The Spirit of Christmas: Where There's A Will, There's a Way!

In my Interior Design Textiles class, students were invited to make a Christmas stocking out of sample fabric and fill it with treats and toys for children who are not living at home this Christmas season because they've been neglected and/or abused in their own homes.
I took my sewing machine to school one day to help make the stockings for students who don't have sewing machines. Now, I'm not a great seamstress. Basically, I'm good at sewing square things: pillowcases, quilts, table runners, curtains...see? square things.  A stocking is pretty straight forward, so I thought I could do that.
Well, I didn't really like how mine turned out at school.  I looked at it with a critical eye--my "mother eye" and thought about the child who'd be receiving it. It was all wrong--too small, the fabric wasn't Christmas-y-- I knew I could try to do better. I had fabric at home that more suited for this craft.

So I went home, got out the red quilted fabric and set out to make a nicer stocking.  I finished it up, adding some decorative stitching and some white furry fleece. "Yes! This is more like it.", I smiled at the production and then I looked down on the remaining fabric...eyeing I thought, I wondered how many more can I make?

Six. I cut and sewed for a good couple of hours and tried to make each one a little different, just in case more than one went to the same displaced family of children.

After I finished making them, the reality hit that I can't possibly afford to fill these sweet little stockings on my own.  What could I do?

I little thought came to my mind, "Ask your friends to help."
Yes! I have terrific friends.  But which ones should I ask?  Everyone is So busy this time of year, I didn't want to burden anyone.  I sat still for a moment, waiting for names to come to my mind.
When a name surface, I quickly texted that friend and asked if they'd be willing to help me fill these Christmas Stockings for a child in need.  Every single friend I asked said "yes"!

About this time, I remembered my sweet friend Laurel, whose mourning the loss of her infant son, Owen, who died from SIDS last year.  Their family created a little movement called "Owen Forever Smiles"--encouraging people to serve one another in a variety ways, dedicating their service to the memory of Owen, their happy, smiley little guy.  I contacted Laurel and just let her know I was doing this service with Owen in mind.  Her response was emotional:

Once again you are my inspired beautiful angel friend! I have been so emotional all day, and really deeply missing my little Owen and Hannah. Then you posted this, and your kindness and your giant heart hugged me on a day I really needed it. Thank you! I want to be as kind and wonderful as you! I love you! Thank you!  This stocking is beautiful- you are always so talented!  

 See, she didn't just lose one child at birth, she also lost her firstborn, Hannah, at birth due to complications of diabetes.  Laurel is an angel of a mother.  She also adopted two other children a couple years ago and has two sons with her husband.  The heart of a mother through and through. I love her and feel so honored to know her.


SO, with her blessings, I went ahead and shared that with my stocking-filling-friends.  Everyone was so gracious at the dedication of our service for children in the name of a child.  Perfect.

Well, last night I went around to collect the stockings. I wasn't expecting what I received! My beautiful friends filled those stockings--every little bitty inch--and some overflowing capacity! Crammed with toys, treats, socks, toothbrushes, gloves and hats, books, jewelry, clothes,and so much goodness.  I came home, unloaded it all on the dining table, and Mr Wonderful came in to see. I got pretty emotional feeling so grateful for the opportunity to do good--with the help of my generous, lovely friends, for children who need so much more than this.  It is a poignant feeling--to give and still want to give more than one is capable.  Have you ever felt that way?

I decided that next year, I will do more than just six stockings for CASA of Pikes Peak Region. I will do 30.  And writing that out, seems so small, so insufficient.  Maybe I won't set a limit. Maybe I will just set that as a goal and seek to exceed it.  I just know that this feeling is something I want to grow, and I can do it with the help of others.

The lesson(s) I learned from this experience are many, but I guess what I hope sticks with me is that I can do more with what I have, when I combine my talents with others' talents and I just have to be willing to ASK.  I'm amazed at the company of women around me.  Truly.
Now, having emptied the contents of each stocking, I need time to figure out how they expertly stuffed all their gifts into those stockings!  Again, where there's a will, there's a way!!

My best encouragement to anyone reading this is simple:

  Catch the Spirit of Christmas by Giving It Away.