This is the story of how some missing Smith heirlooms were found at the bottom of a bag of beans at a food pantry.
I know. Crazy right?
Let’s set our story’s stage by looking at the main characters.
First: a velvet bag.
Second: the contents of the bag, including Vernie and Ken’s wedding rings and Vernie’s pearls. (Vernie’s glasses are not so priceless so we’ll call them a supporting character.)
Third: a black bag. (Another supporting character.)
Vernie had worn the pictured pearls at her wedding 68 years ago and Sarah had worn the pearls at her wedding last year; they were also a part of Vernie’s funeral outfit. As you can imagine, the items were beyond precious and sentimental.
So how did they happen to end up in a bag of beans?
I’m glad you asked.
A few days after arriving home from Vernie’s April funeral, Steve and I realized we had lost the little velvet bag with its precious cargo. We looked every place we could think of but it was nowhere to be found. Not a good feeling, especially when we had to tell Sarah about it. (Vernie had passed the items down to her.) We eventually figured it would just show up eventually in a place we least expected and stopped searching.
Well, the bag did show up. And it was in a place we least expected–the aforementioned bag of the aforementioned beans.
I’m sure your next thought is, “So how in the world did your precious items end up in a food pantry?”
Here’s the scoop.
On our way home from Vernie’s funeral, a sweet church friend texted to say she had left several bags of dried beans for us on our porch. When we arrived home we took the beans inside along with all of our luggage and a million pieces of miscellany.
As I worked on putting trip stuff away over the next couple of days I realized I wasn’t going to be able to use up all the beans and decided to take some to the church food pantry. I spied a black shopping bag nearby and threw in some of the beans. Unbeknownst to me, I was tossing those beans on top of a certain small, velvet pouch–a pouch that did not have any weight to it, didn’t rattle, and was not readily visible in the dark recesses of the bag.
I delivered the bag to the food pantry basket in our lobby and it stayed there until last week when our bookkeeper, Cindy, took it to the central food pantry in town.
Shortly thereafter, I got an interesting text from Cindy which said, “Today I took our Food Pantry items to the Mt. Olivet Food Bank. We just got a call from them that there were personal items in the bottom of a bag of dried beans. I believe they belonged to Steve’s parents.”
And then she added, “It’s some pearls and wedding rings.”
Well. I was floored.
First, because the items had been found. Second, because there were so many things that had to go right in order for those items to get back to us.
When they saw it was in Charlotte, they recalled that Vernie had been buried in Charlotte. And then they recalled Sarah’s beautiful pearls at her wedding. And voila! The mystery of the beans and beads was solved.
When I went to the church to pick them up from Cindy, she was actually in tears when she gave them to me–so cognizant of the miracle of their return and so aware of how special they were to our family.
It seems funny to me that while we were searching for the black bag at home, I was walking by it every day in the church lobby, never knowing it was right there.
We are beyond grateful.
Sarah and Gage went to Williamsburg, VA for their first anniversary. Since they are such fans of vintage/old-fashioned clothes and surroundings, it was a place they truly loved.
What about you?
Have you ever lost something that’s turned up in an unexpected place?
Or have you ever lost something important that hasn’t turned up at all?
Have you been to Williamsburg? What did you love about it?
What an incredible story! God is always in the details, isn’t he?
Sarah looks great in her glasses and their trip looks like it was just perfect for them. I’ve never been to Williamsburg but now I’m intrigued!
Suzanne,
Incredible is right. So, so thankful!
I’d love to go to Williamsburg too, now that I’ve seen their photos.
I have loved reading the stories of treasures lost and found. My story is not my own, but my Auntie’s and my Grandma’s.
My Auntie had gone to my grandparents’ house to help them lay sod in their yard. When they came inside, she realized with horror that her wedding ring was lost. She was devastated. Grandpa, being Grandpa, built screens to screen all the dirt in the yard. To no avail. Grandma, being Grandma, prayed. She then felt like God was telling her to go to the garden to a very specific piece of sod and look under it. She did as she was told and pulled the sod back. Hanging in the roots was the ring.
Robin,
Kudos to your grandpa for doing all in his power. Kudos to your grandma for doing all in her power. And praises to God for doing all in His power.
What an amazing story!
Gage and Sarah look so at home in Williamsburg. Such lovely pictures of a lovely couple! And I didn’t know Sarah wore glasses either. She looks so cute in them!
And the return of the jewelry? Beyond amazing and truly a miracle. I love your blog title too of the beans and the beads–captures the story perfectly!
Love to all,
Deb
Deb,
Sarah doesn’t need the glasses; she just wears them for dramatic effect. Although there is something built-in that protects her eyes from computer screen lights and the ring light they use for their filmed announcements, both of which bother her a llittle.
What a precious story to be passed down to future generations. I’m glad the treasures were found and also that Gage & Sarah were able to enjoy a trip to Williamsburg for their anniversary. Our youth group went to Williamsburg (and got to attend church there that Sunday morning) and Busch Gardens one year. Hope you and yours have a wonderful week!
Sue Ellen,
Williamsburg and Busch Gardens are great places for youth groups–and us older folks, too!
Have a great week!
I have never been to Williamsburg. I’ve only been to Richmond in Virginia and that was a work trip so no sightseeing. I did go to Charleston, SC and loved it.
I have a story about losing something and never finding it. A few years ago, I had a pair of opal earrings that I wore most every day. One time when I was at my parents’ house, I took them off in the evening. I thought I laid them on the end table or coffee table. I looked everywhere for them, in the couch cushions, etc. I thought sure I would find them when I cleaned out their house to get it ready to sell. I never did.
About four years ago, my mom got a new pair of glasses. They weren’t cheap as they were trifocals and also darkened when she was out in the sunlight. A couple years ago, pre-COVID, she couldn’t find her new glasses. She had an old pair that she could wear but liked the newer ones. She looked everywhere for those glasses. Since they were nowhere to be found, I told her we would get some reading glasses at Walmart. I put a pair in the cart and got the rest of the things they needed – I always tried to stock up on groceries when I went to their house so they didn’t have to go. She liked to go with me but would sit down up front when she was tired. She was sitting up by the registers as I checked out. I had given the cashiers the reusable bags. She opened the first one to fill it and handed me a pair of glasses. At first I thought it was the readers I was buying. No, it was the glasses my mom had looked all over the house for. Apparently when she folded the bags after one of the last trips, the glasses had fallen in one of the bags and she had folded them up in there. Needless to say, I told the cashier I didn’t need the readers.
Glad you found the pearls and rings!
Phyllis,
Oh my. What a great story! I bet you couldn’t wait to run over and tell your mom that fabulous news. 🙂
So sorry you didn’t find your opal earrings. Some things turn up and some never do.
PTL for honest people. The Lord really worked this out in a mysterious way. Yes, we have been to Williamsburg – I loved it. One thing that is strange is that you hear about some of these folks and in a way (at least to me) they almost sound like a fairy tale – then you come here and they were really folks that lived and died – they weren’t a fairy story. One of my favorite foods is Chicken Pot Pie – and I had it there – soooo good. It is one of the first things I look for on a menu when visiting a new restaurant. So glad Gage and Sarah were able to go there – Know it will be a vacation to treasure.
Sharyn,
What a great point that visiting Williamsburg made those “famous” people so real to you. It’s the same thing with people in the Bible. We tend to think they somehow were different than us but nope–we are all human, all flesh and blood.
So glad you got to experience that.
I am happy to hear that the heirlooms found their way back home. I love stories about honest people doing the right thing!
Happy Anniversary to Sarah and Gage Long!
Gloria,
Yes. Extremely thankful for an honest food pantry worker. We sent a thank you. 🙂
So happy you got your heirlooms back! I once lost a ring that was extremely important to me. I was absolutely sure I had set it down on the arm of the couch to put lotion on, but I looked and looked for weeks and could never find it. Then when I was getting ready to move, many moons later, I lifted up the couch and the ring rolled onto the carpet. It was great.
I think I went to Williamsburg once, as a kid… probably time for another visit. Maybe that can be on my list of fun summer plans!
Kristina,
That was my thought on the pearls; that they would show up whenever we were to move. But nope. They would NOT have!
So glad that was the case for you. I bet you did some happy dancing.
About 2 years ago I lost 1 earring from a set that my mom got me when I first had my ears pierced. They were favorites of mine. I looked everywhere and figured they washed down the shower drain. Just recently I noticed a glint behind the leg of a low chest. My lost earing gratefully found. A jacket I had patches sewn on was stolen right after I just sewed on some of my dads WWII patches. 20 years later I found a new patch of his unit at a museum store in France. Wasn’t my dad’s but it was the same patch. I have been to Williamsburg and loved it. Had fun watching a school group being drilled like soldiers and had a great meal at a fancy old house. Hope to go back sometime
Patti,
How sad that someone would steal an obviously irreplaceable jacket last that. And what a great thing to have found that patch at the store in France. I know it must have warmed your heart when you saw it.
I’ve never been to Williamsburg but everyone talking about it is making me want to go!
It must be the pearls! My daughter got married in March and wore my pearls which we passed down from my grandmother-her great-grandmother-whom she never met. After the wedding, she and her now husband changed out of their wedding attire and left on their honeymoon. I went to the room to retrieve the clothing before we left the venue. I didn’t even think about the pearls, as I was worried about cleaning up the mess and getting the room back in shape. The next morning, I was going through all of the bags and boxes that we had dumped coming in from the wedding the night before and realized that the pearls as well as her diamond earrings were both missing. I panicked. I had absolutely no idea where they were but decided they had to be in something in the house. I prayed, calmed down, and proceeded to finish unpacking all of the things.
Fast-forward two days later, one of the women who was cleaning the venue dropped her cell phone into the dumpster behind the venue. While she was in there, she noticed something shining on the dumpster floor. She looked to see that it was a diamond earring. She immediately called me knowing that we were the last ones there and ask if we had lost a diamond earring. I told her we’d last two and a set of pearls. She went back to that dumpster and found the other earring and the pearls. They must have gotten wrapped up in some paper that was thrown out and luckily wasn’t put in a bag just thrown in the dumpster loose. God is in all of our details.
Lisa,
Oh my. That story just gives me chills, especially after what we have just been through. Even though that lady was probably very frustrated about losing her cell phone, that loss became your miracle.
Rejoicing with you in Manteo.
The Long’s trip looks like fun! I love Sarah’s glasses too.
What a miracle that the treasures were found and returned!
When my mom died in 1996, I was given a ring that her parents gave her when she was confirmed in 1943. They were dirt poor so must have made some sacrifices in order to get it. It’s a 10k gold setting with a blue stone. It’s just blue glass and not valuable at all but is extremely valuable and sentimental to me. One day I looked down and the stone was gone!! I was just heartbroken. How do you go about hunting for something so small? It could be anywhere. Fast forward about 3 months to the day I cleaned out my purse and turned it over and shook it out. The stone landed on the floor and I couldn’t believe my eyes!! I had the ring fixed and re-pronged and I wear it every single day. She loved that ring and was so proud of it and I’m so grateful to have it!
Lee Anne,
Such an old precious piece of jewelry and bought–as you said–with great sacrifice. I know your heart was broken when you lost the stone and I know your heart smiles every time you wear it and glance down and see it.
Hooray!
I can certainly relate to your post. First, my mom lost the diamond that my dad had given her. On the Christmas after he passed, she was walking up the stairs and saw something shiny on the carpet. It was her diamond! She had walked up those stairs so many times and never seen it. We consider it a miracle, a touch from God.
Also, I lived in Williamsburg for 20 years, about 15 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg. We loved living there, sometimes just going for a walk on Duke of Gloucester Street. It’s a beautiful place!
Karen,
What a merry Christmas for your mom. So glad to hear she found the diamond–especially at a place where she had walked many times. Amazing!
I bet you loved living in the Williamsburg area. What a gorgeous spot!
Such a great story!
When did Sarah start wearing glasses? Is she near or far sighted? I am near sighted Looked like they had such a great day
Katrina,
The glasses aren’t prescription, they are primarily for fashion and also filter blue light which helps with my light sensativity. Gage got them for me as an anniversary gift!
-Sarah
I can’t recall a time when we lost something important and had it turn up in such a crazy place! So glad you found the velvet bag. We lived at Ft. Monroe, VA for a couple years, just down the road from Williamsburg. We loved to visit Colonial Williamsburg while we lived there and both kids took field trips to Williamsburg. We really enjoyed all of the history in that area of our country. Being there really made the history come alive for me. What a fun place to spend an anniversary!
Gayle,
Places like that truly make history–and its people–come alive. I know you and your family made some great memories there.
Well I must comment on this post. Lol
First, how I got the 7 carat diamond tennis bracelet that I lost and then the story of finding it.
For Christmas many years ago I opened a small box from my hubby. The last gift under the tree. It was the tennis bracelet obviously. Then he told me a story. A well to do lady from our church came to his office the week before with it and said I want you to give this to your wife. Here’s why. I lost it. I was devastated. It was the first piece of jewelry of any significant value my husband had given me. I prayed for God to help me find it. I finally changed my prayer to if I find it I will do anything with it you ask of me. She found it. I don’t know details. He’s not a detail man and didn’t ask. She said she immediately knew she was supposed to give it away. But to who? The Sunday before Christmas the choir was singing. She looked up and saw ME looking so beautiful and joyful (her words) that she knew I was supposed to have it. We had never met. She had the clasp fixed and cleaned and the jeweler put it in a new box and she brought it to Richard. I was floored!
Months, years later we had been to eat with two other couples, came back to friends house and I realized my bracelet wasn’t on my arm. Richard went to car to look. My friend called Outback Steakhouse and the manager said I have it in my pocket. A lady from NC (my home state) found it in the parking lot and just turned it in to me. Mind you this is in Carmel Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis. Side note. My mother in law said maybe God was telling me to give it away. I said no, I’m not hearing that. Lol
I wear it to this day. After having it fixed again.
Andy and I did become good friends through the years and her husband Jim supplied Richard with a new Trail Blazer every three years to drive after that as well. Wonderful people who love the Lord and are prayer warriors. Jim has since gone to be with the Lord. Andy is still in Carmel being a matriarch to 5 children and 20 some grandchildren.
Oh, yes we love Williamsburg too! Richard is from Chesapeake, Va. and in our early dating and married years all of the women in the Clark family went to Williamsburg on the Friday after Thanksgiving. ❤️
Wonderful memories. Sorry this is so long.Loved your post today. Buff
Buff,
Ha. I love your line, “I’m not hearing that.”
Andy and Jim sound like an amazing couple who live their lives blessing other people. What a fantastic way to live–passing blessings on rather than holding on to them.
Thanks for the great story. Thankful for that honest woman for NC. (Yay NC!)
Wow! Great story! Absolutely amazing! My jaw just dropped when I read the bag was found! (I had to be careful, as I’m reading during my morning breakfast!)
My philosophy of finding things is like yours, Becky. After some careful searching, stop looking, and whatever it is will eventually turn up in a place least expected. My husband and I are currently working on a 2000 piece puzzle. 2 edge pieces were yet to be located, as we put the frame together first. My husband searched and searched for the 2 pieces, amidst hundreds of other pieces scattered over the table. Me? I’ve learned. It’s much more time efficient to move on. They’ll turn up. He found them, of course, when searching for some other part of the puzzle!
Happy Anniversary to the young couple! Love Sarah’s glasses!!
Ann,
Ha. I hope most of your breakfast stayed put. 🙂
Yes, there does come a time to move on when something is missing. If it turns up eventually, great. If not, all that time spent looking and looking was wasted. It’s not easy to know when to stop though.
Enjoy your puzzle-ing! Two thousand pieces is a lot!
I am so thankful the treasure’s were found and returned! Added bonus seeing Sarah wearing two of my Aunt Moureens hats. That makes me so happy.
Cindy,
How fun that she wore the hats and that you recognized them! We are very thankful for your dear Aunt Moureen.