the memory tree
How dear they are, how touched I was. Ever year they somehow manage to outdo the one before- in the most thoughtfully unique way. I asked why they chose these memories and they said they wanted to share the little things they remembered that I might not have known about. In our pajamas, standing in the yard- laughing, crying, hugging- I hope they know that this is one day I will always remember.
And the tags came with a little dogwood tree- freshly planted outside my studio window. Just the loveliest day with the sweetest girls and Andy. That favorite quote of Elizabeth Bowen's- Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup. Seriously. I need a great big bowl to go under a pitcher.
What a lovely Mother's Day gift. Your girls are such a sweet blessing. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by:Katie | May 12, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Congratulations on your gifts!
Just lovely!
Warm regards,
Gabriela
Posted by:Gabriela Delworth | May 12, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Oh! that's just lovely! And the tree itself will always remind you of such a sweet day.
Posted by:Jill | May 12, 2008 at 11:13 AM
that is just so sweet, what a great idea!!
hope you had a wonderful mothers day!
oxoox,
jessi
Posted by:Jessi Nagy | May 12, 2008 at 11:16 AM
What an amazing gift! Life is so rich at times like these!
Becky
Posted by:Wonders Never Cease | May 12, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Well what creative, lovely daughters you have. Although I am not surprised, their mama has taught them well. Happy belated Mother’s day. xoxoxo Clarice
Posted by:clarice | May 12, 2008 at 11:27 AM
That's one of the most thoughtful ideas I've ever heard. You sound like a blessed woman. :-)
Posted by:Renna | May 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Now that is a Mother's Day to remember!!! What a incredible gift!
Posted by:Barbara | May 12, 2008 at 11:44 AM
That's fantastic. My son tells me his memories and sometimes I don't even remember the things that were important to him.
Amazing! Love the tree also.
- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife
Posted by:the farmers wife | May 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM
I thought I had cried out all my Mommy Day tears until I just read your post this morning. How lovely your family is. I see that your sentimental and down to earth values have been passed down to your children. How wonderful. . .
Hugs, Kim
Posted by:Kim Caldwell | May 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM
So sweet, thoughtful and touching! Hugs to your girls, and happy Mother's Day to you!
Posted by:jenny b harris | May 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM
How lovely! What a beautiful memory you all made yesterday!
Posted by:Katherine McKamey | May 12, 2008 at 12:23 PM
ooooh, entirely too sweet
Posted by:paige | May 12, 2008 at 12:35 PM
That is so sweet.
What a wonderful gift and yes a memory that will last forever...
cute notes too, maybe you need to make a collage from them and frame it????
Posted by:kathie | May 12, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Oh Charlotte, you have the coolest daughters. What an amazing gift that Memory Tree is. I get goosies reading the "leaves" that I can. You made cupcakes for their stuffed animals?! Wow!! I would have been a tearful mess reading those, too. It is so adorable, thanks for sharing it on your blog.
Posted by:teresa | May 12, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Charlotte, It's on days like this, when our girls recreate in their own way, what we've been doing all along, the we're the happiest being thier mommy.
*Heidi*
Posted by:Heidi Woodruff | May 12, 2008 at 01:14 PM
What a precious Mother's Day gift!
You will think of that day everyday when you look outside your window and see that dear little tree!
Posted by:Laurie | May 12, 2008 at 01:21 PM
How lovely! I adore this post! I'm so happy you have such a creative, loving family! You're blessed, for sure!
Posted by:Julie | May 12, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Wow if I'm crying now how much did you cry yesterday!
Posted by:Zia Meadows | May 12, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Wow that is so so sweet! What a beautiful family you have!
Posted by:Kim H | May 12, 2008 at 02:03 PM
OMG, I have tears in my eyes ..how wonderfully blessed you are to have your Daughters, that can show you how much they love you.
what a fabulous post.
It's always a pleasure to read your blog
thanx
Terri
Posted by:terri | May 12, 2008 at 03:08 PM
...brought me to the brink of tears (again!)
happy mother's day!
~love
Posted by:suzi finer | May 12, 2008 at 05:43 PM
i love your girls. tell 'em for me.
xox,
D
Posted by:dede | May 12, 2008 at 07:12 PM
I LOVE this. How very loved you must feel. Happy Mothers Day,
crystal
Posted by:Crystal | May 12, 2008 at 08:28 PM
What a wonderful mother's day - such an imaginary and thoughtful family.
Happy mom's day and enjoy that tree!
V
Posted by:vicki grobels | May 12, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Wow! You are so lucky to have such a caring family!
Posted by:katelynjane | May 12, 2008 at 09:54 PM
That was so sweet it made me tear up!
Posted by:Sonja | May 12, 2008 at 10:56 PM
what sweet kids you have,such lovely thoughts!
Posted by:Adla | May 13, 2008 at 01:58 AM
Well that has to be the sweetest thing I have ever seen, It made me cry, you are a lucky momma
deezie
Posted by:deezie | May 13, 2008 at 06:38 AM
This is wonderful! About 5 years ago we made my mother a "memory jar" stuffed full of little insignificant things that we remembered from so long ago. She said it was the best present she ever got.
Posted by:robin~thrifty miss priss | May 13, 2008 at 07:23 AM
How precious! You are very lucky as I am sure you know. That is sooo sweet!
Posted by:Hannah | May 13, 2008 at 09:35 AM
What a beautiful Mother's Day present Charlotte! Gorgeous dogwood tree.
Posted by:Deb | May 13, 2008 at 09:45 AM
All I can say is WOW. You are so lucky!!
Posted by:Diane | May 13, 2008 at 10:21 AM
That is so sweet. What a wonderful Mother's Day present! I am teary just reading this one. You are a lucky mom and they are lucky girls!
Posted by:Rebecca | May 13, 2008 at 10:44 AM
I love your girls too! "Postcard family" for any holiday. JB
Posted by:barneypark | May 13, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Just the sweetest thing I've ever heard!
Sandra Evertson
Posted by:Sandra | May 13, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Happy Mother's Day !!
What a sweet thing to do so original! My mother in law once told me you only get as much as you put in,obviously you put a lot of love into your girls!
Diane
Posted by:Diane | May 13, 2008 at 02:31 PM
There is nothing better than the written word and especially when it comes from a child.
Posted by:colleen | May 13, 2008 at 03:53 PM
How sweet and thoughtful! What a nice surprise!!
Posted by:Viv (VivLyn) | May 13, 2008 at 04:44 PM
oh
my!
those girls of yours certainly KNOW what a special Mama they have!
i hope your day was wonderful - you are a blessing to them and US!
Posted by:Kimberly Kwan | May 13, 2008 at 05:41 PM
What a lovely event. Thank you so much for sharing.
Posted by:Charlene | May 13, 2008 at 09:13 PM
How Sweet is that! Didn't you just get the picks of the litter with all your kids? Someone once said that you pick your friends but you can't pick your family! Sorry my feeling is that my family members are my friends! So nice to be loved isn't it? Now each and every day, you will remember (although with sweetie's like you have!) that you are loved! If I get low at all, I just start counting my blessings and you know, my husband and my kids always get counted twice!
Enjoy the showers of love... apparently they feel the same way, that they are loved too!
Posted by:Jean C. | May 14, 2008 at 12:13 AM
That is so lovely, we have a memory box, but I'll have to do the tree for Fathers day. What a great idea.
Just stumbled across your blog, I love how your words can pull you write into the story.
Posted by:suzi | May 14, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Oh boy...I wasn't expecting to get all teary eyed. This is really toooo sweet!!
Love this post to bits!
xoxo Jenny
Hope your day was lovely!
Posted by:jenny holiday | May 15, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Oh!! That is one of the most lovely displays of love I have ever seen...what an awesmome family you have...what a blessing...thanks for sharing the wonderment of your day with all of us!!
I love that quote, too...I had forgotten it...until you reminded me...I'm going to have to use that again!
Blessings...
Teresa
Posted by:Teresa | May 16, 2008 at 01:42 AM
Charlotte, your posts about your family just make me smile and feel all warm inside. You are all so loving and dear to each other, it's a joy to hear about.
Posted by:Sally | May 16, 2008 at 10:16 AM
What a wonderful "memory tree" you have very creative chldren! Roxanne
Posted by:rivergardenstudio | May 16, 2008 at 01:59 PM