Blessingway for Mercedes

I helped organize the Blessingway for Mercedes and the new baby. We used some of the same traditions that our midwives introduced to us, and added some of our own. We wrapped everyone in a single strand of yarn to symbolize how we are all bound together for Mercedes, and then cut it into bracelets to be worn until the baby is born. We all gave her a candle to burn at the birth. And everyone gave a fabric to be made into a quilt for the baby, and a wish to be quilted into the squares. Of course, there was also lots of good food and friends. It was a fun day!

We all sit down to enjoy the yummy food (thank you to everyone for contributing such delectable treats!)

This is the collection of candels that we contributed, for Mercedes to burn during the birth.

Alicia prepared this list of the wishes as everyone presented the fabrics that they chose for the quilt.

What kind of story is Deni telling?!

Alicia takes a turn with baby Ruby.

All of the fabric. On the top is from Kate, who wished sincerity. The dots are from Tina and her mom who wished prosperity and compassion. The purple stars are from Andrea who wished the baby radiance. The green vines are from Kelly who wished connection, and the swirly purple vines are from Sarah whose wish was creativity. The turtle batik is from Elaine, as well as the monkey fabric, who wished patience. Deni brought fabric with an insect motif, and a purple cirlces pattern, and she wished the baby confidence. The muted flowers are from Kim who wished peace. Mike and Jenny Cross, who could not come, sent dragon flies and a muted purple, and they wished compassion and understanding. The multi-colored batik was from Marge who wished joy. Alicia gave the fish batik, and wished laughter. Mercedes and Ben themselves gave a moon and star batik, and their one wish was for health. On the bottom is fabric from Mercedes’ Mom’s friends Rosemary and Kathleen (who wished the baby “everything”), Katy, (whose wish was courage), and Mercedes’ mom (whose wish was prudence).