My daughter-in-law made me this little cactus for the first Christmas after my separation. It had a little Santa hat at the time. Then she made a little summer shopping outfit and then finally, this one - my favorite - the little witchy one, including a little broom to fly away on. This is one of my most treasured gifts.
It sits on my shelf in my bedroom, at eye level, so I have seen it every day since she gave it to me.
It’s funny that something so simple can bring such joy and mean a lot more than we could ever imagine.
This little cactus came at a time when I didn’t know where my life was headed. Christmas 2023, I was living with students, figuring out a world that looked nothing like the one I’d planned.
I gave away so many of my things that I loved because I had to downsize from my family’s house into shared accommodations. Books, dishes, clothes, knick knacks, memories of my children growing up and pieces of our life together that I would never see again.
Then my sweet daughter-in-law made me this cute little cactus. It’s not a practical gift. It sits there and I just get to change its outfits. I get to smile back at its friendly little face.
It followed me to now, sharing a home with one of my best friends. A home that feels like home again. I have space that lets me breathe. That lets me create. That lets me be my little witchy self.
I am creating new memories here with my children and grandchildren. My JC was just here having a sleepover at Gramma’s house. My friends hang out here. We play games and watch movies. My kids can come over and we can have meals together here.
I know it feels different for them, and they will always miss the home they grew up in. I do too. But this - this is different and new and homemade and simple. It’s me and MJ and it’s so good. The warmth and peace in this house is nothing that I had before. I think my kids and friends feel it, too. They know how happy I am here. This simple little handmade gift reminds me that I am loved, and home is wherever I am.
We never know where life will take us. Things can change when we least expect it.
Like the little cactus, we can change our outfits. We can be so much more than what we look like on the outside. I thought my life was going to look like one thing.
Until it didn’t. Just like that, my life looks different.
It’s Thanksgiving now, and I am certainly thankful for my life. I’m thankful for the hard times and I’m thankful for so many people who stood by me and helped me get through those days when I thought I wanted my life to go back to the way it was.
I’m so glad it didn’t. Here and now. I am thankful. I am thankful for what is.
And I’m thankful for my little cactus, smiling through the seasons, changing whenever it needs to. Just like me.
Until next time, may you notice the wonderful,
Shawna
I'm thankful for you and rediscovering this website/blog/little piece of heaven