Celebrate Life

My first flag!

This goes out to all suffering with depression – there is hope and we can learn to celebrate life.

Made with a cotton drop cloth from the hardware store and recycled sari strips.

- Ginger

What is Faith?

What is faith? 
It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. 
It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, 
even though we cannot see it up ahead.
Hebrews 11:1

Peggy Jo Farr

Support & Love

South Coast Hospice is a Non-Profit Organization that provides Palliative care and support to people living with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, and Motor Neuron Disease. Included in our programs is the care of children both infected and affected with Aids. (many Orphaned) The level of Tuberculosis (TB) and Multi drug resistant TB is extremely high in our region and we have a special team of dedicated carers who travel out everyday to treat these patients
.

We work in a region of South Africa - KwaZulu Natal which has a Vast rural impoverished area, where the resources are low and yet the SPIRIT is abundant!  Most of our work is done in the patient's homes and through our Mobile Clinic. We do have an In-Patient Unit - Kingfisher House, which  offers respite to the patients and their families, pain and symptom Control as well as end of life care.

Every year family and friends of patients that have passed away in the year are invited to attend a special candle lighting ceremony. which is organized by our Grief and Bereavement Volunteers. Each person attending has walked an arduous journey with their loved one, attending the memorial ceremony will not be easy to do and for most, it will take an act of courage.

Our Hospice is humbled by the countless acts of bravery and dedication that families have shown to support their loved ones.  This year we will ask them to draw close to each other and they will see the the prayer flags flying out for them, like the weary travelers climbing out through a dark ravine, and up towards the the sun.

The messages on the flags will speak to the bereaved of the beauty of love, the very presence of faith and hope,  of compassion and the sheer joy of life!

These flags have been made by the children on our program, patients, staff, volunteers, families and our hospice community in a visual and vibrant display of our love and support for each other.

Prayer Flags

My flags are usually created in an intuitive way and whatever happens in the process is the result, it sort of develops on the way.

These last flags I created were for a specific reason.  A new mother-to-be in our family celebrated this coming event not with a baby shower but a blessingway ‘party’ and the woman in our family created a prayerflag for this spiritual event.

-Caroline Hofstede-

Spreading the Fun

Linda here... I wanted to share some photos with you from recent prayer flag workshops that I have led.  It is good the share the process with others as they delve into the (often) new territory of creating flags.  Fun was had by all!

I will share more flags with you after the upcoming July workshop, too.

A Heartfelt Collection

From Carrie Austin

"Hello,  This is my first time posting my prayer flags, though I've been reading the posts quite often on your blog.  Thanks for the inspiration to make these!   Garden Prayer Flags: The last couple of years I've made some memorial prayer flags, and flags representing each of my kids, but this year I'm loving the actual idea of a prayer flag. Writing a prayer on a flag and letting the prayer travel as far as the wind blows is a beautiful thought.  These are my prayers for the people I love: HEAL for my 7 year old niece Elina's heart! She's had to have open heart surgery, with more procedures to come.  This is also made for any physical healing needed by others. LOVE, A prayer of love for those missing their angels in heaven, no matter the age. I pray that we can feel their love for us, and love others to honor them. I added my angel baby Cassidy's name for me, but it's for everyone. PEACE for those experiencing a pregnancy after a loss. It's the second hardest thing I've done in my life, after losing a baby. Nobody else understands the anxiety of every minute, so I pray that my friends will feel some peace in the days and months ahead.  HOPE for those struggling with infertility.  I pray for them to have hope in God's plan, and hope in good things to come! Thanks again for inspiring the world in crafting beauty."   Carrie Austin

A Beautiful Collection

Today we hear from Rebecca Mishler who lives in a senior apartment.

She has made these flags for the other residents

"Aloha, These are my first quilted prayer flags, Faith, Hope, Love.  I live in a senior apartment, hoping to send a good message to the seniors here."

"I hope these messages give them joy.  There is a lot of lonely people here."  Rebecca Mishler 

a new contributor

My first attempts were inspired by your blog. 

On left, (partially covered w/clothespin!) hopes for my ailing Scottie dog. 

Middle: my broken heart when my other Scottie died after first one recovered. 

Right: my first attempt, including wool felting, for my 5 children's hopes & dreams. 

Sent to us from "farrboot"

Hope and Healing

Earlier in the week here in New Zealand a little 7year old Japanese girl, named Sakurako, was attacked by four dogs. She had more than 100 bites to her face and body. We were told that 90% of her face had been destroyed. I dare not begin to imagine what this little one is facing in the days, months and years ahead, nor what her parents are going through.

 After watching an interview with members of the surgical and reconstructive team on TV last evening and reading the latest report in the newspaper this morning I had to leave the detailed Prayer Flag which I was working on for a friend with cancer and  made a very simple one for Sakurako. I have not written any words on the Flag, words failed me, but I hope all who read this will think of her and her parents and hope for peace and courage for them all in the years ahead.

The design and stitching is basic but I wanted it that way, showing ragged edges and stitches, just a heart symbolising love.

I have hung the Flag onto the rose trellis outside our lounge window on the verandah, others will join it there.

This is my first post as a direct contributor so if I have "strayed" in any way please do let me know.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Prayer Flags made by Jamie Fingal  "Hope" for the world we live in

"Love" for family and friends

"Art" for making my world more beautiful

"Dream" the big dreams

Prayer Flags for October- Cancer Awareness Month

 Margarita Korioth shares the flags she has made for Cancer Awareness Month.

She has shared her process on her blog.

Day of Hope

"We lost our son Dylan during the third trimester, due to complications from HELLP Syndrome, a pregnancy specific condition.  A beloved son, brother, and grandson; he is our little blue dragonfly.  A reminder of how quick everything can turn, the fragility of life.  My hope for my family is to focus on strength, love and joy.

This is a prayer flag I made for the event: August 19th - Day of Hope is a day that is held internationally each year since 2008. It was created to help break the silence surrounding the death of babies and children. Part of this very special day is The August 19th - Day of Hope Prayer Flag Project which is a profoundly moving, poignant and peaceful way to break the silence surrounding the death of babies and children."

Jen Hayes, Vermont USA

You can learn more about on the Day of Hope here.

Spiritual Awakening

Linda Arandas shares with us her Passion Fruit Prayer Flag.

"I wanted to tell you that my dear friend's daughter is struggling with drug addiction and I intend to give this flag to her, as a reminder that I am praying for her recovery and spiritual awakening.
I chose to paint a Passion Flower--which symbolizes Spiritual Awakening. I used acrylic paint on primed canvas. My intentions were to create a flag to offer hope to people who are struggling with addiction---a prayer for recovery."