Shawl Ministry Journal

AC

My first Shawl is

For MS

 

On Easter Thursday, one of my coworkers sent word that his wife was in the hospital. Many people at work have been praying for her for a long time. Her cancer started in her breast and arms in 1997, and was in remission for awhile but now it has returned in her ribs and sternum. She was released from the hospital in time to go home to celebrate her grandson’s 1st birthday.  

I ask your prayers for MS,
who was born August 8th, 1960, 
her husband, JS, who was recently diagnosed with diabetes,
their daughters  AS, 20 and AS, 18, and AS’s son, CS, 1.  

 

 

          photo shows the unfinished shawl - I didn't take a picture after it was finished.

                                    .....my thanks to GM for doing the fringe and knots.

Note: The Lionbrand website said Pacifica was Soft sea-foam colors of cream and lavender with a hint of gray-blue. Maybe they changed the color!

 

Let me tell you how all this came about --  A couple of days after her surgery, I had an on the job injury and was stuck at home, not able to do much of anything but sit. A few days later on April 13th, I went to my first Shawl ministry meeting at St Elizabeth Seton in Plano. I immediately knew I wanted to knit a shawl for MS. I chose Homespun Pacifica, because I was looking for something with pink in it, representing the Ribbon of Hope. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the yarn took on pastel stripes which reminded me of the Easter eggs I had colored in the past, especially because this is Easter season. However, I was annoyed with myself when I discovered that I made a lot of mistakes in the pattern and had to rip out a lot of my work. One night I discovered I had messed up about 8 inches back but went to bed justifying it to myself that no one but an experienced knitter would notice. The next morning I was awakened by a loud male voice in my head saying Rip It Out! I hadn't even been dreaming about knitting. but I did rip it out and to redid it. I kept on making small mistakes and tearing them out again until I finally realized the problem and turned off the tv. Once I began knitting in a reflective, contemplative frame of mind things got a whole lot easier. God was telling me to pray while I knit, and I did so from them on. Almost half of the shawl was knitted at home while I was recuperating and a good part of the other half riding in the car on the road to Salado and back. We met up with our son there and he wants one, too. We will see about that! Maybe that's why he's letting me use his web space, you think?
Now that I have finished the knitting, G M has done the fringe and label, and all the while we've been knitting and sewing the 35 ladies in our group have been praying along with us. TA took it to Father for the blessing and JS delivered it for us. MS wrote a lovely note which was shared at the meeting.

Melanie Zoe Shepperd passed away on Friday night, January 14, 2005 after 44 blessed years here. She touched the lives of almost everyone she met with her kind heart and gentle smile. Melanie loved children and enjoyed nothing more than to make them smile. For the past seven years, she had battled breast cancer with all her might. She was a recent member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, but had been an avid Christian and member of many other churches, including Colony Park Baptist Church for most of her life. Her testimony has touched the lives of many.

Left behind to join her later are her husband, Jeff Shepperd of The Colony; two daughters: Aimee Shepperd of The Colony and Amber, husband, Rex; and a grandson, Clayton Rogers of The Colony. She is also survived by her mother, Maybell Watkins of Weatherford; two sisters: Mary and husband, Harrold Neal of Coppell; and Della and husband, Bill Blevens of White Settlement; three brothers: Roy and wife, Becky of Azle; Delton and wife, Carolyn Watkins of Mineral Wells; and Floyd and wife, Pam Watkins of Weatherford. In addition, she has numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews who all love her and miss her. There are many other extended family members and friends that will be waiting to join her.

Funeral services were held at Prestonwood Baptist Church on Monday, January 17, 2005.

 

I hope some of you will share your journals with us.
Remember, the more hands and prayers, the better!

To learn more about this project go to http://shawlministry.com/