A sweet Christmas present

I was talking with my friend Liz a few days ago, and she told me she had found a package on her porch a few days earlier. It appeared to be a gift basket, and she was fearful it was one of those holiday baskets that was full of things like salami (she's a vegetarian). Upon opening it, she found a basket full of memories of her beloved step mother, Rachel, who passed on earlier this year. Rachel's daughter had thoughtfully assembled the following items:

• 3 rolls of pennies and an old newspaper clipping Rachel kept about "always stop for a penny."
• 3 skeins of her acrylic yarn and blue knitting (metal) needles
• crochet hook
• directions for both knitted and crocheted slippers
• 3 iris bulbs from her garden
• Aunt Mary's Sherry wine cake recipe--including a box of yellow cake mix and pkg of vanilla instant pudding
• 4 of her pretty handkerchiefs
• 3 of her tea cups
• her small book of Christmas Carols that the insurance companies used to give out for advertising--this one from Salesian Missions
• 2 decks of "coca cola" playing cards (she loved to play bridge)
• thank you notes

I was so taken by this story I asked Liz for permission to share it...I love the idea of such a heartfelt present. Thanks, Liz.