The Stockings Were Hung - or -

"Be Careful What Traditions You Start If You Have More Than Two Children!"

 Eighteen years ago, I started a tradition.  A tradition that has lasted through a multitude of cross-country car trips, doctor-waiting-room visits during pregnancy (many of those), and quiet nights with my feet up (ok, so not so many of those. . . . . . )

I decided - back when I was barely twenty-something - that it would be charming and meaningful if I cross-stitched Christmas stockings for the whole family.  Stockings that had either a Bible verse or a scene from the Nativity on them, that the kids could take with them when they started families of their own.  That was - ahem - back when it was just Yurii & I. 

I should have known better.

As I had more and more children, they got older and older before their stocking was completed.  The next child on the list often had to make do with a fuzzy dollar store stocking with a glitter name hastily scrawled.  Finally - FINALLY! - I put the last stitch in Amy's stocking this past Thanksgiving, on the way home from Indiana.  Here it is:

So now, they're done.   We have a whole row of handmade, lovingly stitched, Christmas stockings hanging by our fireplace.

And now - for the first time in eighteen years - I left for a long car trip without my sewing bag.   Yurii's response:  "Really?  You're NOT bringing it?"  Yup.  Thankfully for me, I had a certain sneaky Christmas gift to work on (which I can't blog about - YET) that prevented too many withdrawal symptoms.  But for the return trip home. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . anybody need any cross-stitching done??