Hall of Faith

Years ago, when Darren and I were dating we started talking about collections and different things people collect and what we each collected. When I told him that I didn't collect anything, I really thought that he was going to fall over in shock. He said "who doesn't collect something"? Me, obviously! I told him that in college, I collected picture frames but soon grew out of that and then had all these picture frames I didn't want in my "grown up" house. He said that he thought I needed to collect something and what did I like enough to collect. I told him that they only thing that I thought I liked enough to have a lot of were crosses. I love them all. All shapes, sizes, material - I just love them. And so...an obsession was born! I wasn't really sure about this collecting thing at first, but now I love it. I collect crosses like other people collect trinkets and pictures. Each one of them has a story or a memory or something special to make me remember them by. I'm hoping that one day, even if my children don't want to hang them in their homes, they will keep them and be able to say "my dad gave my mom this cross when they had their first baby, or when they got married, etc." The other day, I was in Hobby Lobby (when am I not in that store??), and I wondered into the clearance section. They had all of these beautiful pictures and framed sayings for 66% off, so of course, I dug through all of them until I found one that I couldn't live without.

This frame was normally $24.99 and I paid just $8.50 for it! That makes me so happy. I knew that it would look great hanging with my crosses.

It says:

Faith To hope for things which are not seen but are true

It was really hard to try to get a picture that showed all of them. This is the best I could do and some are still cut off. Don't they look wonderful?

This cross was given to me by a dear friend of mine, the afternoon of my dad's funeral. It says: In Loving Memory Gone, yet not forgotten, Although we are apart. Your spirit lives within me, Forever in my heart.

I was having a bad/stressed to the max day a while back and my mom stopped and brought this to me. I just love it!

This is one of the first crosses I ever bought for myself. I bought it because it has the Lord's Prayer on it.

This is the first cross my in-laws ever bought me. They went to a craft festival and my mother-in-law said she thought of me and thought I would like it. The details on this cross are amazing! Those tiny little grapes are perfect!

The scroll says:

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit. John 15:5

Darren bought me this cross, shortly after we got engaged.

It says:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Love never fails. Corinthians 13:4-8

One of Darren's cousin's gave us this for our wedding.

One of his cousin's wives gave us this for our wedding.

This cross says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

This one is based on the "Footprints in the Sand" poem, which I love. It says:

My precious precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

If you look closely, you can see little tiny footprints on the cross.

Darren bought me this cross last week when he was out running errands. He said "I just thought of you and how much you love crosses and turqouise, so I thought you should have it". Isn't he sweet?

I can't help but walk down the hallway where these hang everyday and just look up and admire them. All the different occasions and memories that are marked by these crosses just makes my heart smile.