The Story of a Special Bell

5 years ago on the week before Thanksgiving  a very special lady underwent tests and was diagnosed with cancer.  She had emergency surgery on Thanksgiving night but all the cancer could not be removed. She would have to undergo chemo treatments. While she was getting her chemo she said she needed a project to work on. Her normal projects were large and she no longer had the strength to do them as months of Chemo had taken it toll.. I found the lovely bell pattern online and told her I would love a set for my tree.  She worked on them when she could that year, bell after bell was lovingly created, they took her mind off the treatments and the pain.  But she didn't get to finish them all, there were a dozen or so almost done.  When we went out for her funeral I took the box of bells home.  I decided I would finish what this wonderful lady had started. I starched them and added pearls, silk roses, & a hanger. I made a beautiful box for each bell and on the front was  a photo of my Mother  and her memorial information. Inside I added a satin lining and in the lid was a poem that I found on line.

I miss you all dearly
now don't shed a tear
I spending my Christmas
with Jesus this year.

I enclosed a letter explaining the story of the bells and that this would be my Mother's last gift to them. I had this in mind the whole time as I knew she wouldn't make it till Christmas and she always made  special gifts for friends and family.  She would have been so happy to know that her Bells were finished and given to the ones she loved in her memory. The Bells were her last gift and the one that will be remembered.
Mother you are still part of my Christmas each year as My Bell has a special place on my tree.