The family portrait

Estephanie, when she was 7 years of age in the CI program received a special welcome/birthday gift from me. She purchased a mattress, a bicycle and a beautiful dress.

I was new to sponsorship in Guatemala, so specified a dress in my EG only because the colorful tradition of her nation. But when I later received the follow-up report, we all including the staff at CIKC were surprised by what we saw.

I had envisioned a completely different style of dress, however CI explained to me that Estephanie does not live in an indigenous area of Guatemala, so she would not want to wear what we would consider a traditional type of dress. I love the choice she made.. really says a lot about her personality. She looks like a little princess.

She also chose sparkly silver shoes to go with that beautiful dress. She has a very special place in my heart. It wouldn’t surprise me that one day she will be a fashionista! It’s amazing that her gift of love can mean so much.

And to make our everlasting memories, I gave Estephanie a three-fold portrait of a photo panel (5" x 7") displaying her birthday dress and the family photos taken with the doll I sent earlier with her name embroidered. I was told that the actual panels are very beautiful and shining. It is one of my all-time favorites!

Ed & Ailan at Wine Country Embroidery in California, USA personally spent a lot of their time on this for imprinting a name on the panels and making the actual message on a decorative card fashioned by Ailan herself.

When I told the couple after Estephanie receiving the gift, Ailan said.. "We are very happy she likes it. It makes us feel very good. Thank you very much for the sharing."

Four years later, I'm still in awe of remembering my fashion diva at heart when she read out the message to her mom after unpacking the package.

(photos added to my SCS blog)

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