What a nice surprise this morning; I opened my door to leave for work and found a Grinch box on my front porch. Santa's elf was very silent when s/he left it so I had no idea something was waiting for me. I put it in the truck and drove to work, thinking it was a gift I'd ordered for my husband.

After I got home, I started thinking and it occurred to me it might be from my Secret Santa. My husband and one of my boys tried to convince me to wait until Christmas, but I opted to open tonight :-)

It was beautifully wrapped in a pretty green drawstring bag. I opened it and wiggled the box out. Opening the box I discovered a beautiful bronze-finish round box with a dragonfly and water lilies on the top, and more water lilies around the sides. It is very hefty and solid, which I like.

My youngest brother passed away 2.5 years ago, and I think that this may go on my mantle with a bit of his ashes in it; a way to keep him near me. Dragonflies are the symbol my family relates to my Granny and my brother, so I think it would be very fitting to have him resting in such a box.

One of the photos is of the memorial tattoo I got on the first anniversary of his death. His name was Chris, and his name in my tattoo is his handwriting.