Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Mark.

For years, I've walk by the same gentleman, sitting on a bench, nearly every time I run into the dollar store in our local mall.  He always says hi and I always say a hurried hi in return...

 Tonight he was standing at the mall doors and I watched as several people hurried past him refusing to acknowledge him....
As I got closer to the door,  I heard him say to the woman in front of me, 
"Would you like my Christmas card?

"No no "the woman says as she hurried past him. 

He then looks at me...

"Would you like my Christmas card?"

"Sure, thank you!" I say as I take the white envelope from his out stretched hand....

"Can you bring me a Christmas card too? My name's Mark." 

"Yes, I'd be happy to bring you a Christmas card, its good to meet you Mark."



I hope I'm never to hurried to notice the genuine kindness of another. It is so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. Thank you Mark for reminding me of the power of a simple, Merry Christmas, I should have known your name years ago...


Thursday, November 10, 2016

Never Needed

I've struggled to make sense of the sadness and frustration I've felt lately....Life has been chaotic and emotions never seem far from the surface. Lots of really hard, personal things all came at once and my heart has struggled to find peace....

Can't you find something to do? Superman said after my second day of talk shows and donuts wrapped up in my duvet....

FINE.

I dragged my sorry-ass down stairs and stared at my sewing closet...Annoyed. Life's so unfair. Why is it always hard. 

Fabric caught my eye, I had set it aside months before....
Remembering the story behind it...

Almost twenty years ago, while Grant and I were in university with three kids under four, I worked part time at a maternity/kids wear store to make ends meet...one evening a young couple brought a little white satin tuxedo to the til to pay for it. "How old is your baby?" the store owner asked as I rang in the purchase.  The very young father replied " He would have been 7 days today" as tears rolled down the mothers cheeks... I have never forgotten those grief stricken faces or how bothered I was that they had to pay for burial clothes for their son....

Months ago after cleaning out all the cupboards in the Relief Society room, the faces of that young couple crossed my mind and I felt strongly that I should make some burial clothing for babies to put in our cupboards. I hadn't gotten to it ...

Well I guess I could tackle those gowns I thought, suddenly humbled.....


So the last two days I've hunkered down in my sewing room, stole a pattern of Pinterest and got to work...

Baby boy 2-4 lbs....


Baby girl 2-4 lbs...


Baby girl 5-8 lbs...


After doing some research...open back with ties was the easiest option for dressing....


I plan to make a few more in different sizes...

My hope is that these gowns are NEVER NEEDED and will stay safely tucked away in our RS cupboards forever....but if needed they are now there.

PS...if anyone is ever aware of a need for burial clothing for a baby I'm more than willing to give these away to anyone or make something suitable, so please let me know.

I'm still really struggling but grateful hard days haven't been totally wasted.