The Tradition of Prizes!

So, last weekend Vanessa went to San Diego for Anna Lisa's wedding. I got periodic calls and pictures via my phone as she visited the area, went to the beach and into Mexico. We've always done this "prize" thing...which can I say is wonderful when it starts out a little tradition when your kids are little and you bring home prizes after a trip or something and the tradition spills over into their adulthood. And even after a divorce as Clark and I still give each other prizes...anyway - Vanessa calls me this week and says she stopping by to say hi and that she has prizes from her trip for me. Yes, I am like a little kid. I got excited. It is always fun to see what Vanessa will come up with. When she came in with a killer purse from Mexico (Laurel you'll be jealous!!!) I thought - she did have fun in Mexico! So, she pulls out the mexican vanilla - which is always a treat - especially in chocolate chip cookies! Then a fun, colorful little saucer...with purple in it. And three little rocks, collected from the beach. Oh, how well, my children know me. It wasn't so much the things...it was looking into her face as she gave them to me. It was seeing her joy in giving, knowing that she had thought of me and carefully picked up these things. It was the pausing as she handed me the rocks and I sensed her memories of being on the beach. I often think to myself, oh, please let the memories I have cherished from this life (that don't always come back as quickly now cuz there are so many), please let them all be there when I leave this body - that they all really will be connected to my spirit. Oh, how I treasure the interactions we have in this life. I am a very lucky and blessed mother.