Precious Things!

Lilah's blessing dress.


I have some treasures that I hold dear.  Growing up my mom had a cedar chest with all kinds of precious things inside.  I remember I used to love to open it up and peak inside.  That smell of cedar would overwhelm you like memories flooding over you.

I had always wanted my own and when I got older my parents gave me a cedar chest for Christmas.  Since then I have been placing my precious treasures inside.  Among these treasures are the shirts that both Jeremy and I wore on our first date, the first little t-shirts the girls wore, a baby outfit that reminds me of each of them, a scarf from my Grandma Nelson, a few doilies from my Grandma Neeley, a dishcloth that my mom painted, a set of pillow cases my mom embroidered and the dress I wore to the temple when I took out my endowments.When I have enough treasures I will take them and make a life quilt with all of them.  Each of these hold special memories that bring back glimpses of the past!  

This week I went with my parents to pick up a new precious thing to add to my treasure chest.  When each grandchild on my side of the family is born my mom and dad buy their blessing dress/outfit for them.  As I think back to Neeley and Kayla's blessing, the day we picked out their dresses are special memories attached to that day.  I will never forget going with Mom and Dad this week to lunch and shopping for Lilah's dress.

As I was looking at Lilah's dress it got me thinking what a special event their blessing day really is.  It is the first ordinance in the church they get to experience.  A feeling of reverence passes over me as I think of these little souls being given a name in those precious white dresses.  I like to think that this is the time when their little names are recorded in Heaven so they can be called this name for the rest of eternity.  There is also something wonderful about the blessings they get at this time.  It is so special to hear their daddy talk about blessings in life that are in store for them.

Along with the beautiful white dresses I have a few other blessing traditions.  Jeremy's mom knitted a blanket for Neeley's blessing.  We wrapped both Neeley and Kayla in it to have them blessed and we will do the same for Lilah.  Great Grandma Dopp made the cute little booties.  She used to make them for many of the grandkids but when I had Neeley she was getting pretty old and really didn't make them any more.  I asked her if she would make Neeley a pair for her blessing and she was flattered.  I think that was the last pair she ever made.  

Before my Grandma Neeley passed on I would go visit her.  While I lived in Germany we would write letters back and forth.  We created a special bond and she sent me some pinoche for Christmas and several letters.  She would often write that she didn't think she would make it until I got home.  Well she did make it and I was glad to see her again.  I would go visit her quite often and each time I did she would give me another treasure.  One day she gave me a quilt she had made and this cute little baby bib.  

This blessing Lilah is lucky enough to have something from each of her grandmas and from each of her great grandmas. In addition to these treasures listed above she is named after Delilah (Jeremy's Grandma Hill) and Ann after my Grandma Nelson!

Each of these precious things were worn by Neeley and Kayla and will also be worn by Lilah.  It is so nice to be surrounded with fond memories and gifts of love.

Kayla's Blessing Dress

Neeley's Blessing Dress