6 Years Ago Today

My mom and I have these matching necklaces that were made at 3 Little Birds Boutique

Thursday, April 28, 2005.  Thursday, April 28, 2011.  Six years since Margaret Herrema was pushed to the ground by a young woman stealing her purse.

6 years ago today

HOPE took on a whole new meaning to me.

HOPE began on the plane ride from Monterrey, Mexico to Chicago. I hoped that once I arrived in 

Grand Rapids my grandma's condition wouldn't be as grave as everyone was telling me it was.

After it was clear that her condition was indeed very grave and she was not going to recover from her head injury HOPE continued to buoy our family through funeral planning, burial, and rebuilding of lives without our wife/mother/grandmother.

HOPE stood strong through a murder trial and sentencing.

HOPE took on new life when Margaret's 10th great-grandchild, a sweet baby girl named Clara Margaret, was born on January 27, 2008--almost exactly 9 months after Margaret's death--coincidence? I don't think so!

Because of this thing called HOPE, Margaret's HOPE Chest started it's work 4 years ago.

1000 little pieces of this HOPE are now spread all over the country.

We have so much to be thankful for over the past 6 years--really it is overwhelming to think about sometimes.  

We have been blessed with generous amounts of fabric, thread, money, quilts, quilt tops.

This blog has become a place where strangers can meet and work together to spread the gift of HOPE.

I feel as if my grandma's legacy isn't about murder anymore

God's grace has covered over that sin, transformed and renamed her legacy to

 LOVE, COMFORT, FORGIVENESS and most importantly

HOPE.