Breaking Your Hearts

***Sew Mama Sew Giveaway is one post below this!***

I am happy to report that I am getting what I wanted for Christmas--all of the children with a January birthday on the 'Wrapped in Hope' list have a volunteer quilter! One month down--eleven to go :)

If you are new to our site--please take a look around--and if you are a quilter with a big heart and a few extra hours this year please consider making a birthday quilt for a child who has one or both parents in prison.
I have heard some heartbreaking stories over the past year but I think this one tops the list--this child and his sister are on the birthday list for 2011 but I did change their names to protect their privacy:


    " Micah and Kristin are my sons step children. If at all possible for Kristin and Micah to recieve these quilts it would mean a great deal to both of them. Both kids have had a tough year. Micah's biological father shot both Micah and Micah's mother several times and then turned the gun on himself a year ago today. My son was keeping Kristin at the time so she was unharmed but like her brother traumatized by the ordeal. Both Kristin and Micah love and adore my son (step father) and miss him greatly as he was incarcerated shortly after the shooting.  Thank you!"


Touches of kindness like a quilt might be a significant thing in a child's life--we as the givers never know.  But we can trust that no child ended up on this list by mistake. I believe that God led each and every one of the 122 kids to us. Here is one more story behind a child that is on the list in 2011--her name has been changed too.


"Cara would like a quilt but not necessarily from her dad in prison whom she ahs had no contact with since he went away when she was 4 1/2 (she is now 13 1/2)  It would be great if the quilt was from the quilter and her friends at 'Camp Hope'.  Cara is currently in therapy for an eating disorder and part of what she needs to face is her father's abandonment--she could really use a quilt."


There are 9 kids still available in February--and many others over the following months.  
Visit our 'Wrapped in Hope' site and see if there is a child you can bring HOPE to next year!
E-mail me when you find one!

Sew Mama Sew December Giveaway!!!

This quilt is perfect for a guy and measures 44X58 inches.

Once again, Margaret's Hope Chest is joining Sew, Mama, Sew in her December Giveaway Day. In true MHC fashion we are putting our own little twist on it. Interested??? Read on....
Our mission at Margaret's Hope Chest is to give quilts to individuals and families who are experiencing seemingly hopeless situations. Do you know a man RIGHT NOW who could use a gift of HOPE? Cancer? Job loss? Sickness? Death? Loneliness? If you would like to "win" this quilt  please read these guidelines:
- Leave a comment with a brief explanation of the man you would like us to give the quilt to and why.
- Be prepared to provide me with a mailing address for this person--if you "win" this quilt it will be sent directly to the person you nominated.
-Drawing will close at 8pm on Friday, December 17.
-My kids will randomly pick one commenter using a highly scientific method (HINT: it involves little slips of paper and a hat).
- The winner will be posted here later that night and contacted through e-mail..
- Please leave an e-mail contact in your comment.
We can ship anywhere!

All I Want For Christmas

Look at this sweet little face!  This is Charlie and he received a quilt back in May from our 'Wrapped in Hope program.  His daddy is in prison which means he can't enjoy the hugs, wrestles and tickles that only daddy's can give.  His birthday quilt reminds him daily of his father's love until they can be together again.

How good would it feel for you if you could help a child feel his father or mother's love? 

We have 79 kids still waiting for a volunteer quilter for our 2011 'Wrapped in Hope' list!!

7 of of those kids have a birthday in January--January is not that far away.....

All I want for Christmas is all of the January kids to be paired with a quilter--because if you don't sign up, I will have to spend my entire vacation making all 7 quilts :) which wouldn't make my family very happy!  No seriously, I don't mind making the 7 quilts but it would be more fun if you were involved.
***update***I just added 2 more kids to the January list--Zachary and Kaylee--that makes 9 kids in Jan. who still need a quilter.  I have been praying that God would send quilters and instead he is sending more children for the list--he must know something I don't :)

Jump over to the 2011 list and have a look.  If January is too soon for you--pick a child later in the year! E-mail me if you can help make my Christmas wish come true!

Quilts Behind Bars

I had an amazing weekend in Muskegon
Michigan at the Earnest C. Brooks Correctional
Facility sharing quilts with kids who have a dad
in prison.  For the 3rd time this year we joined
Forgiven Ministries and Prison Fellowship of
Michigan to bring HOPE and healing to families
affected by crime.  I entered the prison on Friday
morning with 56 quilts collected from our
volunteers and 61 quilts collected from a church
group from the Detroit area.  The 23 dads had
an amazing selection of quilts to choose from.

 First, I was able to share my testimony with the dads--I shared with them about forgiveness, HOPE and God's plan of restoration in my life and in theirs.  I am not exactly sure what I said but I do know that the Holy Spirit spoke through me and touched several of the dads--especially a few that are in prison for murder.

This dad picked these two great quilts for his two sons--ages 12 and 13.

Helping him choose the best quilt for his son.

He picked the Lions quilt--too bad they can't win a game :)

 After the dads picked the perfect quilt for their children I encouraged them to wrap themselves up in it--rub it on their head--get some of their smells and love on it!  It was really neat to see these huge tough guys wrapped in pink and purple quilts :)

This dad had two preteen girls who loved bright colors--he made two excellent choices!

We prayed over the quilts before they packed them away for the next day.

I don't have any pictures of the kids getting the quilts on Saturday yet....but once again, I promise that when I get them I will share!
Once again, a HUGE thank you to those of you who sent a quilt to us over the past few months for this program.  God is using these quilts for his purpose and it is more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined!!!

This Little Piggy

 Isn't this fabric line cute?  I found it on sale at Fabric.com and it made a very easy de-stressor project yesterday. The line is by Kate Honarvar for Timeless Treasures Fabrics. I haven't quite finished it yet-binding is attached but not sew down yet.  I will leave that for Thursday when I get to take a plane ride all by myself :)

The Pile is Growing Again!

With the final 'Wrapped in Hope' prison giveaway less than two weeks away, our pile of donated quilts is growing daily!!  I had a chance to visit the quilts this weekend--and take a few pictures of course!

In the last two days, we have received several more packages--once again, we are amazed and excited to have the support from quilters around the country! 

**UPDATE** I just finished my daily phone call with my mom :) and I wanted to tell you that over the past 2 days we have received 66 quilts!!!! 18 by mail and 48 from various members of the West Michigan Quilters Guild.  WOW!  Thank-you so much everyone!!  

A surprise donation from a friend from church here in Toronto.

My mom and I are happiest when surrounded by a pile of kid-themed quilts!

  

Forgiveness

Margaret's Hope Chest exists today because forgiveness was chosen.  We have forgiven the two women who were responsible for my grandma's death.  We exist today so we can bring HOPE and forgiveness to families and children who need to forgive.  Some have, some haven't.  Some want to, some don't. Some don't know how.  It is our prayer that the quilts we send to children who have a parent in prison will help them to forgive and that through Margaret's death we will show others how to forgive-- and how beautiful it can be.  
PLEASE watch this video (and grab a tissue) and then consider looking over the 'Wrapped in Hope' birthday list for a child that you can help lead down the road of forgiveness.