Storytelling Sunday - - - A very special day

Well - where did April go to  then?? I can't believe how quickly Storytelling Sundays come round - May already - -  and time for another visit to Sian at High in the Sky and other friends round the world who share a story or two. Sian suggested "precious" as this year's theme - - and as I have written these posts and looked at my special items I have begun to realise  - as I suspect many of you have also - that the reason these small items I am choosing ARE precious is the person I link them with in my memory - - -

- - - it was raining - quite hard now - - as the car pulled up in at the door - - it didn't matter - M------ was ready with an umbrella! The group of young women huddled in the shelter of the doorway all moved forward as a group as the car door opened to let the occupants emerge.
The young man emerging smiled rather shyly at them all before turning back to the car door as first a prettily shod foot appeared, followed by a hand in a white glove. He took hold of the glove hand , helping the girl out of the car as M------ sheltered her from the gusts of wind and flurries of rain with her every ready umbrella, as they moved forward into the shelter of the buildings porch
A small girl in pink danced forward " I'm here mummy, I'm here" she squeaked excitedly, "don't I look pretty? Mummy you look BEAUTIFUL  and see my dress" "stay in the porch L---- , and thank you sweetheart, you look beautiful too!" the young woman smiled at her small daughter's excitement. The door swung open and the whole party moved inside, followed by the cluster of women who had waited in the rain to see them arrive,  to find members of their families waiting for them - - - -
- - -along with the Registrar - who led the group into the Wedding Room - for he and I to become man & wife, witnessed by our family and the group of my work colleagues - who had all crept out of work just to see us arrive and ended up staying and watching the simple ceremony - - -27 years ago this month - how did it get to be so long ago????

That was the day I was given today's "preciousssss" (sorry! I couldn't quite keep Gollum out of my  head). May is our Anniversary month so it seems very appropriate that I share my ring with you. It has never left my finger since the Artisan placed it there - - all those years ago now, and it has been joined by a couple of others - each a symbol of how much he cares for me, and in that I know I am blessed.
There are a lot more stories around today, you can find links to them all here, at High in the Sky with Sian. And remember, you are most welcome to share a story of your own.
'Til later,
Thanks for stopping by -

Bannaghtyn, J x

A Month in Numbers ???? - - -

- - this is my first time linking up with Julie's (of Notes on Paper) Month in Numbers, and I wasn't sure I actually had enough items I could genuinely count - - but this month I have some very important numbers to remember, so it did seem like a good time to join in. So this April I seem to have been surprisingly busy - - -
So I begin with

• 1 iPhone

My daughter's finally dragged me into the 21st century by persuading me to get a new smart phone -I am now the proud owner of an iPhone. Not that I have much skill in using it yet, I have sent some very odd texts as to start with I was a bit useless using the keypad!!
On a creative level - -

• 2 - Birthday Albums --- two good friends reached their half century this month, so handcrafted gifts were called for.

• 2 - Craft Club meetings  --- alongside our regular monthly meeting we had one of our two all day craft class days --- and this time it was my turn to find and teach a new project for our group

• 3 - Cards including this one for my youngest daughter's birthday 
  

• 14  - Amazing young people who all took a huge leap of faith by Bungee Jumping off the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough - to raise awareness of Mental Ill-health and raise funds for Rethink

• 17 - Kind and generous young people who not only invited me along but made sure I didn't feel out of place at the Bungee Jump weekend

• £475.50 - Raised by my girl for Rethink Mental Health in the UK - she has made me so proud of her!

• £534.76 - Raised for local Mental Health groups from a Gig night organised in my son's "local". All the bands gave their time for free - and made it a great evening for all who went along.

• £2670.50- Raised by the Bungee for Ben Team for Rethink Mental Health Charity in the UK

They still don't know how much in total they have raised from their sponsorship forms as they are still collecting in the funds - - this group of my son's friends have grown into young men and women I feel honoured to know - and am so very deeply touched by how much my son meant to them all.

So you see - these are really important numbers  - and so this time I was compelled to link up with the delightful Julie. Thanks so much for dropping in, it really is good to see you my friends - - - to know you all still think of me occasionally is a very special gift I have been doubly grateful for this last year - do you have any numbers  to share? Hop over to Julie's blog for full details - the link's in her name

'til later
Bannaghtyn, Jen  xxx