For the love of a doll…and the love of a friend…

If you happened to read my post yesterday you saw that I had an “unannounced-in-the-title” Giveaway for a lacy half slip that fits the American Girl dolls. I had 26 ladies enter a drawing to try and win it. Well, I had that drawing and the winner is Jan! BUT…she said if she won, she wanted to give it to Cindy Parkhill, so I guess Cindy is the big winner! Congratulations Cindy! I will send you an email and get in touch with you for your address. I hope your dolls enjoy their new slip…and thank you Jan! Also thanks to everyone for your sweet comments about my 500th post… Now it’s onto the next 500!

I had to stay up till midnight to do the drawing and I wanted to tell you about the gift wrapping my daughter and I did yesterday, but that little chat will have to wait until tomorrow. I am so tired it’s all I could to stay up to do the drawing…I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning…I think every muscle in my body hurts… gift wrapping is hard work!

(I think this might have something to do with the fact that these pictures were sent to me and not ones I took, but when I load them, on MY computer they are sideways and upside down. I’m hoping against hope that when you see today’s post, they are shown the right way. On my phone when I preview the post, it is correct..so I guess we’ll see…) Whoever reads this first, could you leave a comment if the pictures are the way they should be, and what you are viewing the post on… phone, ipad, desktop, etc? Thanks!

I received a sweet email from Sherry, one of my subscribers, telling me about a friend who received her first American Girl doll… Sherry said one day when she was having chemo, she gave an American Girl doll to a friend. Another friend, Thulie, got dreamy eyed and said she’d love to have a “lovely doll.” Thulie is African and her mother died when she was young. Her father and brother were murdered and she was even stabbed when she was just a few blocks from her home. Sherry said she didn’t recall how Thulie ended up working where she does, but she’s a Lutheran/chaplain like Sherry and is a wonderful support to the team there. Sherry thought she deserved a new doll, so she splurged while American Girl was having free shipping. Now Thulie has her very own little girl…

I think we all can tell from these pictures below that this doll will truly be loved. (I hope they are shown the right way… I’m still having a few computer glitches…)

IMG_2233

IMG_2238

IMG_2241

I’m not sure of what the phone call picture is about, so I made this part up…

IMG_2237

“Hi _____! You’ll never guess what I received today???? A Doll! An American Girl doll, and she’s just beautiful! She has long black hair and the prettiest dark brown eyes and I think she loves me too! Oh, I’m so excited! I can’t wait for you to see her!”

That’s what I’m guessing was said…(Sherry, you can correct me if I’m wrong…)

Thank you Sherry, for listening to that voice inside you and making this dream come true for Thulie. I’m sure she will never forget that day or you!

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

34 thoughts on “For the love of a doll…and the love of a friend…”

  1. It looks like I’m first — all the pictures are right side up! Excellent! And an excellent story to go with the pictures. I nearly forgot — mine is a desktop computer and on other days, some of the pictures have been sideways, but today all of them are perfect.

    When my friend Nikki was finished with her one year cancer-free check up, she promised herself that she’d go to the AG store to get Kanani. I had to call the AG main number and explain what I wanted before they’d give me the Denver store number, but they finally decided they could give me the number of a personal shopper. I called and told her what I wanted and described Nikki. Nikki said she came in and started looking and a clerk came up and said, “Are you Nikki?” She said yes, and they took her to the counter where her doll was waiting, surrounded by several beaming clerks. I think AG salespeople get to be part of a lot of happy stories, but no one gets tired of them. Today’s story was a great addition.

    I have since discovered that a lot of people like to look at 10 (or twenty or more) dolls to find “their perfect doll,” so if you are going to do this, you may want to arrange for your friend to be able to look as long as she likes.

    Jeanne, I hope you have a day off to rest. How’s Rebecca after this present wrapping/mother-daughter bonding day?

    1. Hi Marilyn,
      Well, now I’m even more confused than ever about the pictures… My son who is a computer whiz was baffled tonight when he came over…
      It was such a nice story from Sherry about Thulie I may pull up her pictures in a large size, take them again with my camera and see what happens…
      Oh I loved Nikki’s story too!!! There are lots of angels out there.

      Well Rebecca and I both survived the gift wrapping but I will tell you I didn’t get out of bed until 9:30 this morning!
      Thanks Marilyn,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. I am on a laptop and the pics are sideways and upside down.

    I made for an auction a set of scrubs and hospital nightgown for a friend going through breast cancer.. I also made her a set too.. she was so thrilled!

    1. Thank you Kath,
      What a bunch of angels I am blessed to have as readers of my little blog.
      Thank YOU for what you did for your friend…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Jeanne, I too, am on a laptop like Kath, but my pictures are just fine! Go figure! What a sweet story you had today! So many nice people who make the Christmas spirit alive and meaningful!

      1. Hi Linda,
        Well, this picture thing is way above my understanding so I will have to ask for help from someone…I just don’t know who…
        Yes, wasn’t Sherry’s story about Thulie touching?
        Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Charlotte Trayer

    I’m also on a laptop (a new Asus with Windows 10, if that helps), and the pictures are upside down and sideways. Even so, you can see the joy in Thulie’s face!! What a lovely surprise for her.

    1. Hi Charlotte,
      I’m so glad Thulie and Sherry had smiles on their faces upside down and sideways so you could see how thrilled they were…it was a wonderful story and I’m so glad Sherry shared it with me….
      Blessings, Jeanne

    1. Thank you Ann,
      Everyone seemed to love the story of Thulie… I may end up with a record number of views today…
      Thank you for being a part of my little blog world…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. What a *happy* story! wonderful way to start my day… I had to turn my Lenovo Yoga sideways and upside down to see the pictures, but…. if that’s the worst thing that happens to me today – I have it *made*! thanks for sharing!

    1. Thank you MaryC,
      I knew it was a story I had to share and I’m so happy everyone was touched as much as I was….it WAS a great way to start the day, wasn’t it?
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Susette Willhite

    A wonderful surprise was waiting for me the other day. Marilyn Grotzky was asking for my address. She wanted to send the Paulinette doll to me when I commented how darling I thought she was. She is generous not only with her friends but with almost total strangers! I feel like we know each other somewhat, though, through our posts.

    I am off to Costco to pass on her generosity by finding more toys to leave at the Fire Station for the firemen to be Santa for children in our community. Fortunately they won’t need wrapping as the firemen even up the gifts if some are smaller than others.

    What a wonderful gifts Sherry gave Thulie and Kath gave her friend! What thoughtful readers you have brought together. Thank you again, Jeanne Marie.

    1. Hi Susette,
      I am so glad you and Marilyn hooked up together and got that Paulinette dolly to a good loving home… :o)
      Oh Susette, what a nice thing to do….take toys to the fire department for needy kids…thank you for that, Susette…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  7. I am also on a desktop computer,,,and I have them sideways and upside down. Easy to see the pure joy on her face however, what a lovely gift! <3

    1. Thank you Connie,
      Wasn’t that a heart warming story about Thulie? She must still be holding onto that doll, I bet….
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. I’m on my Sony computer and the pictures are just fine.
    What a wonderful story about Thulie and what a kind generous friend Thulie has in Sherry. That story is so uplifting and a story we need to hear with Christmas coming, a time for giving and showing love and compassion.
    Thulie’s doll is beautiful. I hope we can find out what her doll’s name is?
    Marilyn, Kath and Susette also had wonderful stories to tell. I imagine most of your readers are generous themselves. Again, what a lovely group of ladies.
    Rest your arms, Jeanne. Hopefully you can get some of your own things done now with it being a little less hectic.

    1. Hi Paula,
      Like everyone has said, it truly was a great story, wasn’t it? I hope we can find out the name of Thulie’s doll too… I’ll ask Sherry…or if you see this Sherry, let us know.

      I think Rebecca and my arms have recovered from all the gift wrapping but I was really pooped last night!!!! Now Rebecca wants to know what baking we are going to do???
      Thank you Paula,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  9. What a wonderful way to start the morning. 🙂 I hope Cindy enjoys the new slip that Jan so thoughtfully gave away.
    How very sweet that Thulie got a doll. How very kind of Sherry. What a hard life Thulie has had and to see the look of joy on her face at receiving a doll. She is smiling like a little girl- how cute!! I think animals and dolls bring such happiness. I’d take animals first, but I love the dolls I have. They are both great stress relievers.
    I am on a desktop and the pictures are right side up and perfect.
    Rest up after your present wrapping marathon.

    1. Hi Laura,
      Cindy was so excited to see that Jan had bequeathed the slip to her that she emailed me first thing this morning…I got it mailed off to her… I hope she enjoys it.
      I think that smile on Thulie’s face is what happens to every little (or big) girl who gets an American Girl doll!!!
      Thank you Laura,
      Blessings

  10. Oh, wanted to add the desktop is a MAC because it is an old computer I was given when my home PC crashed. Usually Macs have some problems sometimes, but it is working fine for what I need for now.

  11. Thulie looks so happy with her new doll. Very nice pic of the two women and the doll. 🙂 What a special thing to do for a friend. She obviously deserved it after the life she has had. 🙂

    1. Hi Laura,
      Cindy was so excited to see that Jan had bequeathed the slip to her that she emailed me first thing this morning…I got it mailed off to her… I hope she enjoys it.
      I think that smile on Thulie’s face is what happens to every little (or big) girl who gets an American Girl doll!!!
      Thank you Laura,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  12. Now she needs some beautiful clothe made by you! Love the photos of the friend’s face upon receiving her doll! They do make one happy, don’t they? My faves are the Kaye Wiggs dolls…I love to sew for them. Merry Christmas to you and I enjoy your blogs!

    1. Hi Suzanne,
      I just love that look on Thulie’s AND Sherry’s faces too!
      I love the dolls that Kaye Wiggs makes too!
      So glad you are enjoying my blog posts… I’m having fun too!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  13. Congrats on your 500th post, Jeanne.
    A daily post is an amazing thing!
    Lovely post today…imagining the happiness!
    And quite a project yesterday! Power on!
    Jano 🙂

    1. Thank you Jano,
      With all of the wonderful comments from everyone, I feel confident I can keep going for a few more posts at least… :o)
      Blessings, Jeanne

  14. Could it be windows 10? This morning on my husband’s computer, desk top which now uses Windows 10, the pictures were all correct. However, on my old, non Windows 10 desktop computer they are sideways, upside down etc. Just an observation. Whoops just read someone with Windows 10 also had them upside down. Guess that is not it either.
    Loved your dolly story.

    1. Hi Joy,
      I haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 yet, so for me, that’s not the problem…
      Thanks for being one of my faithful readers…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  15. Apple tablet here with pics sideways and upside down. isn’t Thulie a wonderful name. Surely a doll will be given that name. Right now, Tove is a favorite of mine but there is a limit to how many dolls i have to give that name so Thulie is for the Iplehouse Nami that I love so she is now Thuli. I cannot believe i won again and glad Cindy P has granddaughter with a doll who can use a new sip. It is beautiful! Thank yu for the sip and your drawings So much fun
    ,

    1. Thank you so much for your generosity to Cindy…she sent me the nicest email when she realized you had chosen to give the slip you won to her! She will get it in a few days…
      Thank you again,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  16. I’m afraid you are even more tired than we thought. Have some hot chocolate. Take care of yourself. Get some rest.

    1. Hi Marilyn, I’m here…just running late. Rebecca wanted me to get the new Skinny Scarves we made Saturday in our Etsy shop…so I was working on that… Then my hubby called…he had locked his keys in his truck so I had to run him a spare set, then my son called and asked if I had his 2 pairs of pants fixed…oops..no, but I came home to find him here, so I did his pants quick like, then my mom called twice, then another friend called, I made dinner and now I am finally finished with everyone’s comments…
      A day in the life of Jeanne Marie!
      Blessings, Jeanne

Comments are closed.