Blessed by the BMPC Baby Blanket Group

Back when I was pregnant (seems so long ago now!), I signed my name on a little white board outside the nursery to receive a handmade quilt from the church's baby blanket ministry. At the time, I wrote down that they were due November 13, thinking they might come a few weeks early, around Halloween. Of course, I didn't know then that I would have them almost two months early, and have to endure the trauma of a long NICU stay, giving up many of the traditional rites of passage that help mothers transition into parenthood, such as a baby shower.

But, neither could I have imagined the two beautiful, amazing little blessings that would come into our lives, and enrich them in ways we never could have dreamed. Still, I miss those little rituals, and so as we (Noah, Oliver, Rene and I) attended the Baby Blanket Luncheon today, it was a celebration of sorts for me- that we made it through to this point, where I could share my babies with the world, rejoice in the company of friends, and receive a priceless gift celebrating their birth.

Shortly after we arrived, we sat down to a delicious lunch, and the women shared a little about themselves. Rene recalled how she had prayed with many of them for us to conceive these babies, and for their health and strength after they were born, and it made their upcoming gifts all the more special, to know they were sewn with love and prayer. Of course, throughout the luncheon my little flirts charmed the socks off all the women, grinning at them- Oliver even stole my spoon off the lunch table and stuck it in his mouth adorably, as if to say "you could just eat me up!"

Then after lunch, the quilts were revealed. They are just beautiful, similar but unique, just like my little boys. They feature adorable brown teddy bears surrounded by blue and tan stripes, and will look just perfect hung in the nursery above their cribs. I am so delighted that years from now, the boys will have their quilts, a tangible reminder that they were loved, not just by their parents but by our whole church community, and that they were prayed for and planned for before they were even born.

Many thanks to the amazing women of the Baby Blanket Ministry!

Cheers

Sarah