Credits: Bella by Shabby Princess, Blossom by Shabby Princess, Olivia by Shabby Princess, Katherine's Heart by Kuper Doodles
Journal: Elaina is my child. She and I both would find it offensive to have anyone say otherwise. We met when Elaina was about five years old. I was going through a difficult and stressful divorce (is there any other kind?), and she lived in an apartment two doors down from the one we settled into. I usually sat on the porch out in front of the apartment to supervise Courtney and Mickey while they played outside. One day as I sat talking to my Aunt Linda, this cute blond-haired girl came be-bopping out of that apartment two-doors down carrying a little red pocketbook. She wandered down to where we were sitting, and she asked if we’d like to see her pennies. She was so cute, so I said, "sure!". She sidled up close beside me, and opened the little red purse. It was slam full of pennies ... I mean totally weighted down with a ton of pennies! We talked for a little bit, and then her father wandered down to check on her. We made small talk, and I explained that his daughter was showing us all of her pennies. He looked a bit perplexed, and then looked down at her cute face and said, "have you been taking Daddy's change again?". She simply answered, "yes" and skipped off to play with the other kids. He explained to us that he could not leave any change lying around, because she was famous for scooping it up and claiming it as her own. To make a very long story short, Elaina worked diligently as a matchmaker, and eighteen months later she was with us as we purchased an engagement ring. From the joy on the kid's face, you would have thought she was the one getting married! In a strange way she was! Over the years, the bond between us has grown stronger. Elaina is my child ... we would both find it offensive to have anyone say otherwise ...
(The little red purse in the layout is the actual purse she was carrying that day long ago!)