Several years ago now, I wrote about the connection between the Blessed Mother and my Grandmother in this post , Here With Us. My Grandmother always wore a Blessed Mother medallion around her neck, she had one hanging from her rear view mirror, and had statues throughout her house.

One of the statues landed in my sister’s house after my grandmother passed away. She called me one day to tell me she received a sign from Grandma. The Blessed Mother had fallen, crashing to the floor in a million pieces.

When my pal Dawn went to Italy a few summers ago, she came home sporting a shiny new Blessed Mother around her neck. “Oh! You have your own bleshy mother,” I had exclaimed and then explained that in my Grandma’s thick Italian accent, Blessed often came out sounding more like “Bleshy.” I admired Dawn’s pendant and even had her send me a photo that I Googled, trying to find a version for myself. I never found one that was quite right.

Fast forward to January. Dawn’s youngest daughter, Megan, left to study abroad in Italy. When Dawn announced she was going to visit over February break, I impulsively said, “If you see a bleshy mother, will you get one for me? But don’t go out of your way or anything…”

Well, wouldn’t you know that my pal texted me from Italy over February break. She sent images of two pendants and purchased THREE for me. I had decided to gift one to my mom for her birthday (a few days ago) and another for my sister who will turn forty in April.

I’m so grateful for Dawn for helping me secure these gifts. Sweet little reminders of a woman who loved us all fiercely.

Where in the World Am I Writing From: A chair I collapsed in, on my phone, after a long day!