I think I know where Sharni/Alassë got her enthusiasm, creativity and thoughtfulness from.

Her parents took Henry for a spin while he was in Oz, and just yesterday...my daughter's class received a rather sizable box of goodies from them. Items included more pictures of the places Henry visited, some more Aussie friends, and a real (and hopefully not very accurate) boomerang! The teacher is thrilled with the items and the entire class is having a great time learning about everywhere Henry was.

The paperclip was part of a homemade bracelet she put on him. She claims it was an effort to be creative before she got beading supplies for Christmas, but I think it was really an attempt to get Customs to open the box!

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Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.