Beth's Thoughts: May 2007

Wednesday, 30 May 2007

THE POSTAL SERVICE NO ONE HEARS ABOUT

THE POSTAL SERVICE NO ONE HEARS ABOUT

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after

he died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and

talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we

could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to Heaven,

God would recognize her.

She dictated and I wrote:

Dear God,

Will you please take special care of our dog, Abbey? She

died yesterday and is in heaven. We miss her very much. We

are happy that you let us have her as our dog even though she

got sick. I hope that you will play with her.

She liked to play with balls and swim before she got sick.

I am sending some pictures of her so that when you see her

in heaven you will know she is our special dog. But I really do

miss her.

Love, Meredith Claire P.S. Mommy wrote the words after I

told them to her.

We put that in an envelope with two pictures of Abbey, and

addressed it to God in Heaven. We put our return address

on it. Then Meredith stuck some stamps on the front (because,

as she said, it may take lots of stamps to get a letter all the

way to Heaven) and that afternoon I let her drop it into the

letter box at the post office.

For a few days, she would ask if God had gotten the letter

yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our

front porch. Curious, I went to look at it. It had a gold star

card on the front and said "To Meredith" in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith took it in and opened it.

Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers, "When a Pet Dies". Taped

to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God,

in its opened envelope (which was marked Return to Sender:

Insufficient address). On the opposite page, one of the

pictures of Abbey was taped under the words "For Meredith".

We turned to the back cover, and there was the other picture

of Abbey, and this handwritten note on pink paper:
***************************************************************************************************************************

Dear Meredith,

I know that you will be happy to know that Abbey arrived safely

and soundly in Heaven! Having the pictures you sent to me was

such a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. You know,

Meredith, she isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me--

just like she stays in your heart--young and running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know.

Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any

pockets!-- so I can't keep your beautiful letter. I am sending

it to you with the pictures so that you will have this book to

keep and remember Abbey.

One of my angels is taking care of this for me. I hope the little

book helps. Thank you for the beautiful letter. Thank your

mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you have! I

picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you

very much.

By the way, I am in heaven but wherever there is love, I am

there also.

Love, God and the special angel who wrote this after God told

her the words.

As a parent and a pet lover, this is one of the kindest things

that I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent

it, but there is some very kind soul working in the dead letter

office. Just wanted to share this act of compassion.

Blessings of love, peace, health & happiness.

-Author Unknown

Friday, 25 May 2007

Forget Diamonds

Forget diamonds ... we all know that a good bag is really a girl's best friend!
Patchwork & Stitching magazine (2007 Annual)

So that's why I design and make my own handbags.
The first time I made one was way back in 1995, when I made a pattern from a bag that a friend gave me. Since then that pattern has been modified 3 times.

I now no longer use those bags, and although I still have the pattern, I haven't used it in a long time.

In the past 3 years I have borrowed books on how to make bags from the local library and taken ideas I like plus some of my own to come up with a unique bag, that is very functional for me. I'm currently on the second version, with more ideas for an improved model. Different fabric, different closures, extra pockets (my current bag has a specific pocket for my mobile phone), and different embellishments. Of course changes mean different ways and orders of sewing the parts together, but that's all part of the fun of creating your own designs.

No photos, but maybe that will come later.