“You were a baby, and I wrapped you in a yellow and white quilt,” Mum says, sitting there on the couch in her pink sweater, her cheeks rosy, the Olympics on the television.
Grandma’s sister made it, and it was folded in a box when we flew to Nigeria, Africa, those two years of Dad being a missionary with the blind, of me, staring across the fence at my neighbors whose smiles cracked open like white egg shells. I stopped talking when I moved to Africa, and didn’t start again until returning home to the quilt two years later with a brother in tow–a brother born six weeks early in the Congo, all pink and new.
I was four when we returned to Ontario, Canada, with its white snow draped like Mum’s sheets in the African sun and I tucked that quilt around my shoulders and began to speak. Those words, they found their way to the door of my mouth, turned the knob, and tumbled out all hasty and piled up.
And I still find my words beneath a blanket in the living room with my laptop.
Because they’re cocoons, these quilts, and butterflies are born deep within, finding their wings all furled and fresh.
And everything I love wraps tight in those folds: my Mum—when she had brain cancer, all tucked in the patches of a quilt; my sons—the babies that didn’t miscarry, the ones I wasn’t supposed to be able to have, because of my anorexia, carried in the woven strands—and my husband, the place he holds me every night as darkness falls.
I’m not unlike Clara, the heroine of A Promise in Pieces, the reverend’s daughter and nurse who traveled across the waters to serve in a war her father didn’t believe in. Who came back, unmarried and lonely, promising to deliver a soldier’s letter to his wife and in turn, she received a quilt—one that would hold the babies she didn’t believe she would ever have, the husband she never thought would propose, the friend whose grace she never thought to find.
“Mum, when I have a daughter, can I use that yellow and white quilt to wrap her in?” We’re watching couples’ figure skating, together, and she turns.
“Yes, of course,” and she smiles. “That’s why I’ve been waiting to give it to you. I’ve been waiting for her.”
I am excited to give away my debut novel, #PromiseInPieces, today! Just leave a note telling me why you’d like to win it, and we’ll choose a winner by the end of the week. If you can’t wait that long, you can order it HERE.
About Emily
Emily T. Wierenga is an award-winning journalist, commissioned artist and columnist, as well as the author of four books including A Promise in Pieces, releasing April 15 with Abingdon Press, and Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look (Baker Books), releasing July 1. She lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband and two sons. For more info, please visit www.emilywierenga.com. Find her on Twitter or Facebook.
I have just finished reading this and was so touched by this young woman who had such a big heart yet didn’t believe she made any difference, always thinking what she did was not enough. A great story and others will reap rewards by reading.
don’t need to put me in the drawing as I have the book and will share with my sisters…
I had not heard of this author yet….eager to read. Thanks for sharing! Happy Easter tide!
Hi,Kate,just wanted to say ,I read the review and it was great.It sounded so sweet,sad but sweet.The QuiltThat Waited For Me in Canada sound wonderful.
I would love to have a chance to win it.Wheather I win or not,I hope to read it .If ir’s meant for me to win ,I will and if not,I’ll buy it.Blessings to you and the author!Thanks,Linda
Hi Kate, this book sounds so good. I would love to win a copy of it! I love reading debut novels by authors. I get to know them through their novels because of their style of writing.
Have a Blessed Easter Kate and Emily!
Judy B
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
This sounds like a great book.My first child received a handmade quilt when he was born,and all five of my children used it.There is a lot of precious memories that goes along with this quilt.It is so very thin and fragile now,but I still take it out from time to time and go back to different times.I would love to win and read this book.Thanks for the chance.
Hi Jackie, I’m very moved by your comment here and would love to send you a copy of the book. Can you email me your mailing address? (wierenga.emily@gmail.com) e.
Would live to win a copy. Sounds like an awesome book. Have a blessed Easter.
I would love to read this story. The character sounds like she has learned many lessons from the Lord. I would love to read this new authors book.
I would love to win a copy of this book. Count me in. I’m a quilter and my grandmother made quilts for my babies when they were born out of scraps of cloth cut from my dresses and leftover pieces of fabric my mother used to sew outfits from my sisters and I. These baby quilts are priceless.
Sounds like a great first book. Would love to win.
This reaches me where I live and touches my heart strings. Looking forward to reading it.
I love the summary of the storyline but the cover is what convinced me that I MUST read this book. I am a first-time grandmother and the cover speaks to me of my great Joy in holding my 7 week old granddaughter. Congratulations on the publication of your first book Emily and thank you, Kate,for a chance to win. I wish you both a blessed Easter.
Haven’t read any of this Author’s books yet. Does sound very good.
Happy Easter.
Thank you so much Juanita! Happy Easter.
Thank you to all who have left a comment. Good luck in the book giveaway! And thanks, Emily, for your post. I know whoever wins your book will enjoy it.