My daughter has been giving me these for several years for my birthday and for Christmas. We had decided that we would not exchange gifts this year because money was short. This morning we hugged each other, exchanged I Love You and hope for a better year to come. As I turned to the living room in my chair was "Sunshine" holding her daisies and a cross. She said she could not let a Christmas go by without telling me how very much she loved me. The gift gave me hope and a promise of things better to come.Thank you and thank my daughter.

Submitted by Irene in Texas, December 2011

October, 18th 30 years ago, my beautiful daughter Amy Marie was born. Oh what joy she brought into my life. When she was only 14 years old she got a rare virus and was in a coma for two months until she became my little angel in Heaven. Happy Birthday to her today. Every birthday that she has not been with us I have always bought a angel in memory of her, I have been buying Willow Tree angels for the last 7 years, they are so peacful looking. Today I bought the Sunshine Angel with sunflowers. I know my daughter would have liked the flowers. Thank you for making such beautiful angels; they give me a little joy on this day.

Submitted by jennie in oregon, October 2011

Today is October, 18th 30 years ago today my beautiful daughter Amy Marie was born, oh what joy she brought into my life. When she was only 14 years old she got a rare virus and was in a coma for 2 months until she became my little angel in heaven. Happy Birthday to her today. Every Birthday that she has not been with us I have always bought an angel in memory of her, I have been buying Willow Tree angels for the last 7 years; they are so peacful looking. Today I bought the Sunshine Angel with sunflowers. I know my daughter would have liked the flowers. Thank you for making such beautiful angels, they give me a little joy on this day.

Submitted by jennie in oregon, October 2011

I started collecting Willow Tree Angels a few years ago and I keep them in my office at work. At this job, I met a friend whose nickname for me is "Sunshine" and I haven't yet bought my "yearly" Angel, but I know EXACTLY what Angel I will be getting for my collection.

Submitted by Sherrita in Tennessee, August 2011

My mother passed away in March and my daughter gave me "Sunshine," the figurine holding sunflowers. I have a picture of my mother in a field of sunflowers which she loved dearly. One of my granddaughters wanted to place sunflowers by her casket, but all we could find at the time were artificial ones. I now have my Willow Tree figurine next to the picture of my mom amongst the sunflowers.

Submitted by Janet in Ohio, June 2011

I received my first Willow Tree from my God-daughter, Heather for my birthday. When she gave it to me she said that I always bring her sunshine. Heather is so special to me and when I see her I smile; she brings me sunshine too. She said that she wanted to get me one with wings, as she calls me FGM - Fairy Godmother. I will treasure this always and will smile and think of sunshine and my lovely God-daughter everytime I look at it.

Submitted by Carol in Scotland, May 2011

I write a daily devotional that goes out from our churche's website. Today I wrote about my Willow Tree experience and just wanted to pass it along to you. You can find it at www.westbrook.org under the daily devotional 2/16/11. Blessings to you. Here is what I wrote,

"The Face You See"


"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

1 Corinthians 13:12


I always have wondered why the Willow Tree figurines that we sell in our bookstore are faceless. This morning I had my daughter mark some pieces she thought would be good to sell. I enjoyed reading the artist's captions that accompanied most of the pieces, explaining her motivation for their creation.  Some of them reminded me of people I know, and had the figurine had a face already associated with it I might not have made the connection to people in my own life. The more I considered it the more I liked the concept, as these figurines then allow each individual person to associate the face they desire with the figurine.

I like how the artist has created different poses and situations that almost anyone can relate at some point in life, young or old. If it's a mother sitting in a rocking chair under a quilt snuggling with her infant child, or a couple standing side by side with the wife's stomach showing she is pregnant, to complete sets making up any size family all in different poses, there is a Willow Tree figurine that will eventually capture your attention and stir your heart, if you will allow yourself to go there. Or at least it was for me.

I could find a precious memory with the turn of each page, from being a child myself in my own mother's arms to remembering how my wife has lovingly cared for our own children through the years.  I love the tenderness expressed in each piece, like the one that shows a father holding his new born baby in the palm of his hands. I loved the ones of couples holding on to one another or sitting side by side as if they are looking out into the future together. My favorite though was a husband and wife enjoying a slow dance. There was one of a woman in a beautiful white flowing dress holding a red heart in her hands that reminded me of my wife, a picture of both style and grace. I loved all the figurines of children, as they seemed to capture each stage of life.

These figurines provided for me a chance to go down memory lane this morning, and what a beautiful trip it was. As I was closing the book though I saw one particular figurine that just stopped me in my tracks. I think it was the bright yellow flowers that first caught my eye and then when I read the caption associated with it the memories came flooding in along with the tears that filled my eyes as I saw one face in particular. The figurine was titled, "Sunshine" and it said, "Everyone knows somebody that lights up a room when he or she walks in--someone who captures the essence of life---who's fun to be around--who brings energy and light. You're always happy to see that person--it's like when the sun comes out."

As I read those words and focused on the pose of that figurine I could see as clearly as day the face of my daughter's best friend who went home to be with Jesus almost seven years ago this year. Danielle would light up a room when she walked in. When I first began writing about Danielle's life and when I read the sentiment for Sunshine, it took me back to those days when I would walk in my house and hear her voice and see that radiant face. Her face was the expression of life, of laughter and love. To top it off, this figurine along with the basket of yellow flowers in her arms has angel's wings. This reminds me all the more of Danielle's current state, in the very presence of God. I tried to imagine how beautiful her face is today in the light of His glory.

I sat in awe of how God could use a piece of art to capture my mind and heart, and remind me of a plaque my daughter has on the wall of her home that says, "life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away." I thank God for the faces that come to my mind today, the people in my own life who have and who do still take my breath away. My hope and prayer for you today, my friends, is that you see beauty in the faces of those you love today whether together or apart. When you recall their face you are thankful to God for the moments however many or few you have together, and that the moments you share are cherished forever. Like these figurines, life is fragile--handle it with loving care.

"As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man."

Proverbs 27:19

I LOVE YOU!

Submitted by mike in ca, February 2011