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Dimensions

My quilt will not be completed in time for Christmas. I was so hoping it would be. I began sewing the blocks last February for a quilting class, and am really amazed that I have gotten this far. Some months I spent hours meticulously sewing my quilt blocks; other months passed by without sewing one stitch. I wanted to have a warm, cozy quilt on my lap at Christmas time.

I have spent some time in December working on the final step: quilting the backing, batting and quilt top together. My quilt blocks are coming to life. As a novice quilter, I didn’t realize how the actual quilting task would bring such rich dimensions to my quilt.

Pieced block on the left, quilted block on the right
Pieced block on the left, quilted block on the right

It occurs to me that these stitches I am making are much like the stitches that give dimension to my life.

Some seams I have chosen to rip out; the stitches went the wrong way and did not add the right kind of dimension to my quilt block. They remind me of old boyfriends and broken relationships. These stitches were difficult to rip out, painful even, and yet my life is better without them.

When I pressed my foot too heavily on the presser foot of my sewing machine, the seam got away from me. It was sewn too quickly and became crooked and uneven. I decided to leave these stitches in my quilt. I hope that washing and using this quilt will soften the crooked line and make it less noticeable.

Over the years, the crooked line on my chest has become softer, whiter and less noticeable than that raw, red scar that was placed there after my cancer diagnosis. This is a dimension I didn’t want in my life; a dimension of surgery, chemotherapy treatments and medication. I can’t rip out these stitches; they are permanent. Over the years, however, memory of cancer fades. It all seems like a dream; did I really lose my hair? Did I really take Tamoxifen for five years? Sometimes I even forget that I am a “survivior.”

Then there are the deliberate hand stitches; the invisible seams that were slowly and carefully made. They are unseen and yet add so much to the quilt. They are the love that permeates my life; the unconditional love I have for my children, the love for my family and friends, the love of my husband. The unseen Love from my Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth we are about to celebrate. Love will cover us this Christmas with its cozy warmth, bringing rich dimension to our lives.

Hex Stripe, sewn by hand
Hex Stripe, sewn by hand

What brings dimension to your life?


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Help Kids Feel Safe

The world has suddenly become a dangerous place. I keep looking out of my window. Across the street, behind my neighbor’s yard, I can see the playground at the school. I am aching to see children running and playing as usual at recess. But the playground is silent.

Our school is safe. Our neighborhood is safe. The playground is probably silent because it is not recess time. But our world has been shaken by the elementary school shooting in Connecticut. It has taken all of my willpower not to run out my front door and go get my kids out of school.

It is times like these that I wish I was at work. It is too quiet here for this stay-at-home mom, and I don’t seem to have the ability to get my work around the house finished. Or even started, for that matter.

So I write. And I think about what to tell my children, if they ask about what happened today. What I want them to know above all is that they are safe. Even in my heart of hearts, where I know I cannot always keep them safe, when you are 5 and 8 years old you have the right to feel safe.

All the teachers, administrators and staff at every school everywhere have the desire to keep their students safe. Doors are locked, drills are performed, security is tight. I know from being a teacher and a parent that this is true. But somehow, in some way, someone got through the safety procedures today, and it is likely no one’s fault. Yesterday at this time, Newtown, Connecticut was safe. No one could have imagined the terror that happened today. I am filled with horror, fear, and anger. How could this happen?

I have been praying and crying all afternoon, but as I write this blog post, I am pulling myself together for my kids.

If you are in the same spot as myself, wondering what to tell your kids, here are a couple of resources. I like this article from ABC, because it has some specific age guidelines.

Connecticut School Shooting: What to Tell Your Kids

This NBC article has some more specific ways to address older children’s concerns.

Talking to Kids About School Shootings

Even though we as parents know how scary this world can be, we can still give our children the sense of safety that they need.

UPDATED 12/15/12 I picked up both my girls from school yesterday, and we are all safe and sound. They didn’t know anything about the school shooting, and I’m keeping it that way for now. I don’t know if they will hear something from their friends or even me and my husband, but the news on the TV is staying OFF. We received a wonderful email from our principal yesterday saying our kids simply don’t need to know, and an attachment from a children’s specialist with suggestions about what to say if they do find out. They have had lock-down drills and relocation drills at our school, so I know my kids and their teachers know what to do in case of emergency. I’ve also found a great article that talks about what to say from a Christian perspective. It’s called “How and What to Share With Your Children When Tragedy Strikes.”

I continue to pray for all those families in Connecticut, as I know you do, too.

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