In 2005, my sister-in-law gave me a set of Corning coffee cups, which I brought with us to New Zealand. 

In the first six years in Auckland, we moved house five times. We used these cups on a daily basis, and every time we moved, they were lovingly packed and unpacked in the new house. 

And then when we moved into our long-term home, they were unpacked again.

Five years went by.

Then one cup broke. I chided myself for getting attached to material things; it was only a cup after all. A few months later, another broke.

Last night, my son opened a parcel that had arrived during the day. He had purchased something from Ebay. In the box were two dozen Corning cups, exactly like my ones.

Apparently my younger daughter had discovered the cups being sold on Ebay, and along with her sister and brother had decided to get them for me. 

My set had decreased in size from 6 to 5 to 4 cups, and then unexpectedly become a set of 16 cups.

I thank God for blessing me with thoughtful children.