Monday, February 12, 2018

Giving makes you feel wonderful inside!

Thanks for the lovely comments on yesterdays post, and for asking about, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story".

 I carefully placed the mug rug in my purse and we headed to church.  When we arrived, our usual greeters were not there, and we started down the hall to the sanctuary.  As we got about half way down, from around the corner came one of my very favorite people - Grandma Nancy.  We have known Grandma Nancy for all of the years we have been attending Hauser Community Church (which is a bit over 30!).  She has been in charge of Sunday School for the kids, does a radio show on Saturday morning {which my kids listened to every week!) worked in AWANA, was our area coordinator for Child Evangelism Fellowship (which most of our girls participated in as well) and has just been a big part of our lives.  She loves kids of all ages, even adult ones.  She is smart and funny, and just a joy to be around.  She prays for our kids all the time, and always has time to hear about what they are up to.

We were a bit late to the service, and didn't stop to talk to her, but right there God placed it in my heart to give the mug rug to her.  I didn't see her after the service, but stopped into her office and left it on her desk for her.  She may or may not guess that it was me, but I know that she will appreciate the message!  It made me very happy to think of her smile when she saw it.

Now I am very tempted to try to make more of these, and leave them for people to pick up (kind of like painted rocks, but more useful!) and give them to people that could use cheering up.  It would be a wonderful scrap project and could be done in any color, and a variety of affirming phrases could be used on them.  Maybe a good project for this year, one of my goals is to use my talents to help others more.  I can think of many people who would love a simple gift like this!

In the meantime, I am working on my MiniLove Challenge now!  It is going to be so cute - I had to make 89 little heart blocks.  If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I sewed them all too large and had to trim them down...boohoo.  I got the center pieced and am working on the borders.  My first border was a bit too long, though.  I found that I need to make a generous 1/4 inch seam instead of a scant 1/4 inch seam.  Those few threads make a big difference!

Still sewing away...but loving it!  Oh, and since I love minis so much, I am participating in a blog hop next month: Small, Smaller, Smallest.  Should be great fun!




Have a wonderful day!

7 comments:

Lisa England said...

I loved hearing about giving your mug rug. I'm sure she loved it! I have done a similar thing with giving pot holders -- to people I know, or to people I encounter around town. I make them from scraps and to me they are a small thing, but often the recipients seem very excited with them. What could be better than that?

Farm Quilter said...

Well, if every lady in your church receives one of these except you, I'm thinking they might figure out it was you! I think it would be a wonderful way to use up your scraps, do the "little" thing you enjoy and make someone's life a little brighter! Are you going to be anonymous every time?

Kathleen said...

Lovely story about your secret act of kindness - we’ll no longer a secret really. No love the start of your mini. Gotta a few ideas for mine but not with my fabric...until Wednesday. Good luck with yours.

Dione Gardner-Stephen said...

I love that you followed your leading, I know she will be thrilled to receive such a surprise. And making them as the fabric version of painted rocks is a lovely idea! And great for dealing with scraps.

teachpany said...

Very sweet, and it sounds like she really would appreciate it, and deserves it. It's a good idea to keep making a few and giving them. I may do that, too.

Barb Neiwert said...

Your idea to make up a bunch of these secret surprises will benefit not only the recipient, but you as well! What a joy to give without expecting a return.

Sandra Walker said...

Such a sweet mug rug! The true spirit of giving as well :-)