Anyway, when Kelli took me aside she explained all of this to me and then basically said she would like to give the collection to a good home....my home. I must say I was speechless at the the time and did not know what to say. I told Kelli I would sleep on it and give her an answer in the morning before we left for Alabama. Actually I knew what I really wanted to do was say no, in part because I had just recently put away my own collection from my formal livingroom and had turned the space into a scraproom. I felt at the time that I could not take on such a big responsibility. I also knew that this would be a great sacrifice to Kelli ( I could see it in her face, and I worried that one day she would regret turning them over to me ). That night I sent up a special prayer to God to please tell me what would be the best way to turn down her kind offer in a way that would not cause stress or discord in this friendship we had formed over the years. That night God spoke to me and said not to turn down the offer, but to except the gift as it was given.
The next morning I got up and when the opportunity came up I told Kelli I would be honored to be the keeper of her daughter's treasures. I had made up in my mind that I would not take them all ( she had actually handed me a very large container full of dolls ), instead Nicki and I picked out one to represent each of the girls and one to represent Kelli. Then Nicki chose one for herself and for Quisha who was not with us on this visit. I also picked out one for my
Aunt who first got me started collecting dolls ( weeks later Kelli and my Aunt would talk on the phone together, so touched was my Aunt by her kind gesture). I told Kelli that she should keep the remaining dolls and give them to volunteers who have come in from time to time to help with the girls. I also made her promise me that she would keep the one doll that was not porcelain , but that was an angel.
Marlee Anne even chose a doll to keep.
When I left that day I knew my family had been given a very precious treasure...and believe me it was not the box of beautiful porcelain dolls that sat in my car. Kelli, these pictures are for you. Mary Elizabeth's dolls now sit at my family table ( one day they along with my own dolls will have a room of their own...but in the meantime I can look at them each day when I leave out of the door, or when I am in my scraproom I can peep at them across the hall). The littlest angel has a special place in my room between my two favorite dolls ( notice the colors ? Sorry she doesn't have blond hair, but you get the picture). Thank you Kelli for the most valuable gift anyone could ever give....the gift of friendship. Love you my friend...........Cyndi
The poor groom...hope he makes it through the weekend.
The bride knee deep in flowers and fish.
Yes folks, he rises to live another day ( well, to at least help with the fish). I actually feel sorry for our groom...he has to contend with a house full of women on a mission (lol).
