Memories
It’s kind of fun not having a Christmas tree. My themed Christmas swags have allowed me to highlight special ornaments from different times and people in my life. This one is my Mama swag.
Mom was a super crafty person. She sewed from the time she was young. Indeed, she had come from a long line of women who could sew anything for any occasion! For all the years of my childhood, I was the recipient of her handmade creations. Every doll I ever played with sported her designs. When I had daughters, we were blessed with clothing from her sewing skill.
Though my bank account didn’t appreciate her efforts, I was very blessed that Mama taught me to sew. I spent entirely too much money at any material store I could get to during any season of any year!
As my life situations have changed, I gave most of my patterns away a few years ago. Last month, I gave a tub of brand new, historical costume patterns to our local college that teaches costume design for the film industry. So maybe my extravagance was not a total waste.
Another craft Mama taught me was crocheting. She made doilies for tables that would wow anyone! I remember hating for her to wash the doilies when I got to be a teen. That meant I would be at the ironing board for what seemed like forever. I particularly hated one whose starched ripples demanded very sincere effort. Thank the Lord those things are no longer the fashion! She had crocheted a lacy bedspread that was a work of art. Sadly, those kinds of things are hard to mend.
She even crocheted some dresses for my girls that I have been able to pass down to my granddaughters.
The first thing I was taught to make was a pot holder. It turned out looking like a hat. Over time, I improved and crafted a few blankets and doilies of my own. I never had the patience for it like Mama did. Even through her last year, she was crocheting blankets for her great grandchildren.
These little crocheted ornaments were made for me several years ago. I have tried to dye them blue several times, but the dye won’t stay. They are blueish, but the sparkle from the sequins makes them perfectly delightful. Remembering her pleasure in making them for me is a fond memory.
As I do my Swedish Death Purge routine on other Christmas things, I’m pretty sure these little ornaments will go with me to the end. So special!
I am taking Deuteronomy 32:7 a little out of context, but I’ll wind it up okay. The New Living Translation says, ‘Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past.’ That is what I am doing a lot of these days. Shoot! I gotta remember things while I can, right?
Just as I am remembering skills my mother taught me, I want to take time to remember what she taught us about the Truth of the season. Unlike my children and their children who have had access to wonderfully illustrated and colorful Bible story books, we had one Bible story book. Its pictures were old fashioned and sepia-toned – more like fine art prints. Mom faithfully read not only the Christmas story but all the stories in that thick book.
Though few compare to the Proverbs 31 woman, I am thankful Mama took care to instruct me in the teachable moments of my childhood.
Blessings
Kara Beth
