The Most Incredible Gift

Left us speechless, which is very difficult to do to the Irwin 3, as most of you know.

We arrived back at home today from 2 fun-filled days at Depoe Bay with Will's 'rents.

A large white package was anxiously awaiting our arrival, beckoning us to spill it's contents out all over the floor and pore over every last minute detail.

And so we did...

We inspected every last square...

Picked out every last ducky (the favorite parts for A-bug of course)

Drew out every last kleenex for every last sentence written in a well-thought out, well-orchestrated, well-loved, much pored over book to explain each quilt square that had a story behind it or a letter written, with a scripture given to savor in the heart of this little girl, for a lifetime.

You see, Anna has this aunty...This fabulously darling little blond thing right here...

Who obviously has a deep love for this babe from afar. And she decided that for Christmas, she was going to collaborate 100 different squares of fabric into a breathtakingly beautiful tapestry, mixed with pieces from my wedding jacket, her wedding dress, my mom-in-law's-from-my-wedding dress, grandpa's old ties, grandma's old fabric scraps, and the list goes on... And for each square there is a story. A bit of life story from Will's family's past and even open squares to add in from my family's past. So for each square, there is a coordinating paragraph in a fabulous binder o' explanation, with a personal letter written from a family member, or a quote, or a scripture for Anna to hang onto through life. I can't even fathom the time, the creativity, the coordination of other people's additions, the planning, the cutting, the arranging, the hand stitching and sewing and the great heart that went into this beauty. So, this is just a small tribute for the deep gratitude this family feels towards Sister Charissa and the others who added their loving words of life into her Christmas quilt.

Oh, I already can't wait for the day for her to understand the depth and height of love that was poured into this gift (and recognize there's more to the fabric than just the duckies.)

It's us, on a quilt.

Our story, of how little Anna came to be,

and of all those who love her and what they desire her to become.

I kept mulling over this verse as we were perusing each specially prepared and planned out square...

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." -Eph 2:10

Workmanship: masterpiece, poiema, handiwork, a "thing of His making".

Man, this quilt is quite the masterpiece of a workmanship, if I've ever seen one.

But even more so, I pray that this little girl, that I was privileged to be the carrying vessel for her to enter this earth by, who is SO deeply loved by so many others on this earth,

will ALWAYS know that just as this piece was created by her aunty with so much love and intimate care and detail, she too is one of God's greatest works.

A perfect "thing of His making".

There is nothing that could be added to or taken away from her to make her any more perfect than He made her to be...just her, just perfectly Anna.
And I feel so blessed to just sit back and watch her life continue on as she grows to know Her Maker, the Workman, the Masterpiece Designer who has His good works for her to discover and walk in.

Thank you Aunty Charissa for walking in one of God's good works for your life

and creating this beautiful poiema for our specially loved girl.

And a funny little sidenote...if you notice any blank squares, she even added squares for names of more babes to come!

Isn't she a sneaky lil' hinting sis?!
Yes more Irwin's will join in on the adventures SOMEday,

but until then we're enjoying the ride for 3!