Peace Quilt release and other happenings

Hi Friends!

If you haven't seen Peace Quilt yet, here it is! The model is stitched over two on 28 count Olive Green Cashel linen from Zweigart using hand over-dyed floss from The Gentle Art and Crescent Colours. It is accented with Mill Hill Beads in the little diamonds to give it just a touch of sparkle for the Holiday season. The frame is from East Side Mouldings, their Olde Towne Commons in Black/Onion. If your needlework shop doesn't have it yet, have them give me a call or order it through Hoffman. I loved stitching this design and the whole time I had Christmas carols ringing through my head, especially the ones that include the phrase "Peace on Earth." One of my favorites is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I hear this song, I can still picture the page it was on in my Mom's tattered old piano book. Here are the words in case you are unfamiliar with it:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

The message in this song is so powerful. It is a reminder that we are God's hands here on Earth. Goodwill doesn't just happen. So in that spirit I donated my model of Peace Quilt to my church, St. Paul Lutheran in Enola, PA, so that it could be raffled off at their annual bazaar. The price for a raffle ticket was a canned good. We collected a 100 lbs. of food for our local food bank to help those in need. I hope this small endeavor inspires you throughout the Holiday season and beyond to use your gifts to help make the world a better place, after all it is just "a small voice, a chime, a chant sublime" that keeps us all from despair.

Now onto other things...one of the proudest moments that I have had raising my boys is pinning their Eagle Scout award onto them. Andrew, my youngest received his on Nov. 25. Here I am pinning it on!!

For his Eagle project he (and his troop) created a prayer garden at our church's cemetery, a lovely spot for contemplation and memories. And here are all three of my wonderful children. And even though they are supposed to be young adults, they cannot be serious for a good photo.

First one isn't too bad, but then Laura had to start her antics, because she is so short in comparison to the boys. During the ceremony, Shane gave Andrew his Eagle charge and welcomed him into the ranks of fellow Eagles. Oh, it was good to have them all together and all dressed up in their uniforms!!

All my Best,

Beth