am.