Bound, determined and ready to deck the halls for the holidays this year, I dug out our Christmas decorations just after Thanksgiving; two enormous plastic containers buried under a box of clothes Lucas has outgrown, two boxes of books and a duffel bag full of tools.
It has been four years since we’ve decorated our home for the holidays. You can read why here (!).
As I carefully unwrapped each ornament, it was like seeing long lost friends for the first time in far too long. My mind flooded back to the time and place I had been given or purchased the ornament and my heart smiled; a small wooden Pinocchio from our trip to Florence, several miniature Eiffel Towers, a porcelain rocking horse and my alma mater mascot.
I laid all the decorations out on the guest bed and put a stack of flattened tissue paper back inside one of the containers. In doing so, I found a plastic bag containing a beautiful holiday table cloth my mother had given me. I pulled the table cloth out of the bag, shook in out and in the folds discovered something that had been missing for almost 10 years: a stocking handmade by my grandmother when I was six months old.
I swore my mom had it packed away with her holiday treasures and she was adamant I had it in mine.
All this time, she was right.
I wanted so badly to pick up the phone in that moment and call her and tell her I had found it.
My mother died four years ago so that’s a phone call I’ll never be able to make. Somehow though, I think she knows. She has always known.
We put up our tree last weekend and hung the stocking from the fireplace mantle with care.
This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt 1.) Have you decorated your Christmas tree? Share a favorite Christmas ornament.
Natalie (Mommy of a Monster) and I want to see your children’s photos with Santa , so link up to our Santa Photos 2011. There are some awesome prizes to win!
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So amazing, to have found this treasure after all this time. I think you were meant to find it this year, to show you that it was time for the decorating again.
xoxo
What a wonderful surprise! It sounds like it is right where it belongs.
That just brought tears to my eyes. Your mom knows–she knows for sure.
Goosebumps.
What a fabulous holiday surprise.
Of course she knows. And I am so happy you found that this year 🙂
I’m sure she knows too… and now it’s right where it’s supposed to be!
Without a doubt she knows. So glad you found it this year. 🙂
What a beautiful find for you Tonya. Although you can’t call your mom I’m sure she knows you found it.
Oh. This stopped me. Whew. I can’t imagine how hard it is to not be able to just pick up the phone and hear her voice..laugh about she was right all along. *tears*.although I am so happy you founs that stocking..that looks exactly like theone my godmother made for me for my first Christmas. Another kinship between us. Xoxo
Thanks the sweetest stocking I have ever seen : ) I’m sure your Mom knows you have found it. I too believe it’s a sign! XOXO
What a beautiful treasure to find! Its like an early Christmas present =). Hope you have a blessed Christmas.
It’s beautiful and I’m so glad you found it…but which grandmother made it?
I’m so glad that you found your stocking. Mom knows too. 🙂 XOXO