Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Turning thoughts toward home and hearts to God

Showing posts with label Bristol England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bristol England. Show all posts

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Lila's Gift


I never knew my maternal grandmother, Lila Louise.
She died when my own mother was just a young girl.

She was born in Bristol, England
where she met and married my grandfather, John.

Old records show that their families were neighbors.



After their marriage they immigrated to Canada, 
where my grandfather attended seminary,
and shortly after they came to America.




I have a few treasures that were Lila's,
passed down from my mother

Her watch


I keep it in the china cupboard 
in a watch case.  My mother wore it, but I don't.

A colbalt blue perfume bottle.
Bristol is known for it's cobalt glass.
There's still a trace of perfume in the bottle


A Weller vase



And an amethyst and mother-of-pearl
locket that my mother wore most of the time.


My mother told me more than once
that she "never got over" the loss of her mother.

And this.

  

A legacy in the form of 
a heart-shaped basket with a message on top

that speaks of inner strenght,
commitment and brave decisions ~



of leaving behind family, friends, and
everything familiar
for a call to a new beginning


It's tattered and fragile

 
but to me it's more than a keepsake;
it's my inheritance.

Worth more to me than diamonds and gold;
it's an intangible gift passed 
from generation to generation


Each time I study it
I'm inspired and encouraged all over again.
 

And it's my Valentine gift to you ~  xo



Counting my blessings,

Susy


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