wow -- you know i have now thought about this for 4 days and there are so many words of love that i have been blessed and honors to receive from GTJ and Miss sunshine herself, rachel that i couldnt narrow it down to one -- so please bear with me !
i "met" GTJ when it was still giving tree gallery and ordered my first Jeannie Payer piece - a necklace. I think it was rachel who helped me pick it out -- and the saying was about getting through a hard time just like all the others before me and from that i drew strength to leave an abusive relationship i was in....
I always stayed "in touch" by checking your site monthly and when i was living on my own with my first dog and not sure what i was doing (and living paycheck to paycheck), i saved all my birthday and christmas money and bought myself Me & Ro's fearless bead bracelet to give me strength -
when i lost my job this last year was was worried about loosing everything i had worked so hard to get -- i "ran into" GTJ on facebook and met some extraordinary women how have touched my heart, saved my soul and made me laugh more times than i can count...although they didnt know it -- they helped me through any low times and made me remember that "its all good" and that others were there and loved me even though they had never met me at all...(now if that doesnt boost your soul, nothing will!)
and my life didnt fall apart -- and i made it though -- and got a job -- i contacted rachel and we picked the perfect jeanine payer necklace (my dear rochelle) to remind me that my life is what i make of it -- that my thoughts become things and i should choose them wisely --
and now i am planning my wedding...and making jewelry to hopefully, by years end, become a "seed" of a place that in my heart of hearts, is where the sun goes to get renewed strength....and where the hopeless go to get a hug...and where one can go, just to be themselves and be loved...to Giving Tree Jewelry... so thank you dear rachel -- and dear judith (although i have not met you - i love you too !!) for all you do....you are not saving lives (no need to be dramatic -- ) you guys (and laura too !) save souls....
hugs and kisses ! - Heather My "thankfulness" story begins here.....six years ago on June 29th my Mom and I walked out of the hospital for the last time. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue and everything around us was in bloom. We had just said Good-bye to my Dad, her husband, and had watched him slowly take his very last breath....me at the head of his bed, talking softly to him and telling him how much I loved him, telling him it was okay to let go, that we would be alright. Sometime earlier in the previous two weeks as we slept little, ate little and made our way to the ICU each day my Mom had shown me a quote that my Dad had read every time he got scared...and in the preceding 6 months since he had been diagnosed with lung cancer he had been scared ALOT. The quote is: I Like this quote I dislike this quote, “Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew.” As we sat in the car the afternoon he died, my Mom reminded me of the quote and told me that I had given my Dad the permission he needed that day to "fly". Some months later I contacted Rachel for the very first time and asked if Jeanine Payer would be able to put this quote on a necklace for me and explained the reason for the quote....she lovingly filled my order....and my beautiful necklace arrived soon after. Since that time 6 years ago (but really quite recently) Rachel has become such a dear, sweet and loving friend....now that I know her so much better and know more about Giving Tree Jewelry I know that making that necklace happen for me was an act of pure love on her part for a total stranger who had just lost her Dad. I am forever thankful for her and GTJ for being an irreplaceable part of my life!! MUCH LOVE!!! XXXXXXXX! - Christine Taylor The Giving Tree, What are my words of love to describe my pieces and experience with the ‘Giving Tree’? That’s easy and I have plenty, literally – appreciation, inspiration, friendliness, joyfulness, gratefulness, beauty and love itself. I appreciate all the words of love you’ve given to me. I am inspired by your love of life and constant selfless desire to give, whether it is for charity or helping others ‘find the perfect piece’. I loved the hospitality you showed when I showed up fairly last minute and that I felt so welcomed and comfortable. Everyone was so friendly then and every time I’ve communicated with you. I feel happy and full of joy each time I read your blogs, postings and emails, even if it is ‘business’ related because it never feels like just a business transaction. I am grateful that you’ve come into my life. Everyone there is beautiful both inside and out for all that you do for others. I just out right love you guys and each and every piece I own. Outside of my family I cannot think of a happier place I enjoy going to feel so much love and goodness. I enjoy the blogs, I just love to look at the jewelry on the website all the time, and I love to read everyone’s comments on Facebook as they are inspiring as well. In a world that needs more unconditional love and hope, I see you much like myself trying to see and or make the glass half full for ourselves and everyone around us. I think we enjoy showing those same people in our lives how much we appreciate them, what we have and what we are able to do. You and my pieces make me ‘BELIEVE’ when I doubt, you make me ‘BELIEVE’ in myself and you make me ‘BELIEVE’ that this is possible for my kids and that this is the world I want them to grow up in. No color, no race, no ethnicity, no social classes. We are all human beings that deserve to be surrounded by love and in turn love blindly, often and generously. With love, Monica GivingTreeJewelry was introduced to me years ago by my friend Athena. When a piece I was given didn't fit, I emailed the store, hoping maybe they would let me exchange the piece. The stellar customer service Rachel provided actually shocked me! Never had I dealt with a company this kind and easy to deal with. I happily exchanged my necklace, and have been hooked on Giving Tree ever since! I can't tell you how many times I've purchased gifts from GTJ. It's literally my first stop every time I need a gift! All of my friends know and smile when they see the beautiful brown boxes with the ribbon and golden apple! GTJ is always happy to work on custom orders and special needs. I always feel like an important and valued customer no matter how much or how little I spend. It's always a good day when you have a package from GTJ at your door. Opening the gorgeous golden tissue paper, and revealing your newest treasure is such a delight. I feel proud to support, and now to be a part, of GTJ! -Jennifer Gunn
My "thankfulness" story begins here.....six years ago on June 29th my Mom and I walked out of the hospital for the last time. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue and everything around us was in bloom. We had just said Good-bye to my Dad, her husband, and had watched him slowly take his very last breath....me at the head of his bed, talking softly to him and telling him how much I loved him, telling him it was okay to let go, that we would be alright. Sometime earlier in the previous two weeks as we slept little, ate little and made our way to the ICU each day my Mom had shown me a quote that my Dad had read every time he got scared...and in the preceding 6 months since he had been diagnosed with lung cancer he had been scared ALOT.
The quote is:
I Like this quote I dislike this quote, “Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew.”
As we sat in the car the afternoon he died, my Mom reminded me of the quote and told me that I had given my Dad the permission he needed that day to "fly".
Some months later I contacted Rachel for the very first time and asked if Jeanine Payer would be able to put this quote on a necklace for me and explained the reason for the quote....she lovingly filled my order....and my beautiful necklace arrived soon after. Since that time 6 years ago (but really quite recently) Rachel has become such a dear, sweet and loving friend....now that I know her so much better and know more about Giving Tree Jewelry I know that making that necklace happen for me was an act of pure love on her part for a total stranger who had just lost her Dad. I am forever thankful for her and GTJ for being an irreplaceable part of my life!!
MUCH LOVE!!! XXXXXXXX!
- Christine Taylor
The Giving Tree, What are my words of love to describe my pieces and experience with the ‘Giving Tree’? That’s easy and I have plenty, literally – appreciation, inspiration, friendliness, joyfulness, gratefulness, beauty and love itself. I appreciate all the words of love you’ve given to me. I am inspired by your love of life and constant selfless desire to give, whether it is for charity or helping others ‘find the perfect piece’. I loved the hospitality you showed when I showed up fairly last minute and that I felt so welcomed and comfortable. Everyone was so friendly then and every time I’ve communicated with you. I feel happy and full of joy each time I read your blogs, postings and emails, even if it is ‘business’ related because it never feels like just a business transaction. I am grateful that you’ve come into my life. Everyone there is beautiful both inside and out for all that you do for others. I just out right love you guys and each and every piece I own. Outside of my family I cannot think of a happier place I enjoy going to feel so much love and goodness. I enjoy the blogs, I just love to look at the jewelry on the website all the time, and I love to read everyone’s comments on Facebook as they are inspiring as well. In a world that needs more unconditional love and hope, I see you much like myself trying to see and or make the glass half full for ourselves and everyone around us. I think we enjoy showing those same people in our lives how much we appreciate them, what we have and what we are able to do. You and my pieces make me ‘BELIEVE’ when I doubt, you make me ‘BELIEVE’ in myself and you make me ‘BELIEVE’ that this is possible for my kids and that this is the world I want them to grow up in. No color, no race, no ethnicity, no social classes. We are all human beings that deserve to be surrounded by love and in turn love blindly, often and generously. With love, Monica
GivingTreeJewelry was introduced to me years ago by my friend Athena. When a piece I was given didn't fit, I emailed the store, hoping maybe they would let me exchange the piece. The stellar customer service Rachel provided actually shocked me! Never had I dealt with a company this kind and easy to deal with. I happily exchanged my necklace, and have been hooked on Giving Tree ever since! I can't tell you how many times I've purchased gifts from GTJ. It's literally my first stop every time I need a gift! All of my friends know and smile when they see the beautiful brown boxes with the ribbon and golden apple! GTJ is always happy to work on custom orders and special needs. I always feel like an important and valued customer no matter how much or how little I spend. It's always a good day when you have a package from GTJ at your door. Opening the gorgeous golden tissue paper, and revealing your newest treasure is such a delight. I feel proud to support, and now to be a part, of GTJ! -Jennifer Gunn