Flying Home at Christmas

The day after Christmas. Sometimes, I'm sad to see it over with and other times I wish it lasted all year; I want the lights always up and the living room lit with nothing but our tree. So pretty. I know it's really a celebration of our Savior's birth and, sadly, I'll admit to overlooking that at times and getting caught up in the shopping and spending and baking and preparing. Add to that how much crafting I've been doing lately and well....I think you get the idea.

One of the things I haven't yet tried is working with embroidery hoops as a medium for art. It's so clever, all that can be done with them from just covering them with different fabrics and using them as wall art like this from Desire To Inspire



to embellishing the fabric you choose like this hoop from Under the Sycamore...



or using it as a frame for special pictures like Danielle from Take Heart...



So I knew that I wanted to make something and I already had all the supplies I needed but this was one of those projects that you don't necessarily have a clear idea about ~ at least, not when it comes to the finished product ~ just one that you keep working on and playing with; adding to and taking away from and no one in particular that you set out making it for. I just kept playing and stamping and cutting and embroidering and before I knew it, it started taking shape. I didn't want the stitching on the back to be visible so I cut out a circle of burlap to cover it up which worked out well.





Christmas morning, after all the excitement at our house had died down and the boys were happily playing with their gifts, I received a call from my mom letting me know that my cousin Helene, who'd been diagnosed with leukemia about three months ago, had passed away at about 2 that morning. Over the last week, she'd contracted pneumonia and with a severely weekend immune system and other complications, her body just started shutting down. It was a terrible shock for all of us. In spite of the loss, however, my aunt Karel (Helene's mom) still wanted us all to get together for Christmas because she felt that's what Helene would have wanted since it was her favorite holiday and she'd spent the last few weeks preparing for it.

After we hung up, I looked down at this little project I'd been working on for the last couples of days and knew immediately who it was for and why I'd been prompted to make it. That's so God, you know? I stamped the date on the back, wrapped it up and presented it to my aunt yesterday. Something to look at and know that even though her daughter isn't here with us now, she's flown home...home to Jesus. She's good now.




Godspeed, Beb. I love you...