Isn't she a beauty? I have long awaited this gifted for two years. My parents decided that when us girls were 20 that we could get a hope chest. My sister received her gift and after a year of searching she found the perfect hope chest for her. I decided I didn't want to wait that long after my birthday and started praying that I'd find my hope chest. My prayer went so far as to include this "Please God let me find a hope chest VERY soon after my birthday or better yet on my birthday. Let it be a beautiful brown color, cedar lined, absolutely beautiful and 100% perfect for me. I really, really want a lock to come with it cause you know how much I adore locks. Thank you. amen,"

Two years and roughly 10 months later. Mom decided it was time to start looking. Kate, mom and I took a look around a store, but found no hope chest. My second time out, Dad with me and mom. We stopped by a Carolina Furniture store off of Broadway and looked around. Just as we head out the store...I saw it. My Hope chest. The beautiful shinning walnut color beckoned me. I touched the lock on the outside of the sleek, clean, and yet warm chest. The smell of cedar rose to meet me and a drawer, an extra bonus of which I had not prayed for greeted me. One glance, I knew that was it. I decided to wait for a few days just to make sure that it was really it. On Thursday we stop by, I just couldn't wait any longer. So three days before my birthday we purchased it. The day of my birthday, my sweet brother lent us his van and I saw my present come home. It rests sweetly at the end of my bed, ready for hopes and dreams of a life ahead.