For Our Aunt Mary

Celebrating 80 Years!

Happy Birthday to Aunt Mary!

I've been meaning to post this since last August...
We meant to give this prayer shawl to Aunt Mary at Sunday dinner after Shel's wedding when everyone was there. We ended up giving it to her the morning she left.

Here's the meaning behind the prayer shawl and a message from us.

Bev Laszlo was the maker of Aunt Mary's prayer shawl and she sends a letter along with it to explain it's meaning. Here is her letter to Aunt Mary:

Dear Aunt Mary,

The Vandercar kids asked if I would make a prayer shawl for you. It was a wonderful experience for me. For centuries shawls have been used as an embracing symbol of God's love. May you wear it, hold it, touch it and know you are forever a child of God and a very special person. Prayer shawls are meant to be used alone or shared with others. When you use your shawl may you explore your life and capture the memories- the funny, the joyful and even the painful. As you "Count Your Many Blessings," may you feel the warmth of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you life.
This shawl was created with "Homespun" yarn, which has some flaws. What a reminder that we are also not perfect, life is not perfect, but when we experiences of our life are knitted together, they become strong and beautiful!! When the flawed times come in our life we go on to the next stitch, and that flaw becomes part of the pattern of our life.
Payers of thanksgiving were whispered from the heart as hands embraced the knitting needles and yarn. The "moss stitch" is an intricate pattern of knit three and purl three and symbolizes our God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The diamonds in the white stripe represent the number 7 in the bible. The white represents the never ending presence of God in our life. Genesis tells us of God's creation and Revelation assures us of God's promise of salvation and our eternity with Jesus. If you have access to the internet, go to Google and type in "the number 7 in the Bible".
It is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May you be blessed with a "peace that passes all understanding."
Bev Laszlo


And a letter from "us," Aunt Mary's nieces and nephews:

Dear Aunt Mary,

So, now that you know what the prayer shawl represents, we want to let you, Aunt Mary, know what you represent to us. When we think of you, we think of summers and reunions and waiting for your car to turn in our drive way and for the Aunt and Uncle and cousins we love to jump out of the car. We think of trips across country…and visits to a house full of fun and tours of our nation’s capital by a patient tour guide.

You represent the heritage of 7 Bryant children and our Grandpa and Grandma. When we look at you we remember our Mom and the Bryant girls and never fail to see in you the love and faith that was instilled and passed on to us through our Grandparents and our parents.

We love to hear you lay out how everyone is related to us and we love to listen to your stories of the days gone by, as you are our link to the past.

So as you wrap yourself in this shawl we hope you remember and feel our love and prayers for you, our Aunt Mary.

You are loved,

The Vandercar kids

Directions to here:
I share this today again, wishing we could all be there with you to celebrate your birthday. We love you Aunt Mary!