Heirlooms
I remember vividly my siblings, sister in-laws together sorting through my mom's belongs at the request of my dad after she past away. 


When we sorted through my mom's clothes, I remember really wanting specific sweaters, sweatshirts and then I came across her handkerchiefs.  I took several of her hankies...I wasn't sure why I wanted them at the time.  


Now, fast forward ten years later when our daughter, Sara was planning her wedding, we were talking to Lori Kees, the florist we used (check out her blog:  http://ooohlalaflorals.blogspot.com/ ) on how we wanted to incorporate my mom's hanky in some way in order to feel like she was not only not forgotten, but that she was with us at the wedding.  

My mother's handkerchief wrapped around Sara's bouquet

Lori did a fabulous job wrapping my mom's hanky around Sara's bridal bouquet.  It was tasteful and elegant!  I will never forget the moment Lori  showed me how she used the hanky.  My dad was sitting in a brown leather chair in the groom's room at the church, I was assisting with distributing boutonnieres and corsages at the time Lori came in with Sara's bouquet.  When I pointed out to my dad that it was my mom's hanky on Sara's bouquet--well, seeing it took his breath away.  Seeing him react to it took mine.  Our eyes locked and both of us began to weld up with tears--mom was there, she was ever present and not forgotten.  It was an amazing moment.

My Daddy arriving for the wedding in the groom's room

That sweet, tender moment I had with my dad prior to Sara walking down the aisle with Joe made me think about wanting to have a "special something" to pass down to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren...you get the idea, some type of heirloom from me!
     
So I asked my friends if anyone knew someone who would take my wedding gown and make it into a Christening Blanket.  Julie Peterson, a friend from church and a phenomenal seamstress said she could do it!  So I took my  expensively wrapped and well-preserved wedding dress out of its sealed container and found it to be in great condition!  I told Julie I trusted her with it--(okay, I have to throw this in here--after pulling my wedding gown out of the gold box, it was wrapped in tissue and blue plastic--I pulled it out...and I just had to try it on--I am happy to report that my dress still fit!  Actually it was a little on the loose side...I feel that's worth bragging rights at my age...right?!)  Julie said she was nervous about cutting it up and thought she needed to call me one last time before she took her sewing shears to the lace.  But she jumped in and made the most beautiful Christening Blanket.  You may ask, "Why a blanket, why not a Christening Gown?"  I thought about a Christening Gown, but the "gown" didn't go over well with the men in my family...a blanket on the other hand could be used for a boy or a girl.  

Kathie and Joe Gautille - April 27, 1985

I saved the blanket for Sara's baby shower.  In a box I placed an 8" x 10" picture of Joe and me on our wedding day--in a plastic protector, wrapped the blanket in tissue with the picture laying on top.  This way in generations to come, not only can they see what the blanket originally looked like from the wedding dress, but they can see who passed it down.  

During the baby shower, Sara knew the minute she saw the wedding picture that I really "did it", I really had my wedding gown cut up for a very special gift for her baby and future babies to come...

Christening Gown and Baby bonnets made by Julie Peterson from my wedding gown

And I am so happy I did...

Sara, Landon Lee, and Ryan Corl

The Deacon who Baptized Landon with Sara, Ryan and Landon

Melissa and Eric Felderhoff, Landon's Godparents

I Lasso hankies and wedding dresses being passed down for generations to come!

I Lasso the past touching the future!