Treasures in the Attic
Gifts from a Woman of Faith
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
I stood in the hallway of the little house on Hillsboro Street and surveyed all the corners of the rooms from where I had lovingly spent so many years of my childhood. I marveled at how empty and sad the place looked. It seemed so very small; not the place of wonder envisioned in my child’s eyes and memories of so very long ago.
Her treasures had been lovingly packed, many of which had been forgotten over the years, and were now being taken to her new home. Bob, after much searching all the nooks and crannies of the attic he could reach exclaimed “Hey … I found something!”
“Oh good” I cried. “What is it?” I could hardly wait to see what it was. I know I must have been literally jumping from one foot to the other in anticipation.
He very gently lifted the small package from its hiding place within those rafters and with loving care passed the treasure down to my waiting arms.
My heart was beating so wildly I could hardly control my excitement. I opened the very neatly folded package and could tell its contents had been hidden away for a very, very long time. The damage from years within the elements up there in a dark and dusty attic had taken its toll on the outside of that package but I still held out hope of finding something wonderful and very valuable.
As I began to remove the wrapping from the object, I caught a glimpse of a tiny silk ribbon wrapped around a small package of perfect envelopes and another folded 'something' I couldn’t tell exactly what. I was so excited by this time I was feeling light-headed but needed to contain myself. I did not want to take a chance at damaging whatever we had found.
I finally held the ribbon-tied object in my hands and began to excitedly think, What if this is something really, really valuable she placed up in this attic so many years ago and why would she hide it? Was she protecting it the best way she knew how? If that was the case, why didn’t she tell us when we had been removing everything else from the house?
My imagination ran wild of what it could possibly be! Holding these lost and and unknown treasures in the attic on the trip home proved to be one of the longest, most tedious trips I can remember ever taking! I purposely and painfully held my own curiosity in check in order to share in the discovery with the rest of my family.
The wonder and joy of the gifts about to be revealed, however, would prove to be more valuable and wonderful than any one of us could ever imagine and brought a true miracle to our family on that day!
Share with the author a loving story of a remarkable woman of faith whose life was filled with tremendous sorrow and suffering but who left her family those gifts of such tremendous value and love that no other treasures imaginable could replace their value.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Treasures in the Attic: Gifts from a Woman of Faith is the true story of author Dell Anne Hines Afzal’s grandmother, Lois Annie, and the treasures she left their family. It is documented in memory of her love and strength and shows the trials and tribulations of how she lived her life. It also shows an extremely hard-working, honest, and loving woman who would not allow those heartaches she suffered in her life to limit or taint her examples to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Learning of her tragedies and hardships and how she survived them has given Afzal a sense of purpose and a belief that she can do all things through faith and hard work.
Her purpose in sharing her grandmother’s life with the reader is to offer comfort and hope to those who are suffering. She offers her prayers and absolute faith in the understanding that whatever pitfalls may be thrown our way, we must never give up and we are not alone.
The treasures found in her attic on the day she moved from her treasured home of over fifty years offer a glimpse of true caring and respect she left for those she loves. The miracle of the recovery of those gifts and a lost member of the family will open your heart and soul to the true miracles of life.
About the Author
Dell Anne Hines Afzal, native of Columbia County, Florida, lives with her husband, Naser, in Alachua County, Florida, scant miles from "Gator Country" University of Florida in Gainesville.
Her 40+ year career has been focused in computer operations and is presently employed with Buddy Irby, Alachua County Clerk of Court.
"Treasures in the Attic: Gifts from a Woman of Faith" documents the life of her Grandmother, Lois Annie and shares a wealth of love and humor but also tremendous hardships and pain as well. The example Lois Annie set for her descendants is one of total faith in God, humility, good works and the ability to "count your blessings where you find em."
The story chronicles the recovery of treasures found when Lois Annie was leaving her home of over fifty years; those treasures and information regarding a lost member of the family are found in circumstances one can only describe as "miraculous".
Dell's main interests have revolved around documenting the history of her family in rural Northeast Florida and spending time with their daughter Shaida, Shaida's husband Peter, Dell and Naser's son, Bobby and family, Liz , Justin Lee and Anna Marie .
Daughter, Shaida and husband Peter, are also documenting their lives in professional photos and movies.
Dell hopes to leave just a little history of who she was and what wonderful examples her "Hero" set for those who follow.
This is the first professionally published work but the fourth of personal memories to her first cousin, Robert Dale Smith and also to her two Aunts, Maude and Juanita, her Daddy’s only sisters.
The author notes a birthday letter received by her terminally ill father on his 77th birthday from her first cousin, Robert Dale Smith of Nashville, Tennessee in which he was able to put to pen his thoughts, feelings, love and inspiration derived from a lifetime of following her father's life and examples. The letter so opened a floodgate of emotions for the author, she has felt compelled to write her own love, respect and emotions for her loved ones and was able to offer the love in her heart to both of her aunts before their passing from this earth. One of the driving forces to begin the task of writing her memories was derived from Robert Dale's birthday which her father always said deserved a very special 'something' when he reached a certain age. Her father did not make it to that day and the author wrote the first book as a tribute to her father and to fulfill that special 'something' he felt Robert Dale deserved on his special day.
The story of Lois Annie is one of sorrow and suffering but also faith, hope and fulfillment as well and the author's hope is that her readers will be able to feel and understand the depth of emotion and respect for a truly inspirational woman of faith.