Friday, December 24, 2010

Sharing Love around the World

When Sister Gates shared the service that they were doing at the maternity hospital in D.R. Congo, Africa that delivers babies by the light of lanterns our families hearts were touched.

There was some little thing we could do here to help - half way around the world. So from sea to shining sea, from Hawaii to North Carolina, from California to Virginia, many of the family joined together to share some warmth for the newborn babies.

(These pictures were taken at the Salt Lake Sewing Night. If others of you that made blankets took pictures please add them to this blog and tell us of your project.)

First we had to set up Santa's workshop. Tables were set up for cutting and pinning, and five more for the sewing machines. Everyone had their work to do.



Jimae and Pam were the first to start up their machines. It was a race to see who could get the first one finished . . .




Courtney and Jena started cutting and pinning . . .





Laura, Lexi, Liz, and Rachel put their peddle to the metal as they stitched blanket after blanket.







Ivy, Alyssa, and Hannah kept right there sewing along side the rest of us.







After Becca took her turn sewing she rolled and tied all the blankets in preparation to ship them.



We were also happy that the men (Dan, Seth, Tim, and Brian) joined us for dinner, tending, and entertaining us while we worked.







Meagann cleaned up the pins!



And Jackson sewed the very last blanket. (He didn't want his picture taken so nobody would think he was "in" to sewing. But he ended up being a good sport and letting me document it as long as we don't show any of his friends. )



Brianne was thrilled to show off our final blankets.



The Salt Lake sewing circle made 30 blankets.



(Funny Face picture: This one is for you Kriss.)


MERRY CHRISTMAS ELDER AND SISTER GATES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING SERVICE AND EXAMPLE TO US, AND FOR REMINDING US HOW VERY BLESSED WE ARE TO LIVE WHERE WE LIVE AND HAVE WHAT WE HAVE AND BE A PART OF THIS FAMILY.

Angels We Have Heard on High



(Picture from December 20, 2010 Family Home Evening)

A tribute to my Mother this Christmas Eve. She has been and will always be an angel to me. I think back over my life and know that she was always teaching me, loving me, guiding me, forgiving me, encouraging me. And tonight I am thankful for the times to share with her, with a touch of her finger, or a wave of her hand, in gazing in her eyes, to see that she is still teaching me, loving me, and encouraging me. I rejoice in the love she gives to each of us. Merry Christmas, Mom. I love you.