Crane Quilt

 The whispers of another move have become ever louder, pulsating and permeating. I ignore the reality of what is coming for as long as possible and try to slip back into that space of calm, ignorant sanity because the instability of this military life is far outside of my comfort zone. And outside of our comfort zone is, of course, right where God takes us to help us grow, to teach us, and to bless us.

 When I do face this coming wave of change, though, I face it enthusiastically and with all of my heart. Oh, I draw back into the desire for my old Kentucky home regularly, but when I recognize that that desire is simply symbolic of my mother's-heart-need for my children to know the safety of a stable HOME: (a house with a backyard and fence and their own Giving Tree of sorts) and roots planted firmly in a community, I'm reminded that none of this is permanent for anyone anyhow, and none of it is ours. It all belongs to God and the community He desires for us to grow roots has nothing to do with a zip code. He trusts us with responsibility and we're to care for it all and to follow Him. When I keep this at the front of my mind, my heart is calmed and I know that He's orchestrating our moves and that it is all for good. How nice to rest in that loving peace!

This recent project - my first quilt top - is one attempt to gather some of the "here and now" - of Southern Indiana - of these early years of sweet, girly childhood - to take with me as a tangible touchstone of blessings, a reminder that the HOME I want for my children has nothing to do with trees, fences, or grass and everything to do with relationship with family, friends, and our Heavenly Father; to live out the quote that's been stitched in my heart: "Wherever you are, be there with all of your heart."



I never dreamed I would make a quilt... just as I never dreamed I would be vegetarian, or homeschool, or be a military doctor's wife, or so many other adjectives. So many blessings. And yet, here we are; here it is.

Each square of this quilt is from a yard that I have used to sew E a dress; each square has it's own story in our lives. Someday maybe I'll get them all down in words.


I'm so thankful that I followed an inspired whim this week to stitch it together as I looked at all the loose pieces sitting in my closet of fabric. I am excited to finish it - and to curl up with it by the fireplace we've come to love here in Indiana and in our next house that I have faith is perfect and waiting for us in Virginia and in wherever we may go after that.