Story --- About the Ring Pillow

My best friend's daughter got married.

She asked ME to direct this big event. 

That was an honor in and of itself. 

But I wanted to do something really special for her. 

As it turned out, the thing she asked me to do was even more special than I ever imagined. 

Let's start with a definition

HEIRLOOM - a valued possession passed down in a family.

HERITAGE -a special possession

HEARTFELT - sincere emotion, deeply or strongly felt.

now for the task before me. 

I received a package.

From Renee and Melissa

It contained the ring pillow Melissa used in her wedding.

Made by Granny just for her.

Kept for many years.

A work of HEART from a loved one. 

Simply made. 

With love.

The package also contained lace.

From Melissa and David's wedding.

Which happened to coordinate with the pink tones Renee had chosen. 

There was a small problem with the pillow. 

After all these years.

A stain. 

Wicked into the fabric. 

The instructions.

Please try to use something of this. 

There were two rings, and we really want the ring to stay.

If you can't do this, it's ok. 

"HELLO - I AM MISS TERESA"

This baby wants to use this pillow.

We will make it happen. 

I held onto that pillow and I prayed. 

For inspiration.

For understanding.

For Renee to know just how honored I was by this task. 

I was given an idea. 

One that will allow this to really be passed along.

One that created story. 

So here is what I sent Renee in a text.

Everything that was a part will still be there, plus the new.

Much like life, we build on our heritage.

We bring parts with us.

The damaged and difficult does not go away.

But over time, beautiful things come to move us beyond the difficult.

I pray for you and Nick as I work.

You are such a blessing in my life.

Oh how I love you. 

And I set to work.

Bridal Lace

A beautiful gift from a friend in just the right time.

(God provides) 

I took the lace and some of mom's vintage lace.

(yes Melissa - vintage)

I pinned them onto a backer fabric.

Added some cream stain ribbon. 

Stitch - Pray - Stitch

I created a cover. 

The details are exquisite. 

Softball Princess was a bridesmaid.

When I picked up her dress, I snagged a bit of the pink fabric.

Added some additional fabrics and made a melty flower. 

Centered with a button from my stash. 

I took the tiny bows from the unstained side of the pillow, along with the ring. and another piece of Mom's lace. 

I experimented with placement and decided to tuck the ribbons underneath the flower on top of Mom's lace. 

Then - a cross.

There are very personal reasons for this addition.

This cross actually belonged to Molly

Giving it to Renee was a very healing thing for me. 

This was a very personal discussion between me and Renee. 

But the basics of it 

God has his hand in everything. 

We do not need to control it all. 

When we are baptized, He rejoices.

He will be a part of our life, even when we try to turn away from him. 

He is there for all of our trials and for all of our victories.

By sharing Molly's cross, I completed my acceptance for her decision to 

become a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It was actually a very beautiful thing to fully accept this and move on. 

So the cross in this case is a symbol of Grace.

A symbol of Faith.

A symbol of Healing.

A symbol of Accepting with Love.

A symbol of God's plan for Eternal Life. 

All of this was handstitched onto the fabric cover and then handstitched to the original pillow.

Covering the stain. 

This can be removed. 

Added to.

Adapted.

For future brides.

Thus becoming a true heirloom. 

A cell phone shot of the finished pillow. 

Fast forward to wedding weekend. 

A minute alone with Renee and her sweet family. 

Moments of tears as I explained my feelings about the process. 

About symbolism

About Story

About Love

The original item is still there.

Still full of Granny's love.

With my love and prayers added. 

For this child we have all prayed.

Renee, I love you so.

Story -

I was asked to direct the wedding of my Best Girlfriend's daughter.

What a responsibility.

What an honor.

It was hard work.

It was fatigue inducting. 

It was glorious. 

The next few posts will be about the wedding and details.

But this one.....

This post is about story.

About friendship.

About love, laughter, acceptance, grace, forgiveness.

About two women with history. 

About two women with future. 

About Melissa and I

********************************************

Once upon a time, a young family visited Jones Chapel UMC. 

Then they became regular attending folks. 

A nice man with a beautiful wife.

And three adorable little girls. 

Outside the church, I called them 

"that couple with the three pretty little girls"

We became friends.

Our girls became friends. 

That became a close friendship. 

We were together A LOT. 

There was soccer, softball, basketball.

There was youth and children's work at church.

There were parties and gatherings.

Phone calls.

Visits.

(being knocked down stairs)

(Moving dinner parties)

There was even my breaking and entering her house 

(Long story, but she "supposedly left a key" and that didn't work out) 

And there are many INSIDE JOKES

Melissa is a bit older than I 

and

a long, long, time ago

there was a discussion

about how 

OLD PEOPLE COLLECT BREAD TIES

please go read at the link, it makes this make sense.

Welcome back.

Melissa and I (she's the pretty one on the right)

Friday Night at the rehearsal dinner.

Several years ago - I made her a 40th Birthday Crown from bread ties.

On Friday night, She handed me a bag and said 

"we got you something"

Not expected by me,

Appreciated. Yes.

And Her daughter says I cannot wait to see her face. 

I began to open my gift.

Lift tissue paper out.

See THAT SAME DANGED CROWN.

Melissa had kept it all these years. 

Knowing the RIGHT time would come to return it. 

As you can see in the the picture below,

I immediately burst into hysterical laughter

Because I just KNEW.

I laughed.

I cried.

I snorted - yes.

I almost wet myself.

It was that funny.

And I was moved beyond measure. 

There were "real" gifts that I glanced at in that bag. 

Gifts of monetary value. 

Selected especially for me. 

I love them.

But upon pulling that crown from the wrapping, I had just unwrapped the REAL gift.

A gift of friendship.

One that has been through trials.

Through laughter, tears, joy, fears.

One that moved a half cooked dinner party from one house to another because the football game was blacked out.

Has drank together.

Has cried together.

Has prayed together.

Has praised together. 

Has endured two weddings (three more to go)

Has accepted changes.

Has endured medical crisis.

Has kept secrets.

Has spoken honestly.

Has spoken unkindly.

Has begged forgiveness

Has given grace. 

A friendship that has history - and future.

A friendship that picks right up again even after long periods of time together.

As her daughter said.

The crown was the real gift in that bag.

Yes, that keeping of the crown all these years

makes the crown (remember it was made from trash)

have such a beautiful value.

Because 

that crown is a visible reminder of the real gift

A GOD BLESSED FRIENDSHIP.

I how I hope each and everyone who lives finds a this kind of beautiful friendship.

Melissa Ellisor. 

I love you like a sister. 

Thank you for loving me.

And may the bread tie battle rage on.

(these are cell phone pictures from that moment)

(thanks to whoever captured this) 

Scenes from a slow moving train.......

I haven't done one of these posts in quite a while. 

So here we go. 

All photos are mine. 

Life is racing by. 

For me and for everyone else. 

Weddings, babies, complicated relationships. 

Feelings hurt - finding grace.

Realizing that it really is all very complex and yet what we crave is simplicity. 

Sit and breathe and watch a hummingbird land on a wire. Seeing the tiny heartbeat in her chest. Hearing the beat of tiny wings working so hard in hover mode.

Yes.

See. 

Feel my heartbeat slow. 

Breathe. 

A window down ride through the country.

Open the gate, back in. 

Unload.

Amble out and look.

Really look.

Rusted wire - coiled gently - fence post a convenient hanger. 

Barbed - graceful - utilitarian.

Yet beautiful in it's simplicity.

This.

A country lane.

Sunbeams through the mist. 

That patch of light along the right of the road. 

mmm.

I really really wanted to trespass here...

What lies beyond that little turn in the road?

These are the things my mind wanders through.

Taken the same morning as the previous picture. 

I have driven past this view many times. 

Today - I saw it differently. 

That tree may as well have been planted there just for this view. 

I caught my breath on the noticing.

Slowing down to look - again to really SEE.

A pond beyond.

Green path before. 

Framed. 

Yes.

See.

Breathe.

A tiny table and chairs.

A Sunday school room in a tiny country church.

I was asked to take some photos by one of the church members. 

The have taken on a monumental task.

Seems the old building was literally falling down.

They are slowly, steadily restoring and remodeling. 

All while sharing the Grace that is the GIFT. 

I walked into this little room and suddenly I was back in Miss Fowler's class in the basement of Royston PH Church.

The slightly musty smell of a building only open a couple of days a week.

The smell of crayons (I love that scent)

(I do NOT like the smell of playdoh) 

Little folded papers printed in black and white with the story and a coloring page. 

I could not help but smile. 

Memories.

Yes. 

Breathe.

Another picture from the church. 

Focusing on details. 

The image may only make sense to me.

But when I "see" it in my mind

Zoom in on (or span out from) that area.

Click the shutter. 

Hold it out and preview the picture on the little screen. 

And that image on the screen makes me smile.

I have just locked another moment in my life. 

This one is warm sunshine.

The light on the grey blue of the paint. 

Worn spot on the wheel - from how many hands - ringing the bell how many time over the years.

I hear my sister's laughter not too far away. 

I see my Mom's grey hair off in the distance.

It was Kassie's baby shower day. 

Yes, I rang the bell myself. 

Stood and listened to the deep resonant sound.

Locking in the moment.

Yes

Breathe.

Oh Mama.

Baby on Board.

Curious eyes watch me.

This herd is familiar with me.

As long as I keep a distance, they are not alarmed. 

19 in the herd, but it is about to grow.

Several pregnant doe. 

They really are beautiful creatures.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the fawns. 

I really hope Mom let's me be a spectator to their play. 

I promise I will laugh as I watch them.

Yes.

Breathe.

I you read here often, you know I collect sunrises.

I never fail to say "THANK YOU" when I slow to focus. 

Trying settings.

Beauty.

Grace.

Peace. 

Breathe.

This picture.

Some see weeds.

I see wishes.

I even call them "wish flowers" 

But this sunrise.

On this day.

Wishes were not on my thoughts.

It seemed frivolous to blow wishes to the wind. 

Then I pulled the camera out. 

Zoomed in close.

Set my focus and framing. 

Took this.

Softly I blew the seed pod.

Slowly the seeds broke away. 

I found myself praying over a HARD situation. 

Not wishes.

Prayers.

And prayer spreads too.

I stood back up.

Remembered some childhood wish.

That I have thought was childish in the past. 

You know - the whole "happily ever after" thing.

And suddenly there was a thought.

Yes - some days are hard.

But I choose to remain happy.

Thankful.

Joyful.

Realizing that God is there. 

Even when I turn from him.

He's waiting - working - providing Grace. 

I smile.

Breathe.

Yes.

The Queen Anne's Lace is blooming.

As I write this, I can see a vase of it from the Crusty Old Guy on my desk. (I love that fact)

But in my mind I can also see these roadside beauties dancing in the wind. 

One of my favorite wildflowers (daisies will always be on the top of the list - there are some of those in the vase too)

The sway of the heavy blooms on the stem reminds me that I can still move about. 

So after a grueling two days of hard work setting up for a wedding.

After walking around 11 miles on Saturday all over the farm property where this wedding was to be held. 

After sunshine - florists - caterers - bridesmaids - groomsmen 

After vows and tears of joy. 

After toasts and Father - Daughter dances.

After all of that - I joined my two adult daughters and their friends on the dance floor.

I danced - I sang - I laughed

I had a blast.

I had worked hard.

I had played hard.

I had lived full.

I was in the moment.

Right now I can bring back every one of those feelings.

Even the harmony of us singing the Wagon Wheel song.

Breathe.

and in this case

Sweat. 

Yes. 

Thistle.

Farmers hate it.

But this picture.

This is one of my favorite shots EVER. 

Yes.

Breathe.

Look towards the sun. 

Face life head on. 

You have this day.

Live it. 

Yes.

Once more

Scenes from a Slow Moving Train

comes to a close. 

We all feel it.

The gale force wind in our hair.

Created by the speed that life is passing by. 

Passing so fast it is only a blur. 

If you say you don't feel it, then you are ignoring life.

Or you have really become much better than I at LIVING in the moment.

(If that is you - congratulations)

Finding my focus in a moment actually does seem to slow the train. 

And that has served me well. 

I can appreciate everything I have and where I am.

I am finding myself much more content with myself and my things.

I am being able to let go of some things as well. 

Look 

Listen

Breathe

Life is Beautiful