Doll China

The house was still and peaceful this morning. Sun streaming through the windows highlighted this place where I feel safe.  This place that holds my memories and my dreams.

I stood in the entry and looked into the dining room at my doll china that lines the window frames.  The memory of the Christmas when I first saw the little dishes came to me and made me smile.

Our house filled with so many children meant piles and piles of gifts under the tree.  Children’s excitement at Christmas time expands exponentially according to the number of other children surrounding them.  My mother heightened anticipation further by wrapping the packages without name tags.

We would estimate the size, weight and shape of our hearts’ desires and guess which of the many packages likely held them.  In our imaginations we laid claim to the box which best matched our wishes. One square box was extremely heavy and issued tinkling sounds when shaken.  Two of my brothers were certain that it contained the metal “army guys” they looked forward to battling with. Every day one of them would heave the box into their arms and rattle it grinning at the other with a knowing smile.  We all accepted as fact this box contained metal solders. The clinking noises we heard as the box was enthusiastically shaken foreshadowed the clashes that would surely take place on the living room rug.

Christmas Day arrived and we each sat awaiting the passing of gifts anxious to see how accurate our predictions had been.  Gift after gift was divvied out before the heavy square box.  Finally, Mom lifted it and turned towards us.  The brothers waited expectantly, but she stretched her arms out to me.

I ripped into the paper and discovered this amazing china set.  Unwrapping each piece I soon had a half circle of plates, tea cups, a soup tureen and serving pieces around me.  I was immediately enchanted by the loveliness of these miniature dishes.  They would bring me hours of dreamy play.

I hadn’t asked for this china set, hadn’t even realized something so special existed.  Yet these little dishes remain one of the best gifts I have ever received.  Eventually these play things influenced my taste and set the tone for my dining room in real life.

This is a recurring theme in my life.  I am often blessed beyond what I could ever hope or dream of on my own.  I have learned to reserve judgement when life surprises me with something that is not what it appeared.  If I allow myself to experience it fully, it may just be better than the thing I had wished for.

The Lightning and the Lightning Bug prompt yesterday was a story about something that was not what it first appeared to be.  This came to me this morning as I stood watching the sun streaming in the windows.

Though not technically about decorating I hope the folks at Friday’s Feathered Nest and Between Naps on the Porch enjoy this post.  I believe your home should reflect your life.  So, I display artifacts from my family’s past that make home uniquely ours.