by Esther P. Chase

Charms for Anniversaries and the Kids Accomplishments

Charms for a charm bracelet, in 14kt or 10kt gold, in white and yellow or sterling silver, mark those most precious of memories. I remember, just like it was yesterday, the acquisition of my 10th anniversary gold charm to my vast charm jewelry collection. It was June and Steve and I searched the Anniversary Charm Collection at Chains and Charms. We had booked an African safari trip in celebration, and of course, I had to obtain one of the African sterling silver charms for my charm bracelet to mark such a momentous occasion. Thank God for grandparents, the often times under appreciated built-in babysitters.

Talk of vacation reminds me of the summer after Stevie-who still wishes to be called SP-finished the second grade and Elizabeth, first grade. It was the perfect time for a trip to Disney World. They were still young enough to enjoy it, but old enough to remember. It took many visits to www.chains-and-charms.com to decide on the appropriate travel charms. Finally, Stevie and Elizabeth decided on airplane charms and Florida charms for their charm bracelets. We also decided it would be good timing for me to return to teaching in the fall. The children's schedules coincided beautifully with Steve's and mine. He was usually available to monitor after-school activities for the children.

15th anniversary

Before we knew it, the years passed by and Steve and I were quickly approaching our 15th wedding anniversary. I could hardly believe it! As Steve and I searched for the charm to commemorate our anniversary, we reminisced about the charms we had collected for our children over the years. Confirmation charms, scouting charms, and nutcracker charms all were added to their charms bracelet as the years passed. The next big occasion that warranted yet another charm addition was Elizabeth's sweet sixteen and Stevie's completion of high school. He had begun research on possible colleges he wished to attend, however, Stevie was undecided about possible career paths. Elizabeth on the other hand, was adamant about being a veterinarian.

Elizabeth's sweet sixteen party was a huge success. Giving her the charms bracelet was bittersweet; both Steve and I had to hold back tears. We had added a sweet sixteen charm to her charm bracelet and her brother contributed two charms from the extensive animal charms collection to honor her determination to be a veterinarian. She was delighted, looking forward to adding a car and driver's license charm to her charms bracelet.

Another five years elapsed and our 20th wedding anniversary almost slipped by without celebration. Fortunately, my wonderful husband (obviously not the absent minded professor) had visited www.chains-and-charms.com and perused the anniversary charms collection. He ordered one of the 14kt gold charms to be added to my charms bracelet. With one child in college and another soon to enter college, we limited our celebration to a lovely candlelight dinner.

Chapter 12 - Charms for the Kids College Years