Special to the Town Crier
Every three years, the Young Women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suggests an idea around which to develop the year's activities. The theme for 1998 was inspired by the Old Testament passage: "And he shall turn.. .the heart of the children to their fathers (Mafachi 4:6).
"Since the beginning expressed their hearts was of time, the traditional way humans have through the work of their hands," says Gene Bennion, president of Los Altos Ward's Young Women's organization. With that in mind, she suggested each girl, ages 11 to 17, design and complete a simple quilt, without the use of a frame. The goal was to depict the individuality of each girl's family for her own enjoyment now and for her descendants. For many, this was a skill new to them.
At the culminating ceremony, almost 100 relatives and friends gathered at the Jordan Avenue chapel last November to celebrate and admire the result of months of consistent effort.
On display were 20 quilts in a variety of colors, fabrics, sizes, and designs. Each young woman explained to the gathering the significance of the squares she had created. Some symbolized of family vacations and hobbies; others, important events and favorite foods Especially eye- catching was stitchery showing a small girl standing on a table so she could jitterbug with her father.
Sophie Zensius traced her family's hand prints and sewed in their names and birth dates; she also included the paw prints of the family pets.
The quilts represented almost a year of dedicated effort. In many instances, whole families participated. One grandmother flew in from out of state to help.
Judy Rounds and Jane Day served as advisors; Verlaine Goss, a non-member, volunteered additional help. "It's a bittersweet feeling," Judy Rounds said, "now that it's over."
The girls from Los Altos High School who participated were: Rachel and Sarah Packard, Melanie Hawkes, Alice Wagner, Ruth Bennion, Allison Eckert, Annie Lowe, Natalie Hawkes, Amy Catale, Ashley Waalkes, Juliana Fowler, and Sophie Zensius, and Jessica Taft. From Egan Junior High: Heidi Beckstead, Jennifer Duncan, Courtney Wheatley, and Cindy Meakin, and from Blach Junior High: Rachel Bennion. kelli Riches attends Pinewood School, and Magaly Da Silva Castro attends school in Menlo Park.