A Story in Two Parts

I make a Christmas list for Cory every year. 10 years of wedded bliss have taught us that it's just better for everyone if I jot something down - and make it specific. This was difficult for me, because, as you know, I'm a girl who loves a good surprise. I loved the idea of Cory finding me the perfect thing that I never even knew I wanted. So romantic, right? Trouble is, Cory's not like me. He doesn't enjoy "the hunt". He has made some valiant attempts though, including 2 Christmases ago when he hacked into my Etsy site and ordered something for me that I had saved in my Favorites. I cracked up when I opened it, one - because it was a "World Traveler" charm necklace that I had in mind for a friend of mine who is an avid, overseas traveler; and two - because it looked rather gangsta'ish. And really tacky. You don't believe me? Take a look.

Cory's response? "I thought it was very odd that you wanted that."

Truly though, he scored major points for effort. It wasn't his fault that the etsy listing was a tad deceiving.

Fast forward to this year. I had two items on my list:
1. fun knee socks (Gap, TJ Maxx)
2. personalized charm necklace (with kids' names, silver)

Then, we found out that we are both flying to Korea in a month or so, and we canceled Christmas altogether.

For the two of us, I mean.

Fast forward another week or two and I found this in my mailbox:

I was so excited that I almost opened it up while I was driving. Then, I remembered the time that I totaled my beloved Sunfire just as I was pulling up for a job interview and I thought better of it.

I'm telling you - I love the feeling of anticipation. It's one of my top five favorite states of being.

When at last I pulled safely into a parking space at my Nose Job doctor's office, I ripped the lid off the box and saw.....

This.

My friend Nicole made it for me, for no good reason. Just because she likes me, I guess. She and I lived right next door to each other our Sophomore year of college and it pains me to say that I don't think we ever exchanged pleasantries. Now, years later, here we are. We are cyber pals. We are passionate about some of the very same things and I, for one, feel like I have been gifted with a very fantastic surprise friendship.

Nicole and her husband are embarking on some very exciting territory of the adoption genre. (You didn't know territories are classified by genres???)

Her Etsy shop is stocked full of her beautiful artistry, which will help pave the way to bring home their child - the one that Jesus chose for them from the foundations of the earth.

Thank you, Nic, my crafty, mind-reading friend. I Love it.