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Wednesday, August 23, 2006

grow.strong

oh where to begin?...

what is today, wednesday? then it was monday when i came home to a package. i had been expecting it.

when i saw this appear, i so wanted it for the big bug and decided it would be an end-of-summer / back-to-school / almost 5 gift. it seemed perfect for her. summing up a lot we have been thinking about in our house these past months. "take care of a piece of the earth". i carefully opened the package to find not one, but four enclosed. and one was for me! i stashed the gifts for the girls into the cupboard and carefully opened mine. i was so pleasantly surprised to find this

by.shanna

with a beautiful inscription on the back.

i met shanna through her blog. her mom passed away on the 4 year anniversary of my own dad's death. it rang loudly for me. her words rekindling all i went through those short years ago. all i still go through. although i didn't know her i felt a connection.

the more i came to know her through her blog and email, the more i learned of her generosity of spirit and love for the world. her strength gave her the courage to go after her dreams. i admire that greatly. i admire her greatly.

the painting will hang in my office - when it is renovated. but for now hangs outside our bedroom door. where i will look at it everyday. where it will remind me of all i want to be. of the kindness of someone i am beginning to know. of new friendships. and of the gifts my dad gave me. be kind. smile at people you pass by. always lend a helping hand.

and then there was a message from shanna yesterday. concern that em's smock may not fit. so i pulled it off the high shelf and let the bug try it on. it fit perfectly. it is so beautifully made. and she refused to take it off. wearing it again today. ("mama, i want to wear the 'grow strong' dress again that someone made for me.")

grow.strong

i should add about the other 2 bits in the package, that shanna also included a little something for the little bug. as well as a birthday gift that i will save for em's day...

oh grow strong...

thank you so much shanna...

smocked.by.weetrees

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's just lovely on her.

(You are good peeps.)

Mama Urchin said...

I always love reading your blog and you always send us to the most wonderful places. Especially, it's nice to see glimpses of your lovely little ones. Katrina often asks me about the j-bugs as we call you guys. I'll be showing her these photos.

Anonymous said...

ah yes... made for her :)

it is a wonder that there are these sorts of 'fit like a glove' relationships forged through our blogs.

Anonymous said...

What a perfect little dress. "Grow strong"...don't we all want that for our little ones? I would want to wear the dress every day too...

Anonymous said...

You capture the gorgeousness of Shanna's jumper so well Tracy, I gasped when I saw it. Lucky you! Lucky Bug!

Anonymous said...

I had admired that jumper myself -- so fun to see it on a little girl that loves it! What a thoughtful package of gifts...

Anonymous said...

What nice post; it is a perfect gift.

jessica said...

beautiful. it looks lovely on her.

Tracy said...

thanks all. i know i have a tendancy to get a little touchy feely gushy sometimes. but that is me. (ok, i'd say i'm gushy-lite, but i do gush!) thanks for putting up with it!

these people (i was going to say blog, but it is people really) connections - we are so lucky!

shari said...

such a beautiful post tracy. i love the dress and i'm so glad that big bug loves it too.