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Monday, April 12, 2010

I Know Where God Hangs Out


I wonder if the secret to time travel is right under our nose.Think about it. Every memory locked up somewhere inside a bottle of Old Spice, or Rubber Cement, or cinnamon, or inside of our grandparent’s new Subaru. Every emotion is scented and, to me, kindness smells like industrial soap.

Whenever I have occasion to visit someone in the hospital, I duck into the hospital bathroom, wash my hands with the industrial soap, then press my hands to my nose and inhale deeply. It brings tears to my eyes immediately, because that industrial soap lingered in the air for nine weeks while I had some of the most intense experiences of my life trying to bring my twins into this world.

To me, industrial soap smells like the nurse who dropped by every day in bright yellow scrubs and told me dreamy stories about Seattle; and the nurse who told me I looked like a Victoria Secret model every time she came into my room. When you're flat on your back in a hospital gown something about those words gives you the strength to brush your teeth each morning. Industrial soap also smells like the nurse who held my hand while the phlebotomist drove a needle the size of Vermont into my neck; and the nurse who placed cold cloths on my forehead while the room did summersaults, and the nurse who rubbed my feet while I signed waivers that the doctors were not responsible if my babies came out blind, deaf, or dumb.

I think i know where God hangs out. People say you'll find him in church or in temples or in nature, but I bet he's rolling up his sleeves with the nurses in the hallowed halls of the hospitals.

Wouldn’t it be cool if the church started a pilot program, like instead of going to Sunday School you could go to the hospital to learn about God? Is it blasphemous to say I would be the first to sign up?

And is it blasphemous to say I keep waiting for the Bishop to receive the right revelation and put me in as the compassionate service leader. Ever since I had my twins I've known it's the only thing I want to be when I grew up, but somehow he keeps getting his wires crossed. 

When I lived in Hawaii I was called to be the Relief Society president, which is kind of like a bossy compassionate service leader, plus a whole lot of meetings.

When I moved to Utah I was called to be the Young Womens president, which is kind of like a bossy, cranky compassionate service leader, plus a whole lot of meetings, activities, and personal progress.

But guess what my young women just made? Guess, guess, guess!

A magic quilt.




Those of you who have been reading me for a while know that about a year ago I started this magic quilt project to heal the world one quilt at a time. But then Kritta (my magic quilter) and I both had major life changes this year, which put the Magic Quilt project on the back burner.

Well, good news! Kritta is almost done with the quilt and we will soon be unveiling it and sending it to the first recipient. YAY!

In the meantime my Young Women have pieced together their favorite t-shirts and made their own magic quilt, which they have been passing around to those in need of comfort in the ward. This past Sunday someone bore their testimony and mentioned their granddaughter who is struggling. After the meeting one of my young women rushed up and excitedly suggested we take the magic quilt to that struggling girl.

Be still my heart.


Wouldn't it be cool if God had his own set of quilting blocks?


18 comments:

TheOneTrueSue said...

Crash - THIS post made me tear up. What a gorgeous quilt.

Do you know what our next service thing will probably be (later this year, we need a break)? A quilting project to benefit a local hospital. Judging by this post, you should probably be one of the event chairs, right? RIGHT? (I'm thinking YES.)

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Yes, Yes, Yes! A hospital AND a quilt? I'm so in!

TisforTonya said...

love the t-shirt quilt - glad the girls got into the spirit of it :)

Amanda said...

I love it! And I'm happy to hear the magic quilt is close to finished, I look forward to seeing it.

springrose said...

What a great idea! I may just have my girls and maybe my boys help make a magic quilt to use here where we live. Do you have that person send it on or give it back so you can give it to someone else? Just wondering how you are doing it.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Springrose,both. Sometimes the person who has it decides who gets it next or the leaders decide someone. We're flexible. We bought a little journal book to travel with it and all the girls wrote notes of encouragement, favorite uplifting quotes, doodles, etc. There are blank pages too for those who have the quilt to write down any thoughts they had while being comforted by the magic quilt.

Amanda, I'm so happy you found this post. I was going to stop by your food blog today and tell you the update.

ALoha T! :)

The Songer said...

Very Cool! you are an awesome YW leader with some very loving YW! lover that idea


Love the entry!

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

Crash!!! Way to make me blubber!!! That is so good! The effect we have in other people's lives comes around 10 fold when we need it!

I agree you should be chair for the next one!!!

Loved it like always...and the YW Quilt!

amber_mtmc said...

This is a beautiful idea. I agree with you, I have met some of the most compassionate people in the hospital.

I think that engaging your YW in this cause will (hopefully) change their lives.

Shellie said...

Oh its true SO Very true... thanks for such a great post. makes me want to be a nurse and give all the love that I've been given to someone else.

cfoxes33 said...

I have a testimony of my own. My Dad was in the Navy as a young man. When I was growing up in Ohio, he took each winter and tried a new project. One year we tried to make an engine that would work. Another year, he remodeled the basement, another time he built a banjo and for a couple of winters, he made a quilt for my sister and for me...by hand. Now he is in his mid-60's and he makes wheelchair quilts and sends them to an organization that sends them to wounded soldiers. He makes his patterns himself. He also does quilts for raffles, funds raisers, and both my parents are in our church sewing club making blankets, quilts and such for sick family/church members, new babies, etc.

Last year, my dad found out he had throat cancer and the church surprised him with a quilt of his very own. I still tear up thinking about that day. He is such a blessing to so many people.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

OMGOSH! cfoxes, reading that gave me major chicken skin. I think I know what I want to be when I grow up now. MAHALO!! But first I better learn how to use a sewing machine without sewing the big dipper into my thumb.

Yesterday we gave the YW magic quilt to a non-member girl in our neighborhood who's been sick (AND afflcited.) It was such a rush to see her smiling face as she received it.

I hope I can be like your dad when I grow up.

K2 said...

Thank you for this post. I agree about hospitals although I personally don't enjoy visiting them myself as a patient. I think it is great what you are doing with the magic quilt. Thanks too for commenting on my post. Awesome!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Can I just say that my heart skipped a beat when I came to this site and saw my mom and dad still up there. I haven't been here for a while. It is very happy that my mom won't need the quilt now and it can go to someone else. But just the thought of this quilt gave me a lot of comfort and warmth during a very dark time,so it is not in vain.

I also teared up at this post. It is such a wonderful magical idea. But I have to admit that the post that tore at my heart strings the most was the one of the girl who had cancer as a teenager. I think I could relate to it as I watched my son struggle to want to eat. I should probably be posting this on her post, but oh well. I loved both of the posts and I am glad that I can vote more than once.

There is something so healing about a quilt. They truly are magical. I have a magic quilt that a friend made for me, and I can remember feeling comfort from its warmth and softness, when life seemed anything but.

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Pat, I am with you on the very happy meal post. I hope it wins. I actually voted for it too. And I am so happy that your mom has kicked her cancer. I have a dear friend in Hawaii (one of my neighbors) who's been fighting breast cancer too. I may send the quilt to her. I can't wait to get it!!! I am so anxious to see it.

LY

Heidi said...

THIS was a multi-tear post.

Donna Tagliaferri said...

ctd!! I am a new fan!! Can you believe it? I loved this post, sweet, funny, and touching. The perfect post.

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