| Confessions of a CAT Coordinator by Maria Lits |
| Confession time is here, its the season of lent and I have this need to bare my soul. There was a time right after my dad died that I felt as if I was lost, nothing I could do would ever be good, nothing would ever be the same. In fact my calendar for that day says "life as I know it has ended". I wanted to just shut myself away but I knew I could not do it, I had a family to hold together (two children and a mom who were worse off than I was). So late one night in December of 1998, I did something just for me, I joined Crochetlist, back when it was still on Egroups. I had no idea at that time what an impact it would have on my life. I just thought I was joining a group to read about crocheting, and keep my mind off my hurt then ... I got involved in with the CL Crochet a Thons (fondly known as CAT) and met some wonderful listers who showed me a way to make a difference, a way to heal myself and help others at the same time, by crocheting for charity. I had no idea that a crocheted item could make the difference in someone's life but boy was I ever wrong. The first charity I ever crocheted for was God's Tiny Angels (a wonderful lister Darlene was working with the charity at the time). I can't even begin to express the feeling I had when I sent off the package, just a couple of tiny preemie hats that I had crocheted with love, measured on a large orange for size and mailed with love, and then when I received an e-thank you, I thought I would burst. When the time came to revamp CAT, I had an idea. I knew there were many listers who already crocheted for charity, but ... I knew that there had to be many others out there like me, when I first joined Crochetlist. Talented, gifted crocheters who had no idea that they could touch someone with their gift. Crocheters who just needed a goal, who just needed some direction, who just needed to know that their one crocheted item could make a big difference. That is how the Crochetlist Monthly Charity Challenges were born. Each month when I send out the pledge sheet to the list, I have the same feeling I did way back when I mailed off my first page of little preemie hats. Its been about 4 years now and together we have touched so many lives, one pledged item at a time, and together we will continue to do so. I thank you each day for this, for healing me, and showing me the way to show others the crochet way. If you have doubts that your one crocheted item could make the difference in someone's life than take a look at this month's charity challenge which is for Heartmade Blessings, www.heartmadeblessings.org. One crocheted square is joined together with eleven other squares to create an afghan that has such power, it brings comfort and joy and love to not only the person who receives it, but the person who requests it, the 12 people who create the squares and the assembler, oh and lets not forget the tote elves who make the tote bags to place the afghans in before sending. One item touching so many lives. I will end this by saying never doubt your talent, never doubt your gift, never doubt yourself, when you feel down and out, when you feel lost, know that each of us has a gift, and with a hook in your hand, some yarn and a pattern you can create a treasure and make a difference. |