Veta's winning paper!

Molinelli's Jewelers (a local jewelry store here) sponsored an essay contest at Veta's school for Mother's Day.  Up to five essays from each class were selected as best, and the children who wrote them were awarded a certificate that they could bring into Molinelli's for a free gemstone to give to their moms for Mother's Day.  Veta's essay was one of the winners from her class.  I remember the day that she wrote it; she was so anxious when she came home.  When I asked her what was the matter, she told me that she had written an essay for Mother's Day to try and win a gem for me and she really, really hoped that she would win because she really wanted to be able to give me a gem for Mother's Day.

We decided to have the stone set in a necklace so we
could share it  ♥  Veta modeled it for this picture.

Two weeks later, she burst through the door after coming home from school, shouting, "I won!  I did it!"  I had forgotten about the competition, but Veta was quick to remind me.  She was so ecstatic!  We went in to Molinelli's the Saturday before Mother's Day to redeem her certificate.  The selection was a little picked over since we didn't go earlier in the week, but Veta found a pretty, sparkly pink stone that she wanted to get.  The jewelry store people called me this morning to let me know that they had set the stone and we could come pick it up.  After Veta got home from school and Hazel's friend went home, we ran over and picked it up.