Remembered Blessings: The Christmas Present

Dad liked giving gifts to Mom. In the last years when he was unable to go out anymore it was my job to search for the gift that he had in mind. I would also pick out birthday, anniversary and Christmas cards for him to give to her. I would read cards until my heart......
                                   my intuition.....
                                            my spirit....
                 would tell me this is the one he wants.

For their 50 anniversary Dad wanted to buy Mom a diamond ring and a watch. But with her condition her fingers swell and are painful so instead I found a tiny diamond ring charm to go on a gold watch necklace.

She was very pleased with the necklace knowing the thought that went into it from my dad. She loved her 50th anniversary present.

Years later as Dad needed more and more help we had nurses, care givers, and others who came into the house to help. It was at this time that Mom's favorite Anniversary necklace disappeared. We searched and searched for it...in the bedroom...in the frontroom...in every room...in every place. But we had no luck in finding it. The thought came that someone may have taken the necklace. It was no where to be found.

Six years after their 50th Anniversary Dad passed. There was so much to do as we got the house ready to sell. In that time we thought about the necklace and looked for it as each drawer was cleaned out...as each piece of furniture was moved. But the Anniversary necklace was never found.

*************************************
One of things that I have had to adjust to is that I no longer search for that perfect present that Dad wanted to give Mom. Except this year it was especially on my mind.....

(Here I go again...with talk of wonders and signs)
Rainbows are Kayla's sign for my dad. For me...hawks are my sign for him. When I took Dad to Springfield to the doctors he would always point out the hawks.

Tuesday as I driving near the lake a hawk flew along beside my van. It was so close I could count its red tail feathers. I was in wonder...I thought of my dad....I thought of the Anniversary necklace and I thought maybe I should look for another one.

30 minutes later I turned onto my road and then another hawk soared directly toward my van...it was so close I could count it tail feathers. It made me wonder...was this a sign from Dad that I needed to get Mom a Christmas present...another necklace. Why is that necklace on my mind...on my heart?
I thought sometimes signs come in 3's. If I saw another hawk then that was it...I had to go find a necklace for Mom. I went into my house and was talking to Stan. Then I noticed the show he was watching on TV was about a......you guessed it, didn't you? It was about a red tail hawk! That was it....Mom was going to get a Christmas present from Dad this year.

The next morning was Wednesday and Mom, Triece and I always go out to eat. I went and picked up Mom. And before I could even say a word she said "I found my Anniversary necklace!". All I could say was "WHAT?". She said she couldn't believe it when she opened her jewelry box of pins and it was right on top.

I know..I know...I know...it was not there before.
I remember looking in that box when it was lost

I remember looking in that box through the years.

I remember looking in that box when we moved her.

She has been in her apartment for almost 2 years.

How could it be right on top?

I said "Mom, I think you got a Christmas miracle." And I told her the story about the hawks and how I knew she was to get an Anniversary necklace for Christmas. I just thought I was supposed to go buy her another one. I didn't realize that hers was going to show up in her jewelry box....right on top!