Morgan asked me to make her Queen of Hearts costume for her 13th birthday party and Halloween costume. I had shown her a picture of a Ariel dress I had made for Taylor when Sis was in high school and told her to just call me if she needed me.
When she decided to have a murder/mystery dinner party for her birthday celebration, she showed me a pin on Pinterest, and we set a date for lunch and shopping and sewing and creating. A delightful sprite, Morgan is inquisitive, thoughtful, pensive and joyous - all in a matter of minutes. She competes for Jenks on an elite gymnastics team; so she is a talented athlete as well. She is my brother's daughter and my beautiful niece.
Making her costume was a gift, and I treasured it because selfishly, I felt needed again. However, it wasn't the last gift to be given.
The party, a huge success, hosted 20 pre-teens all dressed up for the role they were given in the murder mystery. Little Bo Peep was present, as was Cinderella Alice in Wonderland, Jasmine and many, many others. Morgan's mom had food and treats and had masterfully planned the perfect evening for her girl. My parents and my brother and I all helped Teresa, (mom), Lizzy (Morgan's aunt) and Janie (grandma) serve the girls. We marveled at how well they played their roles in the mystery - this was serious stuff.
Curiously, there were no gifts. As we talked about it that night back at my house, my mom told Joey that Morgan had asked for the her friends not to bring her any gifts. Instead of gifts, Morgan asked her friends to donate to Taylor's scholarship at Union (all these girls go to Jenks) or to donate funds toward the underwear drive at their school.
I'm always so shocked. I couldn't breathe. I know my family expected me to be touched, and I was, but I just couldn't even breathe. She's 13. This should be about make-up and gift cards and scarves and her i-tunes account. Oh my. Simply - oh my.
This isn't the first time Morgan has chosen to have her gifts sent somewhere else. When she was just a little girl, she told her parents she didn't need any more stuffed animals, and we should have everyone send a stuffed animal to children in Africa who didn't have any. She even provided us the agency and the address.
I sent my brother and Morgan's mom each a text, "You have an amazing daughter."
The only thing left to say after that is - #golighttheworld Morgan Brooke. Thank you sweet girl. We should all be so driven. We love you so.
#golighttheworld
#TRW
#KNW