Inspiring "Blessing Scarf"

faithandfifty

Inspiring "Blessing Scarf"

faithandfifty

Once upon a time there was an arty-craftie lady who was asked to return for better mamo pictures. Thus began a new journey. They told her not to worry about getting a biopsy.... that old 80/20 rule. Then when they told her it was indeed cancer, they so often said "but it's the best kind of cancer." Our little artie friend was mostly overwhelmed anyway.

In lightning quick speed the surgery was completed so that she could return as quickly as possible to her committments. While out preparing one day for happy fun she popped in @ the dollar store, and found a pink boa-like-scarf that seemed an appropriate addition to her nonsense collection and she paid a full dollar.

A mere two weeks later our protangonist returned to national travel and spoke to her first group of teachers (primarily women, this is early childhood we're talking about) in WI. Since her topic was supposed to be happy-happy, joy-joy, this recent dx seemed a bit out of place. So our little music lady friend got out her dollar store investment and shared the story of how early detection is so beneficial in fighting the beast, as a word-from-our-sponsor, commercial interruption.

While mentioning this new dimension of her travels she got out the scarf and shared that it seemed toooo plain for her travels.... and that she'd purchased a variety of ribbons to adorn the scarf. She mentioned that she'd appreciate help in "decorating" the scarf. Quite innocently or perhaps serendipitously what she said was, "When you tie on your ribbon, if you could tie it on with a blessing or a wish or a prayer, that would be very supportive."

Imagine the look on her face, as they drove off of the University's campus and she took the scarf outta da bag. Some brilliant woman had taken those directions at face value and had tied on her ribbon with a WRITTEN blessing! Others followed that first woman's example. The scarf was decorated with DOZENS of written blessings and prayers and scripture verses and encouraging words!! Her tears flowed all the way to Chicago at the kindness of these strangers.

As spring turned into summer and radiation treatments mounted her travels took her to other spots in the country. By now participants were getting more creative in their additions. Some ribbons were woven, others braided, one macramed. A dear friend donated a couple hundred pink buttons to add further charm. Then somebody pinned on a guardian angel..... which led to other angels and keychains and spirit buttons and google eyes and dollie babies being crafted for encouragement.

Seeing all of those different styles of handwriting were in and of themselves uplifting. The ribbon that said: I'll meet you for pancakes in July, was certain to always make her cry. There will be a time AFTER I'm done with treatment? And it has pancakes @ Al Johnson's on the agenda? The scripture verses always brought comfort. The creativity always brought a smile.

The scarf grew and grew and weighed more and more. It made it's premiere Komen appearance in Detroit. It got beach blessings in NJ and Texas cowboy boots and some AZ red dirt..... and took longer and longer to read in it's entirity.

Then one day the strangest thing happened. The scarf got put into a closet for a while.... and it stayed there for a long time, because she know longer needed to read those encouraging words every night before dinner. It was so far put away that for a while she even forgot where it was..... so that when it was time for her 2nd Komen walk she couldn't even find it in time. A whole year had passed? How was that possible?

After several days of diligent searching that amazing pink prayer shawl emerged once again to offer reflection on how far she'd come. Having that "art-project" gave her such a sense of doing something in the midst of it all and now stands as a testament of the love of women for each other. And now you can no longer even see the original scarf. And the scar is much less visible as well.

Here's to the strength and courage that we must discover within ourselves to walk on this road. May we support each other thru the dark days and nights and celebrate life's little gifts along the journey.

Priceless.

AlaskaDeb

Oh please, please please show us some photos!  I would love to see it.  What a wonderful story!

Deb C

neesie

Beautiful Faith..................and I DO remember you with a Pink Boa on at the Detroit Komen Walk Last year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deb............I knew I could find you if I just kept on looking!

Hugs to both,

Neesie 

celia088

faith, you are the most delightful, arty-crafty, sweetest, poetic, creative, most compassionate, breath of fresh air person ...ever!!!!!!! i take refuge in knowing you by reading you here at bco!!!!!  i remember you from chat too!!!

hugs,

celia 

AlaskaDeb

WOW!!!  Powerful object

Hugs and thanks for sharing

Deb C

sahalie

Faith, beautiful friend.

I fight tears every chance I get but this time reading your most eloquent words brought the tears to my eyes.

How beautiful the tale.

How beautiful the people who attached prayers and words of encouragement to that dollar store boa.

It is priceless Faith.

And so are you.

Love and Thank YOU.

Sahalie

winggirl2

Faith - INSPIRING!

My how the scarf has grown into a priceless work of art.

I think I would have it framed. 

Wings

bearlysane111

That is wonderful,Debbie! You tell your stories in the neatest writer's way.

Thank you for sharing your stories and your creativities with all of us! This would be a great book idea as well...love the ribbons and messages. 

Iris/bearlysane/spartanbear of '72 

MargaretB

Faith, what a beautiful work of art that is.  I loved your story of support and encouragement.

spar2

It is beautiful and inspirational

livesstrong

Simply amazing.

Thanks for sharing.

Valerie 

faithandfifty

Scarf UPDATE:

I have received incredible pink ribbons from three of our fellow board readers and my mom made a whole set as well......... so I tied them onto another dollar store pink boa and crafted a new blessing scarf for our inspirational friend SAINT from chatroom and newly more capably on the boards! We drove from our house in central OH to her's in southern WI to make the surprise presentation. Here she is modeling your handiwork:

faithandfifty

AND another where dear Alphie is the one wearing the glasses.... Look VERY closely, maybe you can find some of YOUR ribbons!

spar2

How cool is that!

celia088

wonderful!!!!!!!

smithlme

Thank you for sharing this story and pictures. What a gift to give someone who is just beginning this journey...

Linda

SISKimberly

It looks fabulous!!!!  Thank you for sharing your story, your creativity, and this gift of seeing a scarf recipient.

SIS (Sister In Survival) Kimberly 

faithandfifty

Open invitation: I'd like to invite anyone who's become aware of this project to contribute ribbons for future scarves for BC survivors in the midst of their fight. This is the perfect project for someone who wants to help encourage a peer here -- [you don't need to be able to knit or crochet.]

You just need to have access to ribbon and some permanent markers.

If you PM me, I'll send you my address and when you get a batch complete...... send them in the mail and they will be included on furture scarves.

If anyone else happens to stumble upon the bare scarves at your dollar store, I'll happily reimburse you for those that you are able to purchase.

Thanks in anticipation of your participation.

xx00xx00xx00xx00xx

faithandfifty

I've received a couple of PMs with questions:

I would suggest you keep your ribbons between 12 inches and 18 inches in length.... there's no magic length and any length will work.

If you write your message with a big 3 or 4 inch space in the middle, then I can easily tie them on and not miss any of your message. I would suggest that you 'sign' your ribbons -- with either your nickname here or your first name (which ever you'd prefer.) I also think it's neat to have at least the state where you live.....

One of our contributors had a neighbor's child write messages on ribbons.... awesome seeing a child's handwriting..... she signed her first name and added: age 9.

As to ribbons. I'd appreciate keeping them in the 'pink' family. [I realize that we all tire of pink, but I think that adds some continuity...... EVERY shade is welcome: scarlet, fuscia, baby pink -- and everything in between.]

I've gotten gross grain ribbons with polka dots and others with stripes. Some have been silkie. Others have been created on fabric torn, or cut into narrow strips. Anything goes.

And for those of you willing to look at Dollar stores...... here's what the empty scarf looks like:

saint

I plan to make ribbons for this project! It is a simple idea that anyone can execute & it is amazing how awesome it made me feel when Faith presented me with the creation!! (Now if I could do something about the way I LOOK!!! As much as I hate cameras they hate me more!!! If Faith was really my friend she would have edited out my turtle neck--MY turtle neck--I'm not wearing a sweater!! HAHAHA)

SO--join the fun! Get out your scissors & markers & start creating healing strips for Faith to send on to others!

THANX to all who helped make mine! It makes me smile everytime I look at it!

Be well & stay strong. Hugs, saint 

faithandfifty

Ribbons anyone? It's time to make a couple more scarves. Post here or PM me if you'd like to make some ribbons to offer support and encouragement to another sister.

ernursen

Bump. 

BEAUTIFUL

faithandfifty

OK, helper bees...... I just got another box, filled with gorgous pink ribbons with uplifting messages.

So I'm pumped to put a couple more together.

willing to get involved? PM me and I'll send you my address...........

celia088

faith, i PM'd you.

faithandfifty

Bump. For Checkum's Foob Fighters.

The more creative & personal you make your contribution -- the more meaningful.

spar2

I have mailed Faith 2 boxes of ribbons and would love to see a picture of the scarf with my ribbons in it. 

Anonymous

Dearest Faith-I have absolutely no idea how I have missed this entire thread, but I want IN!  I want to get involved!  I love it! 

Love and prayers, Deb

faithandfifty

I put together three more scarves while my DH provided the driving back & forth last week to my meet-up with Julz in PA. Next week he'll be driving us on another long road trip -- so I'll gather up everyone's ingrediants and do some more tie-ing together as we motor along.

Now to get these three out to their recipients and get the ball rolling.

faithandfifty

Checkum's received her scarf. It's to encourage her on her 3 Day adventure, coming up.

Thanks to everyone who's sent ribbons in the past.

Anyone else that would like to get involved is certainly still welcome to do so!

PM me and I'll send you my address.

edited cuz I'm too tired to type.

EWB

Faith and ladies

When I came home from a long day at the hospital with my Mom (who had a colonoscopy) I found a small box on the front stoop. I love getting packages. What a wonderful package to get.  You will never know special this blessing scarf is to me! Over the weekend I was lucky enough to have a rekei session with a wonderful woman. When it was over she was talking about angels and how she felt I had a lot of angels around me...next day the package arrived with the Blessing Scarf. I realized that I really do have angels....you ladies here. I feel such a sense of peace and calm come over me when I hold or wear it.

Thank you!  I am humbled by your thoughtfulness, kindness and caring.

Elaine