06/09/2026
As a little girl, there was nothing that I enjoyed more than going to spend the weekend with my Nana. I learned many important life lessons:
o Always stand up from the couch and touch your toes before getting chips and dip. . . it burns calories.
o Dallas and Falcon Crest were great places to visit on Friday nights.
o Mix your Rocky Road ice cream with vanilla ice cream to cut the sweetness.
o That pile of rice and gravy will shrink when you put it in the microwave (NEVER).
But the most special thing that I learned from my Nana is how to crochet!! When I was just 3 years old, Nana took time to teach me how to crochet a chain stitch. I practiced and practiced, crocheting LOOOOOONG chains. Once I perfected that, she went on to teach me other stitches like the single crochet, double-crochet, and more. Over time, I learned to read patterns and she and I would crochet detergent bottle dresses, butterflies, and even cute dolls. I still have those patterns on little pieces of paper in Nana’s handwriting.
I finished high school, went off to college, graduated and got a job. Through it all, I continued to crochet. I was slow, but I loved doing it. As time progressed, I crocheted faster, started creating my own patterns, and collected more yarn than my husband should ever have allowed. I thought about starting a business but did not find joy in that. People would ask me to make things for them and pay me for them. That didn’t give me joy either. I have always given away things that I’ve made and that made me happy, but there was still not real joy.
Several years ago, I started praying over each item that I made. If it was for a specific person, I would pray for that person. I’ve made many blankets and shawls while praying continuously. I started writing the prayers in a notebook so that I can continue to pray for each person. There I found incredible joy in the process of praying and crocheting.
About two years ago, I realized that this had become a sort of ministry. The gifts I make are reminders to everyone that they are prayed for not only during the crocheting of the project, but afterwards as well. I knew that this ministry needed a name and after much prayer, it came to me. Nana gave me the gift of crochet and I have the honor of using that gift to love others.
What better name than Nana’s Gift!!
