Wednesday, July 13, 2016

The Most Crocheted Stars In One Tree For Kayla


Kayla would be 22 years old today.


I've been trying to write this blog for a year now. This has been one of the hardest things for me to accept. The fact that Kayla is gone and will never come back. We should be celebrating her birthday with her today. We miss her so much and it still hurts so much to think of her, I wish she was here. Kayla was a smart, beautiful, fun, young woman that had a carefree spirit and she was one of the kindest people that I will ever know. She was my little sister. Her heart was so full of love for everyone and everything, and when she laughed, you laughed because her laugh and smile was so contagious and beautiful that you just could not help yourself.


I had a dream of my sister, Kayla. I didn't get to talk to her but she was smiling and laughing with the wind blowing through her long hair. I would catch glimpses of her leaning against a tree or walking through a beautiful forest and she was always smiling and laughing. She was so beautiful inside and out and I really wanted her birthday to be a beautiful celebration of her life. Even though she is not here anymore, she is in our hearts and memories forever. For the original blog on my idea for Kayla's birthday, click here.


Ya'll helped make my dream come true. Last year on her birthday, as a memorial, we hung 1,118 stars in the tree in front of my dad and stepmom's house. It was one of the most glorious, spectacular and special things that I have ever witnessed. One thousand, one hundred and eighteen stars! What a sight! 1,118 stars from 8 different states and 5 different countries, from 22 contributors. Thank you kindhearted people, thank ya'll so much for the beautiful stars that ya'll sent in for Kayla's yarnbomb and memorial. For the full star count and contributor list, click here. We did not make it as a World Guinness Record because they did not choose our attempt to record, but as far as I know, it is the most crocheted stars that have been hung in one tree for a memorial.


After we hung the stars, we gathered around the tree and remembered Kayla as we looked at all of the beautiful stars hanging in the tree.




For more pictures and the video of Kayla's Stars hanging in the tree, scroll down or click here for the full album and click here for the video.
     
I think about Kayla a lot. The wind blowing through the trees, birds chirping, a rainbow, even lightning bugs, little things remind me of her and I was wanting to do something special for her birthday this year. I've decided that every year I will "sneak" over to my dad and stepmom's house and hang 1 star in the tree, to stay. A star made of hemp or another natural fiber. This afternoon, my dad and I hung the first star. Happy Birthday Kayla. We will always love you and hold you in our hearts.



We did take the stars down from the tree last year. I have used some of Kayla's Stars as Christmas tree ornaments, and I made my stepmom a mandala with Kayla's Stars hanging from it, for Christmas. I plan on making more mandalas for the rest of our family, I plan on giving them stars for ornaments, and I have a few other ideas for the rest of Kayla's Stars too. 


Kayla's Stars: Yarnbomb and Birthday Memorial


These are just some of the pictures of Kayla's Stars, to see the full album, click here.












I can't thank everyone enough for all of the stars that were sent in and all of the help it took to hang all of the stars. Thank you all.

Happy Birthday Kayla.