We have been attending a lot of baptisms lately, many different cousins close in age. Esmae will be 8 next December & I kind of can’t believe it. I have been thinking a lot about how to make her baptism a significant event in her life, something that she will always remember fondly & know that she can lean on that most precious gift she will receive then throughout her life. The rising generation has so much more to face growing up then I did, I know they are strong souls & meant for this difficult period of time. However, as a mother I feel a sense of urgency to help initiate a stronger testimony in them sooner. Expose them to more good & beauty then their hearts can contain. I can physically see the world growing darker & each day how difficult it can become for good people to make good choices in the face of adversity. Adversity will come & for some far more early then seems fair. I know the ONLY power that will heal & comfort my children is from Christ.
As I thought about what I could do for Esmae, for each of my children-I wanted to give them something tangible to relate the gift of the Spirit to, maybe to help their young minds grasp the concept more fully. I thought of a quilt, a handmade work of art that will last them through this lifetime, a thing of beauty created just for them, to provide warmth & comfort. I loved the visual of Esmae at different times in her life when she may be struggling, wrapping her self up in this quilt and thinking of the Holy Ghost for comfort, while offering a prayer up to her Father in Heaven. Of course I wish I could always provide the comfort & reassurance she may need. But I know I am not nearly enough. The sooner I can teach my kids to have faith & turn to Christ, the better off they will be. I am hoping to remember this simple truth each minute of each day I interact with them. I have to remember, no other matter is more important.
So the quilt is being made by a dear friend with amazing skills, unlike any I have seen before. We are doing some trade & I am paying in installments as well. I value art & the existence of handmade beauty in our everyday. Hence I commissioned this quilt a year in advance to ensure it will be paid off & completed for Esmae , I am saving my pennies. Angela, the quilter & I came up with this design of overlaying circles. I use it a lot in my work & is one I have always been drawn to. I love what Angela has done & how it is coming along so far. I also love to watch the progression, and have gained such a respect for this art form.