With my Grandmother

With my Grandmother

Item SKU: 26244

The best gift is time spent with you

"I carved this piece directly from my memory of time spent with my own grandmother. Sitting down with her, holding her hand, turning her wedding rings, asking questions about her life and listening to her stories. I’ve always been interested in oral history and the passing down of stories from one generation to the next. I think learning from those who have come before helps define who we are — it grounds us. Their story is our story."

Susan Lordi

Your Stories

I have seen the Willow Tree figures in many stores. I always thought they were neat. On April 2nd 2012 I saw one at a Cracker Barrel Country Store that stopped me in my tracks and filled my heart with so much emotion that all I could do was freeze and cry. The figure I saw was Grandmother. I lost my Grandmother this past year; she was 97 when the angels came to take her home. We were very close. My family lived with her while I was growing up, so she was more like my second mother. We were always together. I used to love to sit and listen to her tell stories of her childhood. I cried even more when I picked up the figure and on the back it said tell me a story--perfect!!! Of course I brought it home. It sits beside a picture of my grandmother and my son. I can't wait to get more figures and give them as gifts. I am in love now.

Submitted by Holly in North Carolina, April 2012

I have two pieces from Willow Tree and both are from daughters-in-law. This by itself is a wonderful feeling, since they are given with love. The latest, With my Grandmother, was for my recent birthday. I would like to share the letter that came with it.

Dear Sue
The moment you told me you liked the Willow Tree, I knew what I was getting you for your birthday. But the reasons were more to do with me than you. Let me explain.
The reasons I loved Willow Tree were not for the pieces themselves but for the memories they inspire. I was given my first Willow Tree piece by Mark--the couple on a Wedding Anniversary--and I loved it, it reminded me of the safety I feel when I’m enveloped in his arms. The girl and the dad I loved when I saw it and I asked Mark for it one birthday because it symbolized for me the relationship I always wanted with my father but never had, but had watched Rebecca have with Mark. Even now whenever I see it I am flooded with many memories of the special relationship they both share. She will always be to an extent Daddy’s Girl.
The Angel dancing with the little girl, I loved and purchased myself, because often whist making tea I will have the radio on and Rebecca will come down and we will twirl around the family room, which is one of my favorite memories of both of us. The boy reading on the Angels lap just reminded me of Lucas and our shared love of Literature, and I remember how even when he was little and I read to him I could see that he too was taken away too for a night and a day to where the Wild Things are.
So the reason I love Willow Tree is because some of the pieces capture for me the moments of pure happiness in my life, so when you said you liked them I wanted to get a piece that resembled the relationship between you and the children.
Both Lucas and Rebecca adore you and Tony, and so I hope the piece for you will trigger many treasured moments of where the children spent time with you. For I do know that they absolutely treasure those times just as much, as do we.

Happy Birthday beautiful person, I hope you know always you are treasured and adored.
Love Joy

Submitted by Sue in Queensland, October 2011

I have given Willow Tree figurines to my daughter. I have only one for myself which my husband gave to me, and which I cherish every day. When I saw this one I knew I had to have it, I have two beautiful and different grandaughters; one that's very close to me, and one who is a free-spirit and independent. I also have my first and only grandson on the way, so the captions of the children are very real to me. I hope he's thoughtful and caring, like my grandaughters, and I can't wait to hold him in my arms and display my Willow Tree figurine for everyone to see!Thank you so much.

Submitted by lesa in PA, September 2011

Recently, I visited my daughter and three granddaughters for two weeks. Shortly after returning home, a package arrived in the mail. Tears started rolling down my face before I even opened the box. I read "With My Grandmother" and knew it was something special. During my two week visit I spent many hours reading with my precious granddaughters cuddled up on the sofa or one of their beds, reading stories. ALL three granddaughters rested their heads on my shoulder just like the figurine. It is such a treasure. Thank you for your creation.

Submitted by Charlene in MN, March 2011

I received my first Willow Tree Angel many years ago from a dear friend when my mother passed away. It was so beautiful and meant so much to me at the time, because it was a Remembrance angel. As the years have passed I have received many more for special occasions, each one having such special meaning. For Christmas I received With my Grandmother angel from my granddaughter. It moved me to tears. My granddaughter and I have such a special bond. She is 14yrs. old and she told me that it reminded her of the way we are, Special to each other!

Submitted by Pat in Kentucky, January 2011

My granddaughter Kayla gave me this piece as a Christmas gift. It has very personal meaning to me because it brings back the memories of the stories she wrote and would read to me. It reminds me of all the times we spend together. It is something I will treasure always.

Submitted by Carolyn in Maryland, December 2010

I have a very special place in my heart for my Willow Tree family. My husband first bought me one after our son was born, and since then I recieve one every Mother's Day. This Christmas (2010) was myvery first Christmas without my grandma. She passed away suddenly in Feb. 2010--her heart just stopped. It was very heart-breaking. As I opened my gifts Cristmas morning I recieved a new Willow Tree, "With my Grandmother." This Willow Tree will forever hold the closest place in my heart, for the love I have for my gandma.

Submitted by chasidy in ok, December 2010

I just had to share this story. Last night Christmas Eve I shared gifts at my daughter's house. Both my granddaughters, ages 20 & 29, gave me the exact same Willow Tree, With my Grandmother. They both said I could exchange it for something else. I said no way. When I got home I put them both up with the rest of my collection of Willow Tree. I just love them.

Submitted by rosemaried in Ct, December 2010

My sister and I gave my daughter the Nativity and all the pieces. My sister bought me Sisters by Heart, Generations, and this Christmas she gave me Grandmother, and With My Grandmother. I know of no other artist who can capture the true essence of love the way you can. I have been blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, and I want to thank you for giving me a reminder of how lucky I am. I have given my son-in-law some as well, and he really likes them. God bless.

Submitted by frances in pa, December 2010

My Granny was the light of my life. Through all the pain and abuse I suffered as a child, she was my one constant refuge. When I look at the Willow Tree "With my Grandmother" it is the first time since her passing in 1980 that I can actually see a true portrait of what we shared together. She was my Granny, my mother, my friend and my teacher. Thank you for bringing beautiful memories to life.

Submitted by Laura in Louisiana, November 2010

I have been having a very difficult time after losing my grandmother, Nana, just 2 years ago from Cancer. I was a Senior in college when she passed away. This Thanksgiving, as I was making her homemade noodles that we all grew up on, I was overtaken with emotions. It has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through; Nana was the stone of our family and is largely responsible for the woman I am today. My fiance knew that I was having a difficult day, as the holidays have been the hardest since she's been gone. The evening before Thanksgiving, once I was finished making her famous chicken noodles, he told me that he knew I was going through a very difficult time and that he could tell I was missing Nana more than usual. He presented me with this figurine and I was overwhelmed with emotion; I hung onto this beautiful piece of art as if it were her and sobbed. I miss her every day of my life and I now have one more reminder of just how precious our time together was. Thank you so much.

Submitted by Kristin in Oregon, November 2010

My grand daughter Maggie lives a distance from me and it was so great when she was born--we made the drive at least once a month. She was our only grandchild at the time and we would declare whatever day it was. Maggie Day. We spent the entire day doing whatever she desired which usually ended up in a doll shop--she would love to play with them as well as stuffed animals of all kinds. I miss those moments with her. She is now 13 and we see her basically in the summer and holidays. She thinks she is all grown up now. I am no longer able to cook with her and make a mess in the kitchen, as I am now in a wheelchair. She has been always my first and special grand daughter. I love her so much. I now have four more granddaughters and one grandson. I love them all but Maggie will always be the first one. She collects Willow Tree and I am so glad you made the Grandmother one.Thank you. Paulette

Submitted by Paulette in South Carolina, November 2010

My father was born in Scotland and moved to Canada when he was 20 years old. I met my grandma for the first time when I was eight years old. I remember our family traveling with her to Rapid City, South Dakota; she could not get over the presidents on the mountain. She would tuck me in bed, read me my bible stories and say my prayers with me, then softly kiss my cheek. We held hands while we went for walks, and she would bake the best scones ever. I did not see my grandma very often because of the distance between us, but she left such a loving and lasting impression on me. When I had my first child at 15 it was quite a shock. Grandma got on the first plane to Canada so she could comfort me and meet her first great grandchild, crocheting sweaters and booties for him all the way here. She taught me how to crochet, and now I'm crocheting for my own beautiful granddaughter. She died in 1988 but I still feel her presence very strongly. She taught me what true unconditional love is and what strong family values are. She lives in my thought and in my heart. This carving has brought back so many wonderful memories of a beautiful loving woman who is now my very own angel. I can't wait to add this to my collection. Thank you to the artist for bringing back the memories of my grandmother. Oh, how I miss her!

Submitted by Heathermarie in Manitoba Canada, November 2010

My parents were very young when they decided to get married and have me, during the sixties. They moved in with my maternal Grandmother, who I knew as Nana. We lived in a top floor flat in south London. From a very early age I would sit on the top step of the stairs to our flat waiting for my Nana to come home from work. Even after we moved out three years later, after my sister was born, I would sit on the bottom step of the stairs in our new home by the front door every Saturday waiting for my Nana's visit.
As I grew my Nana taught me to cook, sew, knit, garden and drive.
She was without a doubt my best friend. As a teenager and then as a young single mum in my twenties I spent most of my holidays at her house with her husband who she married when I was seven. She taught me how to be a good person, how to be a good parent and how to love unconditionally.
From when I was seven we wrote to each other every week, especially after I married a scotsman and moved to Scotland--that's 35 years of letters showing the growth of the most treasured relationship.
My Nana died suddenly last year at the age of 84 after a short but painful illness, and I miss her so much. I really never realized how much you could miss someone. I love this figurine and it speaks volumes of the wonderful closeness my Nana shared and I will definitely be buying it as soon as I find it in a shop near me. Thank you God for the best friend ever.

Submitted by Karen in Inverness-shire, Scotland, September 2010

My paternal grandmother moved to our city when I was nine and only lived a short distance away. I loved it. I would spend many Friday nights at her apartment...getting to sleep in her big bed in the spare bedroom. In the morning she would let me sit in front of the TV to watch cartoons and she would bring me breakfast on a tray. Eventually my dad told me she was getting too old to have me overnight. I was terribly disappointed. I saw less of her when I got busy with high school and then she moved into a retirement community. As a senior in high school, I got my first job as a nursing assistant on the nursing home side of the community. When I started college, I would take the bus there and since I would usually have time before my shift, I would go to visit her, and often would take my breaks with her. It's a time I hold very dear. When she started to get sicker, she spent some time on the floor that I was working on and I got to take care of her. She died in 1983, when I was only 19. I took it very hard. Dad told me I was going to be a pall bearer, along with my brother, two cousins and two great-nephews of my grandmother (in other words, four of her grandchildren). I was so upset, I said no, I just couldn't do it. But when I got to the funeral home I was whisked away to get my instructions with everyone else. It was so hard but as I carried her casket to it's final resting place, it felt right. I tear up just thinking about it. Just a month ago, my family stopped to visit her grave. I brought a dozen yellow roses, her favorite, and mine, and my 14 year old son and I arranged them on her tombstone. I can hardly believe it's been 27 years but I still miss her. I have not seen this figurine before but I hope I can find it to have another thing to honor her memory.

Submitted by Nancy in Minnesota, September 2010

After making my weekly visit to the local Hallmark store in town, I noticed the new Willow Tree figuirines. The With my Grandmother figuirine caught my eye as my grandmother was a very special and dear person to me who passed away when I was just 12 years old. She died very suddenly away from home and I miss her more than words can express every day. She used to tell me stories of "when she was a little girl" and we would play dress up in her clothes. This figuirine was purchased for me by my Aunt (my grandmother's daughter) for my birthday only a few weeks after it was released. After opening the box and reading the note from Susan Lordi, tears streamed down my face as a wave of memories of my grandmother filled my thoughts. Now, everytime I look at this, I remember.....

Submitted by Kelli in Pennsylvania, July 2010

When I saw this piece in a store flyer, I thought immediately that it looked like me with my 88 year old Grandma. I am 43. The funny thing was that I didn't know yet that this was what the piece was called! I was very close to my Gram who suffered these past 6 years with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. I would take her out shopping and such on Fridays and we'd return to my house and sit on the couch together, just exactly how this piece is shown. We'd talk about the old days or sing hymns that she could recall. I lost my Gram on 5/21/10, just before I saw this Willowtree angel! My loving husband came home with it for me 2 days after seeing it! The card from Susan Lordi that comes with the piece is PERFECT and the vellum note enclosed as well, touched my heart in ways I can't explain. Thank you for another amazing piece that warms & understands my heart in so many ways! I have now a total of 18 Willow Tree angels to admire!

Submitted by Heidi in Massachusetts, July 2010

I became severely ill in August 2008 and have been hospitalized at least twenty times since. My daughter spends a lot of time with my mother because of my illness. I don't know where we would be without the relationship that my daughter shares with my mother. Harper shares an amazing bond with her grandmother. She brings out the kid in her grandmother who now jumps in puddles with her and has slumber parties with her. My mom made me who I am, and I feel blessed to know that my mom tries to do things with my daughter that she knows I wish I could do with her. As sick as I am and the despite the stress my mom is under she always has open arms and an open heart for my daughter. They love each other's company and I don't know who makes who happier. I just know that being a sick mom is hard but it helps immensely to know that my daughter loves to spend time with her grandmother.