Hope Blanket

I want to share a letter with you that Chad and I received a few weeks ago.  It was one that touched our hearts forever. The letter is from a couple that knew my family when we lived in Petoskey, Michigan.  I have had no contact with the family in over 15 years, but she got a hold of my blog and became a member.
Let me share the letter with you.

Dear Chad and Christina,
      It has been Brian and my pleasure to make this blanket for the two of you. We understand the heart break and yearning you have gone through for a child. The Bible says, "God gives us the desires of our heart." We believe that God first puts that desire there and then He gives you what you so desire.
      The short version of how I began making "Hope Blankets" is, when we were struggling to have our first child a close family friend made me a promise to make this special blanket when I became pregnant. She had made a few offers to make this special blanket, by God's leading, and each time the couple had a baby. when I got pregnant she began making the blanket. A few years passed and I kept thinking, how can I pass this blessing along? The one thought that kept coming to me is that the wait and see game is so hard. Keeping positive and having hope that it would happen is really tough.  One day I felt God leading me to crochet a blanket for a couple who wanted a baby so bad. I wanted to give it to them before they got pregnant, so they wouldn't lose hope. I haven't seen them in years, I haven't even met their children.
     Your "Hope Blanket" was made by both Brian and I. Brian rolled each skein of yarn and he would keep careful watch to unravel a bunch while I crocheted, which made the process so much faster. As I crocheted your blanket I prayed for both of you and this long journey you have traveled. I prayed God to bless you with another child, that Christina would become pregnant, that you would grow a healthy baby. I prayed that this baby would grow and only get as big as it needed to so that labor would be easier. 
     I have never made a blanket like this one before. It is unique. As I was crocheting I felt God say to me that the blanket was creative and unique, just like the way you are trying to have a baby. You had to find a different way to conceive. Finally, I would like to say, this could be just me, but as I began crocheting your blanket I had the feeling that I may need to make a second one. So, if you should find out that you need more than one blanket, please let me know. I would be honored to make another. 
     The definition of hope is to earnestly expect. We hope you can wrap a new family member in this blanket soon.
                                              God Bless,

Our "Hope Blanket"

                                              Brian and Melody Bennett


Chad and I read this and wept. We were so touched by this couples generosity and empathy for our journey. This blanket is the most beautiful blanket we have ever seen or held. We love cuddling with it at night time when we are watching television together.  We have talked about ways that we can "pay it forward" to couples who are struggling with conception.  We have made a promise to each other that we will help others who are struggling with their journey. This blanket along with framed letter will be the first new items that we put into our babies nursery. This blanket is so special to our family.  
We have not told Melody yet, but we will be needing that second blanket.  We found out a couple weeks ago that we are expecting twins!!! We are over joyed and so grateful for every step that we have taken together during our journey. We have had a couple bumps in the rode already, but God has kept watch over each and every one of us along the way.