Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Willow Tree Woes

Right after I became a mother more than 7 years ago, my mother-in-law sent me a gift that started a collection for me. She sent me my first Willow Tree:

Well, now that beautiful figurine looks like this:


How sad is that to see a mother and father looking down at empty arms where once a baby had lain?


If you think that's sad, prepare yourself for a cry fest. Because one fateful day last week, I walked into the family room, opened the windows and turned around to leave. All of a sudden a huge "BOOM!" I turned around to see that where once a shelf had hung:

Were now just four holes, and the contents of that shelf were all over the place:






Heads were scattered everywhere, limbs were missing, and bodies were massacred all over the floor.










Now I realize they don't have faces...but they are supposed to have heads, right?







Carcasses galore.









Even some wedding gifts were broken in pieces:



As I was cleaning up the mess I was remembering when and why I got each beautiful Willow Tree. My first mother's day, a birthday, after the birth of my second son, upon finding out our 4th baby was a girl....the memories all came flooding back.

And you know what? I realized something important. My Willow Tree's might be broken and gone, but my family and fond memories remain happy and intact. And I would MUCH rather have broken "stuff" than a broken family.


A great lesson on a what could have been a depressing day :)

19 comments:

  1. I was so taken by your post today that I wrote mine because of it. You are a wise lady. Thank you for this post and the memories it bought back to me. I have linked my post to yours. God Bless you abundantly!!! Cathy

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  2. I gasped when I saw these photos. And I was amazed that you could even take all of the photos to blog it, but in the end you hit it right. These are just things, precious as they are they wouldn't be able to replace your beautiful family and the memories.

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  3. I am so sorry. It is so hard when favorite memories items break... it did look like a beautiful collection. Now maybe you can get new special memories as each is replaced! I am sorry but I have to tell you that the pictures do it great and your comments after each brought a smile.... you are a strong person and handling this well!

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  4. AnonymousJune 15, 2010

    You've done well to find a positive message in this. How sad to have lost all your (physical) treasures. But I'm glad you still have your memories and your family about you.

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  5. You are right, this is just stuff...but it is sad when our stuff breaks too.
    Hoping you start a new collection soon.
    I have some of these pieces...and we have a dad with no hand. I feel a bit of your pain.
    take care, Suz

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  6. You are right, this is just stuff...but it is sad when our stuff breaks too.
    Hoping you start a new collection soon.
    I have some of these pieces...and we have a dad with no hand. I feel a bit of your pain.
    take care, Suz

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  7. Oh no-- those photos break my heart :( I'm glad you were able to find some great memories though!

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  8. Oh, no! Looks like the ruins at Pompeii!

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  9. What a wonderful post! I wish I had a positive outlook on life like you do!

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  10. oh no...so sorry your keepsakes have been brought to pieces. :(

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  11. I had a beautiful St. Joseph statue crash down for no reason what so ever and shatter into a million shards. It happened just before Christmas and at first I was devastated, but then I wondered if it perhaps was a good reminder to let the true meaning of Christmas shine through the materialism. Things are things, and losing them can't rob us of our joy. Still, it hurt to see your photos.:-)

    Blessings!

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  12. I was reading this and initially thinking about how upset I would be if this happened to me. Yet... I began to think about how the people in our lives (especially those we are closest to) can become like items on a shelf or pieces of furniture... you know... things we're used to having around, they're always there, we pay attention to them from time to time or when they're useful to us... but we lose that first appreciation we had for them and they become overlooked, unnoticed, unappreciated until some disaster brings our attention back to how important they once were to us. Thank you for the lesson to remember to take time to look at the treasures all around me and be sure to try not to take them for granted.

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  13. even though you've taken it well.. i AM sorry, cause it would have really upset me i think!

    great new design by the way! love it......

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  14. a few of my willow trees have broken too!!!
    This was so sad to see, Colleen...
    I haven't responded to your email yet but thank you thank you... so happy to be reading your blog!

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  15. I was directed here by GrandmaK... beautiful post! It sent shivers down my spine as I read, "My Willow Tree's might be broken and gone, but my family and fond memories remain happy and intact. And I would MUCH rather have broken "stuff" than a broken family." What a beautiful perspective! You are so right!

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  16. That is sad - all those lovely figurines! I have some of them too and it reminded me of when I got them and how much they mean to me.

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  17. Oh I am so sorry all your keepsakes were broken, but what a wonderful attitude you have :) I need you for my neighbor so we can run together & drink coffee and you can teach me to be a better mom :)

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  18. oh my gosh, I clicked on the link to this post. Talk about the most depressing thing ever. the body parts, everywhere. om lowercase g, i would have cried. I like your attitude, but it would have taken me a few weeks to get there. I just love my willow tree angles.

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  19. I clicked on your post because of the photo of the couple with the missing baby. It may just be a figure but thousands of families experience that very thing. My first born son was stillborn three and a half years ago. Coming home from the hospital without my very much wanted, expected baby wss the hardest thing I've ever done. So looking at those empty arms is hard, but living with those empty arms is harder. October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month.

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