Monday, May 11, 2009

Bagwoman and Robin

I mentioned last week that John's parents sent me a new Vera Bradley bag to replace the one that was stolen a few weeks ago.


Told you it was cute! It's so summery and I love it!


I can't really explain my fascination with Vera Bradley bags. I think I just like how fresh and feminine they feel.


I have a great story to share so let me back up to last week...


My kids had the day off from school last Friday. We enjoyed a leisurely morning followed by a hair appointment for me (yay!) and a happy hour trip to Sonic. Ask my kids, Sonic makes me giddy. We were singing and being all crazy in the van and having a really, really great afternoon.


As we pulled into our neighborhood, I stopped to check the mail. I was delighted to find a package from my sweet friend, Robin. Robin and I met my freshman year at Ouachita. She lived across the hall from me and we had loads of fun together making signs for the guys who would serenade our dorm, "studying" (ahem), making Walmart and Sonic runs, and trips to Hot Springs. Robin even came home with me one holiday weekend. We've reconnected this year through Facebook (seriously, people--Facebook is amazing). She has the sweetest spirit, and I think she is an amazing pastor's wife and mother to four boys!


She emailed me not long ago and asked for my address. Said she wanted to send me a little something. I had no idea what she wanted to send me, but I never dreamed I'd find this inside:


Couldn't even keep the tears from spilling out of my eyes. This is the pattern of my purse that was taken. The style is adorable, and I was seriously overwhelmed. She said it had been in her closet for "awhile" and she hoped I could enjoy it. 


Overwhelmed. Seriously overwhelmed.


While opening Robin's package, I asked one of the kids to go retrieve the note that I noticed had been taped to the door while we were gone.


Will brought it to me, along with a huge box.


The box had this inside of it...


And inside that box was this...




Verklempt. Could not even see through my tears.


I was a bit puzzled by seeing the note signed by Robin because the return address was the Vera Bradley store. I have a couple of friends that share that name, but wondered who knew my birthday was coming and who had my address. My powers of deduction were a bit hindered by the all the emotion and the tears spilling out of my eyes, but I decided it had to be my childhood friend, Robin. Robin and I met when my family moved onto Stroud Street right before my sixth grade year. We hit it off immediately and spent lots of time together...laying out on her trampoline coated in baby oil, perusing the mall and Seventeen magazine, walking to the Jr. Food store for slush puppies and PacMan, and whizzing through the neighborhood on my moped. By the way, mopeds and ice are a bad, bad combination. 


Robin and I had lots of fun together (and got in lots of trouble together) but the one thing that stands out in my mind is going to church with her. She got me involved in her church's youth group and it was during a Centrifuge camp she invited me to that I first gave my heart to the Lord.


And here she was blessing me (again) with a purse!


Two bags from two Robins in one day. (Hopefully the title of this post is clear now).


I feel very unworthy of these gifts, and I lamented that for the rest of Friday afternoon and evening.


John told me to just accept them with grace and thanks and be happy.


And I'm trying.


So, thank you, Robin and Robin for your gift of steadfast friendship (and fun, girly bags!) I love you both, and you guys blessed my socks off last week. 


And by the way, they're ALL my favorites!


36 comments:

Unknown said...

Makes me weepy friend.

Such a fun story!

Now the hard part...deciding which bag to use today!

Holly said...

God sure does return blessing in abundance!! I love it, Mer!

Tiffani said...

What a treat, indeed! And, I am talking about the friendships and your inlaws..the bags were just icing! :)

I love them all too...you have one for every season.

I agree with J. Enjoy them, sweetie!

Tiffani said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JenB said...

That is so awesome! What great friends you have. And your hair looks cute by the way.

Anonymous said...

I think those were actually love gifts from God. He just let people be the vessels so they could get a blessing. Every time you carry one of those bags I hope you're reminded of how very loved you are.

The fact that you felt unworthy and lamented for awhile? So like people who are always blessing others and never looking for anything in return.

Carpool Queen said...

That made me misty misty. I'm so glad you got a big ole heap of love poured out on you all at once so that there was no doubt in your mind that you've got peeps/tweeps who've got your back.

The Bowden's said...

Wow! I, too, love Vera Bradley love all of those. Enjoy!

Robin said...

You are so welcome my friend! I think it is cool that we all had the same idea but sent you three different bags in different colors. From the looks of my closet you can never have too many Vera bags! Love you.

Lauren said...

How incredibly awesome, Mere, and I absolutely love Vera Bradley too!!!!!!! :O)

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

Very clever title.

Those are all adorable.

And don't tell my kids, but I secretly bought the trampoline for them so I could coat myself in baby oil and lay out on it.

During naptime, of course. :)

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

What special friendships and really cute bags!

Melissa said...

Showers of blessing! How wonderful for you, friend!

Brenda said...

That is so awesome. Brought tears to my eyes too! You are truly blessed.

Teri H said...

What blessings! Your friends and the bags!

Robin said...

I still bear the scars of mopeds and ice. But, such fun. I am so glad that all of the bags were so different. Have fun and never feel unworthy. You are one of my happiest memories of growing up. Love you. Robin

Jill said...

Has anyone joked your new nickname could be Vera, Jr? hee-hee. Very pretty bags...each and every one. And I can't even imagine the trainwreck having a Sonic nearby would have caused on my (ahem) studying in college. Oh my heavens.

Stephanie said...

Don't you feel lavished upon!!! The whole time I was reading this post, I was struck by the image of God's grace and how He lavishes it on us, even when we are so undeserving of His favor.

And, enjoy those purses!

Emily said...

God is so good! Isn't it amazing that he loves to delight in us... even in the little things?

Betsy said...

What an AWESOME story!! Isn't God the greatest?? He blesses us so much and right when we need it most!

Gretchen said...

Oh, Mer...how lovely. It speaks to your own lurveliness that 3 folks blessed you in such a big way. I'm with Whimz...truly God hugs, each one.

Enjoy them ALL!

I so love that they're entirely different, too.

lisa@littlesliceoflife said...

OMG!!!!

Now I am seriously jealous! LOVE. LOVE. those bags.

I am so happy for you. You DO deserve it Mer!

Michelle C said...

I'm so thrilled that God blessed you in such a great way.

Now, since you seem to have an abundance, I think you need to share -- purses and Robins. :)I'll send you my address.

Megan O. said...

That was so great. I love that you were so blessed all in one day--what are the chances? Makes me want to do something nice for a friend.

leigh said...

What a great story! It made me smile. It's all about Karma my friend, and evidently you're putting some good stuff out there. Enjoy!

Oh, and happy birthday!

Cathy said...

My Motto: A woman can never have too many purses.

Your Motto: A woman can never have too many VERA BRADLEY purses.:)

I'm so glad you were blessed in that way!!!! And I LOVE the title of your post! Could you pass some of that creativity my direction, please??

Amber said...

I'm wiping tears, Mer. So beautiful. And I'm not talking about the Bradleys. (Although they are amazing!)

Fran said...

Well now I'm crying. How precious is that???? You are loved my friend.

Do I need to find Robin from Jboro blog???

God is good.
Love,
Fran

Jackie said...

Wow, Mer! That is amazing. And I know that people love to bless you because you are such a blessing to everyone around you - so yes, listen to your sweet hubby and accept them and be wonderfully happy!

They are all gorgeous - I can see why they're all your faves!

Judy said...

This is the verse that came to mind when I read this post. Thanks for sharing your blessing with us all!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Marc and Charity said...

Wow, what some sweet friends you have! God loves to bless us!

Unknown said...

What a sweet gift!! :-) so so fun and you are definitely blessed!

jeanie@mageditor.blogspot.com said...

I love the picture of you holding the three bags! There is something so happy and friendly about a Vera Bradley bag. Just seems right for summer especially. Now you can switch it up! Love the hair, btw.
Meredith, you are one of my faithful blog readers (emphasis on the ONE) and I appreciate it so much. I love your blog. I like the way you think.

Shanda said...

God is so good. Isn't that just like Him...Satan attempts to take something away from you; God gives you THREE that you love. Awesome.

Puva said...

That's really sweet of them! Congratulations, Mer! You deserve this (:

His Girl said...

major, major blessings. totally celebrating the Goodness of God and His people with you.