Tomfo Yamba Scandi

Keep Your Fork Free Printable

 

Keep-your-fork-Tomfo

Keep your Fork.

What the?

That’s what I thought…

when I received an email with this subject line from my folks the other day.

It made me read it though.

And, it propelled me to share it with you too.

Here’s a snippet of the email. {original source unknown}

There’s a free printable at the end too.

 

The Woman and the Fork  

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things ‘in order,’ she contacted Her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

‘There’s one more thing,’ she said excitedly..

‘What’s that?’ came the Pastor’s reply?

‘This is very important,’ the young woman continued. ‘I want to be buried with a fork in my Right hand.’

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn’t it?’ the young woman asked.

‘Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,’ said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. ‘My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favourite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!’

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: ‘Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.’

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, ‘What’s with the fork?’ And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about The Fork and about what it symbolised to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

 

And now I can’t stop thinking about the fork too.

 

I love stories that are passed down,

(even by emails and unknown sources)

but, especially from GRANDMAS,

and even more so when they symbolise there’s better things to come,
no matter who you are, what you believe in, how old you are, or what stage or position you find yourself in life.

Keep your Fork.

That’s a darn cool message.

(Thanks for the email guys.)

 

Days later I kept getting signs about this email…

 

I found myself,

having coffee with some old friends at Irons and Craig,

(one of my favourite coffee shops in Yamba),

which, just happens to be named after the GRANDMAS’ of the guys who own it.

And…

I blog under the names of my GRANDMA and NANNA.

And…

My beautiful aunty told me “THE BEST IS YET TO COME” on the phone the other day,

after she received my Do What You Love print in the mail.

 

So…

I took it as a sign, that I needed to create something with these words.

 

And I designed a new piece in my Yamba Scandi Collection.

I left off the punchline…

because then people will ask me what it means.

And, I’ll tell them my version of the email.

 

Keep-your-forkCLOCK-AND-LAPTOP-SKIN-Tomfo

These products are available on Society6 in my shop, {Designed by me, made by Society6.}

I’m tossing up as to which piece to get, a laptop sleeve, (from $36), or clock ($30) for the kitchen, a pillow (from $20) or rug (from $28), what do you think?

 

 

I thought you might like a freebie too…

so I made you a Free Keep Your Fork Printable in pink.

 

Keep-your-forkfree-printable-Tomfo

Free-Keep-your-fork-printable-here-Tomfo

And when people ask you what it means,
you can pass down your own version of the story
and tell them the punchline

…the best is yet to come.

 

We’ll be hanging with the family and cousins this weekend for Christmas in July,
wearing silly hats or jumpers, eating and drinking and laughing, getting long cuddles and telling stories, waiting for Santa to arrive to start Kris Kringle and remembering one of our favourites, Tom, who is the namesake of my blog and one of the many people who inspire me.

I can’t wait to see everyone.

 

Keep your forks guys…

The best is yet to come. x

 

Live with Love,

SARAH-PRESTON

 

Linking up with With Some GraceThe Ultimate Rabbit Hole  and  Two Uses Tuesday

 

PS: Our house news, the plumber has been, the windows went in today and the first bricks have just started to be laid. Yay! Here’s our progress in a little Flipagram.

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21 responses to “Keep Your Fork Free Printable”

  1. Renee says:

    Beautiful message. Pretty cool people those folks of yours. Always passing on the best bits.
    Keep your fork!!

  2. Love it, we are truly lucky ducks, thanks honey. x
    Sarah @ Tomfo recently posted…Keep Your Fork Free PrintableMy Profile

  3. Beautiful image and a beautiful story. I love it! Hope you have a cool yule! xx

  4. Sarah this post is just beautiful. I’ve always loved your creativity and when I saw the picture I was wondering what the heck that was all about and I just love the message behind the quote. I will share this later today on Facebook as I know my readers will love this! Xx
    Bec @ The Plumbette recently posted…Why having a margin is essential in lifeMy Profile

  5. Oh your too clever – love this! What a fabulous story and one I will remember. I had a similar sounding Grandma, always positive and saying the best is yet to come, unfortunately she was taken far too young and I always think of her and wonder what she would be like today.

    The house is coming along so well – everytime I see your clips it makes me want to build! Eeeek :):)
    Ashlea @ Glamour Coastal Living recently posted…Feature Friday: The home of Hayley from Mum Little LovesMy Profile

    • Sarah says:

      Thank you Ashley. Sorry to hear about your grandma, but what fabulous memories to have, they are amazing people, grandmas.
      Yay, we are excited about the house, people will start charging us a toll to enter the street, we visit so much. Have a fabulous weekend. x

  6. That is so cool, I love it! Best thing I have read today! I’ll download the printable later for sure and add it to one of my canvas pegs on my lounge wall 🙂 Thanks!
    Haidee@Maybe Baby Brothers recently posted…How My Toddler Is Like A Woman With Extreme PMSMy Profile

  7. RACHAEL says:

    Sarah,
    These are gorgeous and I so love the message behind them! Love that the best is yet to come! Looking forward to checking out your store over the weekend. Off to a consult, I go. Rx

    • Sarah says:

      Thank you Rachel, I love that keeping your fork represents the promise of a gorgeous dessert or something better. I can’t wait to put this in our house, even better it came from my folks. Have a great weekend x

  8. Ruth Meaney says:

    What a beautiful story 🙂 I like it!
    Ruth Meaney recently posted…The Zen Art of Meal PlanningMy Profile

  9. Sandra Kelly says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. Love your inspired designs. Just gorgeous. The house is looking great. Building is so exciting (and can be stressful but mostly exciting). 🙂 Enjoy family time. Xx

  10. Love this message. What a quirky saying with a wonderful meaning. Thanks for linking up.

  11. Oh this is just beautiful!!!!!
    I love that so much.

    And yeah on the house!!!!!!!
    Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts recently posted…Perfect New York Style Bagel RecipeMy Profile

  12. Heidi says:

    Oh I love this! I have to share this. Thankyou so much for sharing.
    Heidi recently posted…Makeup hacks: 5 hot tricks from the professionalsMy Profile

  13. I’m exactly the same as you and love stories that have been handed down!! Your printable is so gorgeous!
    Lucy @ Bake Play Smile recently posted…One Bowl Peach and Yoghurt CakeMy Profile

  14. Bren says:

    Sarah! I love this printable and have always loved that story. I’m stopping by from Two Uses Tuesday, so glad I have found your site.

  15. Melinda says:

    Here from 2 Uses Tuesday.
    Love, love, love

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Sarah-Preston-TomfoHi I'm Sarah, I'm a blogger and an artist who’s made the sea change and moved to the north coast of Australia. I love an easy DIY and making my house my canvas, my new home has become my greatest project: Yamba Scandi. Come visit me in my shop to view my collection of prints, canvasses, home decor and paper goods READ MORE.

Sarah Preston

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