The Story of a Vintage Quilt, Dreams, and Cherries...

Can a time-worn and tattered quilt symbolize something intangible, like a deep hope and dream held in the heart? 

I think it can. And for me, it did.

When I spotted the quilt at a yard sale that I look forward to each year - in a colonial-style neighborhood that feels like going back in time - hope for my dream was hanging by a thread. It was nearly five years ago, and we had a contingent offer in on what is now our little farmstead. The home we were living in had been on the market for several months, and our renewed contingent offer was about to expire...

We could almost taste the change in lifestyle we craved for our family. We dreamed of our three active boys running free on acreage, playing and exploring. We wanted to get them a dog that our oldest son had been begging for. We - okay I - pictured chickens and sheep in the backdrop of our home, a vegetable garden, and entertaining friends and family outdoors. My husband was set on a fire pit where he said our boys would sit around and talk to us as they grew older... 

We prayed. We hoped. We worked hard to keep our current house "show ready" for any potential buyers who may drop by - not the easiest task with a 4, 7, and 10-year-old. It felt like we were running out of time. Would the seller of the little farmstead renew our contract again? Would we keep our house on the market with young children over the holidays? Would it sell? 

When I saw that lovingly-stitched quilt, I pictured it at the farmhouse. I remember telling myself - half filled with hope and half preparing myself for disappointment - if we get the little farmstead, the quilt will be perfect! And if we don't, I can always sell the quilt... In my heart, that vintage quilt represented hope.

Just a few weeks later, a family came through and was excited to purchase the home we were selling! We moved into our little farmstead the week before Thanksgiving, and we have not stopped giving thanks for this wonderful refuge where we are blessed to raise our children since. I think we had to pinch ourselves every day that first year. When spring came, it was like Christmas. New things were popping up all over the yard. We discovered we had three cherry trees on our property. 

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Nearly five years later, when I see the quilt, all those memories and feeling come back...

Do you have a similar story of a keepsake that reminds you of a significant hope or dream you held on to? Or maybe you are looking for something you can tangibly hold to remind you to pray, hope and dream for that desire that's in your heart? I'd love for you to share in the comments below...

Xo


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