Gearing Up for More Donations

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we are preparing to box up several batches of donations to mail to our current list of NICU's (which includes our newest addition in Georgia).  The next couple of weeks will be VERY BUSY at my house. :)

Also...I'm excited to say that I had the unexpected opportunity to meet a couple of women locally who are in the position to facilitate the addition of local hospital NICU's to our ever growing list of donation sites.  As things develop, I'll share the news with you.

Here are a few photos of past ensembles that I hadn't shared with you yet....

They are wonderful examples of involving many people in the construction of one ensemble....basically, one person may have made the quilts/afghans, another the hat, another the gown, another the booties, and another person making the butterflies....yet everything went together beautifully!

Trust me....there are SO many more photos to share....I will get them posted slowly but surely. :)  Continue crafting ladies....you are truly touching lives with your talents.

Blessings,
Theresa (aka Grandma)

Donation Delivery to Holston Valley NICU

Just wanted to share a photo of a HUGE box of Angel Ensembles being delivered to Holston Valley NICU in Kingsport, Tennessee.  The box was so large that this young lady brought out a cart to roll it into the hospital after getting it out of my mom's car. :)

A big "Thank You" goes to my parents who allow me to mail items to their home and then they in turn hand deliver the donations (to the two different hospitals in Tennessee) with a smile.  Whenever possible we prefer to hand deliver our donations.  By doing so, we are putting "real people and faces" behind the name "Grandma's Promise".

We want everyone involved....the hospital administration, the NICU nurses and doctors, and of course the families of the babies who receive these items, to know that the crafters of these items are people who truly put their hearts into this ministry.

We CARE!

Thank you crafters for all you do!

Grandma (aka Theresa)

3rd Hospital To Become Recipient of Our Donations

Just a quick update to let everyone know that Grandma's Promise continues to grow and has officially added a third hospital to become a recipient of our donations of handcrafted Angel Ensembles, hats, etc.

Items will now be heading toward Savannah, Georgia....along with our current two hospitals in Johnson City, Tennessee and Kingsport, Tennessee.

We have received many more finished items over the past couple of weeks from our current dedicated crafters....with more photos to share in upcoming blog posts.  (Candy in NY has been busy, Texas Crafters stay busy....just to name a few.)

I am currently printing the cards and including them in the individual bags of ensembles....as decisions are made as to which items will be shipped to the three waiting hospitals based on each individual hospitals needs at this time. 

More updates and photos will be posted soon.

If you are a crafter who knits, crochets, or sews and would like to jump on board and help us minister to these precious little ones and their families, please e-mail and I will be more than happy to help guide and get you started.

We are always in need of more crafters.

Email:  grandmaspromise@yahoo.com

Continued Blessings,
Grandma (aka Theresa)

Marianne in NY Does It Again

Another donation has been received from Marianne in New York.  Marianne creates the entire ensemble herself....by sewing each gown and crocheting the afghans, bonnets, booties and butterflies. 

Just look at these beautiful Angel Ensembles....

It is very evident that Marianne pours her love into each and every stitch she makes. 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Theresa (aka Grandma)

More Donations from Annie in NJ

What a sweet surprise to receive another package of extra teeny, tiny hats made by Annie in New Jersey.  This is the second batch of items we have received from Annie. 

We are now gearing up to send out our third official box(es) of donated items.  Now that we have two (possibly soon to be three) NICU's to supply, it always seems to be a busy time here in my home as I sort and assemble items to be sent to each hospital.

Grandma's Promise continues to grow and provide more and more items for premature babies.  Our crafters certainly have BIG hearts, working hands and giving spirits.

THANK YOU ANNIE for your part in this ministry!!!  There would be no Grandma's Promise without you and all the other crafters on board!

Blessings,
Theresa (aka Grandma)

Niswonger Children's Hospital

Just wanted to take a few moments to share with everyone a couple of photos taken during our second delivery of donated items to the Niswonger Children's in Johnson City, Tennessee.

This hospital was the recipient of our entire first donation.  By the time we had a second donation ready to deliver, we were able to expand and adopt a second hospital (more information later) and share our Angel Ensembles between the two hospitals.

We are in the early stages of adding a possible third hospital.

One Dear Crafter Now in Heaven with Babies She Helped

I felt a need this morning to share some news I learned of yesterday evening.  If you have been following our Grandma's Promise blog, you are aware of the fact that there is a group of ladies in Texas who have been consistently donating handcrafted items.

From the very beginning, this group of ladies has remained anonymous at their request....other than the one contact person for the group who has been a dear friend of mine for over 20 years (we met while our husband's were both in the Air Force and we were stationed at the same base). 

Even now, I do not know individual names of these ladies.....but I do know their hearts because of their faithful support to this mission. 

One of these dear women lost her battle with cancer this past Sunday.  My heart is humbled to realize that this woman, knowing that her time on earth was coming to an end, chose to use what precious time she had left to handcraft items that were needed to assemble our Angel Ensembles/Burial outfits. Items crafted for the tiniest of God's creation in an attempt to bring comfort to those babies' families in their grief.

I do not know her name, but I do know that she had a strong faith in the Lord.  The message I received last night said...

"She had donated some of the items in the first box that we sent. Now she walks the streets of glory with the angel babies. What a blessed hope that we all have."
It brings me comfort today to think that even though this beautiful lady and I never actually met, that when she meets our Morgan and Meghan in Heaven, I just have a feeling she will give them a big hug and let them know that their Grandma loves them.

I will close this post by sharing this photo of the first box of donations received by this lady and all the other wonderful women in this group.

So Texas Crafters....please share our heartfelt condolences with the family and friends of this lovely lady!

Blessings,
Grandma (aka Theresa)

Texas Gals Have Been Busy

My goodness....those Texas Gals must never rest!!!  We received another box of goodies....an array of beautiful afghans and quilts. 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Your generous hearts and fast hands never cease to amaze me!!!!!

Blessings,
Grandma (aka Theresa)

New Bootie Crochet Pattern

I found another easy new crochet pattern for booties.  These are made in one piece and do not require any additional "sewing together" to complete.

You can see and print the instructions at the following website:

http://www.lovinghugsfamily.com/bootiepatternpreemie.html

I've already made a few pair of these adorable little booties and plan to make more. :)

Keep up the good work everyone!

Blessings,
Grandma (aka Theresa)

Crocheted Shell Gown

This is a new open backed micro-preemie gown pattern I tried out a week or so ago.  This pattern, like the boy's kimono pattern posted a couple of days ago, is very easy and quick to make. 

I should say that I did add an additional 5 or 7 rows to this one I made.  I felt that the pattern was just too short and didn't look right until I made it longer.

The pattern calls for 2 buttons on the back, but I believe I'm going to add ribbon ties to this one (at the neck and waist).  In the future, I may even crochet the ties (similar to the boys pattern posted prior to this one).

You can see and print this pattern at the following link:

http://www.angels4preemies.com/micropreemiegowncapset.html