Wednesday, May 8, 2013

My Gavin Project

I have spent the last 4 weeks working on my Super G (Super Gavin) Project.

I am part of a group of women that met through iVillage. We all had babies due in October 2007. We call our children the Pumpkin Seeds and each other our “invisible friends” We have seen each other through sick babies, the terrible twos, terrifying threes and so on. Our pumpkin seeds are now 5 ½. We have comforted each other through many losses in life. Whether it be the loss of a pregnancy, a parent or other family member or the loss of that perfect marriage. We have celebrated new babies and new husbands.

We recently lost one of our own. Gavin was a Pumpkin Seed. His parents were told early on in his short life that he wouldn't be able to do anything. He wouldn't so much as sit up or eat on his own. He defied all of his doctors. Not only did he sit up but he eventually progressed through all of his early life milestones. His mother, Kate's, goal was to watch him walk into Kindergarten on his first day. And as a Christmas Gift, Gavin began to take steps on his own. And he would of walked through those doors on his first day of Kindergarten, unassisted.

He suddenly fell ill 4 weeks ago and within the week he was gone. If you would like to read more about Gavin and his family, Kate's blog is here: http://www.kateleong.com/

Gavin always wore a superman shirt. He was “our” super hero. When Gavin went to the hospital, someone posted a superman logo with a G rather then a S. I offered to make my imaginary friends applique shirts with the super G logo. I thought maybe 30 shirts, but the number quickly jumped to 93 shirts.

I have prayed over these shirts. I have prayed for the people that would wear them. I have prayed for Kate, Ed, Gavin and little brother Brian. I have prayed for their family. I have prayed for myself: please God help me get these shirts done, please don't let me sew the front to the back, please don't let my sewing machine eat the shirts and please oh please don't let me sew my own finger in a rush to get them done.

As I sewed the last few shirts today, I have continued to pray. I had decided that I wasn't going to make myself a shirt. I didn't want people to think that the G logo stood for my daughter Grace. But as soon as I had that thought, I realized that the G does stand for grace. Not my curlied hair version of Grace. But the lower case grace. And the G stands for God. For it is through the Grace of God that all things are possible. It was through the Grace of God that Gavin defied all doctors. That Gavin stood as an example of what can be done through God. G also stands for Gift. What a wonderful gift it was to witness what all Gavin was able to accomplish.

I made myself a shirt and I hope that someone asks me what the G is for, because I am now prepared to answer.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8

Super G

God
Grace
Gift
Gavin

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful <> can't wait for Katie to wear her shirt <3
    Cyndi

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  2. I love this, Stacy! Thank you for making them and for praying over the shirts... and also for the Grace connection. :)
    Amy

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  3. Wonderful, Stacy. Beautifully, amazingly, marvelously wonderful. Bless you...
    Rebekah

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  4. Stacy, I had no idea you were doing this. I just happened upon your link on Facebook tonight by chance. I am so, so moved... by your post, at the thought of you sewing and praying and putting so much love into these beautiful shirts... at your generosity of spirit and time. I am just honored.

    If it's not too late, I would love to buy four shirts. One for Ed, me, Brian and Miss Sara. I see a pretty awesome photo-op once we get to Disney World at the end of the month. If it's possible to do them (NO pressure), email me and I'll give you the sizes.

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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  5. Kate, I am very honored that you read my blog. It means a great deal to me. You should have a box on your door step by Saturday (hopefully.. Monday at the latest, It was mailed this afternoon) and in it you will find an XL shirt for Ed, 2 medium (one for you and one for Miss Sara) and a youth small for Brian. A gift from all of your imaginary friends to your family.

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  6. The story above is just one reason I feel blessed to call you my friend. You're amazing!

    Maria

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