We found our first recipient!

When I asked if anyone knows someone who needs The Magic Quilt, Amanda from What's For Dinner sent me this email:


I know someone who needs it... I'm crying just thinking about him and this blanket. His name is Bro. Tolman.

He and his wife have very special spirits, with faith beyond anyone I have ever met before. They are people in a realm somewhere between heaven and earth--amazing beyond words.

Bro. Tolman is suffering with cancer. He discovered last fall that he has a tumor in his liver---the size of a softball--- and, due to the size and placement, he has not been a candidate for any treatments or surgery other than chemo.

Each month during Fast & Testimony meeting he has an inspiring, faith-filled testimony to share about the love of Jesus Christ and the blessings in his life. Last week he gave his testimony, and although he was very faithful, I was brought to tears hearing him say the Lord has not removed the cancer from him. He continues to take chemo and he's grateful that he can still work and carry on with life.

This man loves children! Any time my kids were at his house, as soon as we walked through the door he would grab toys, hit the floor and start playing with them. He is just such a special individual and I'm so saddened by the thought of him dying, of his poor wife who has been with him since they were teenagers, of his four strong and talented boys, and of the many grandchildren who will not know how truly special their grandfather is.

I think Bro. Tolman would be greatly touched by the gift of the Magic Quilt, the stories that go with it and the love that was put into it. He is one who will appreciate it's comfort. I could go on and on with stories about this man...

Here is the blog his daughter-in-law set up to keep everyone informed...you can read about his journey since January.


After Amanda told his wife about The Magic Quilt here is what she said:

I don't even know what to say. I think this will be such a comfort when he becomes bedridden. He has been so upbeat, but I know there will be dark moments. Thank you for your love and thoughtfulness.

Brother Tolman lives in Silver Springs, Maryland and I am sending the quilt to Amanda, who will present it to Bro. Tolman.

I am so excited for this quilt to go out and work some magic! Along with the quilt, I'm including my favorite Mozart CD. (YAY for Mozart!), as well as a book of all The Magic Quilt stories. Amanda will take photographic evidence of Bro. Tolman receiving The Magic Quilt package.

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Announcements:

Kritta is making the Magic Quilt #2 out of the same fabric as quilt #1.

We need to start gathering fabric and stories for The Magic Quilt #3, which is going to be made in Ideeho by Springrose. (Wixom Zoo is in her ward so I bet she'll help too.) When they finish the quilt I'm going to blog across Ideeho to get a photo with them and the quilt.

Please send stories and photos of your fabric to my email address: ctddiaries@gmail.com

And I'm making the Magic Quilt #4, which will be a t-shirt quilt. (I'll explain details later) Cubworld is our first donor. He is even coming over to my house to drop off a signed t-shirt. (YAY!) I've got other inspiring donors in the works (TBA).

Good News Minute

I hope you have some tissue close by because Kritta finished The Magic Quilt and it arrived on my doorstep a few days ago.

My stone-cold heart was pounding and my eyeballs sprung a leak as I opened the package.

It is bee-U-tiful! Thank you Kritta. And thank you everyone who shared their stories and their fabric.

And guess what Kritta did that gave me shivers? She sewed the names of all those who not only donated fabric and shared their stories, but also those who are following this blog.

Like this:







I ran my fingers over each block and thought of each corresponding story.

Here is Andrea's blocks from her Surrounded in Love entry.

And here is Springrose's block from her She loved Me Most entry.

It's right next to Sandi's block from her Safe in His Arms entry.

The following block choked me up most. It's from Anjeny's entry Finding Comfort. It contains extra special magical powers because she actually took it from her mother's favorite skirt. Her entry, and the fact that her mother passed away three or four years ago, made this donation exceptionally powerful to me.


There are so many inspiring stories.

I want MORE! MORE! MORE! Please send more.

Since our first recipient is now in remission (thank goodness), I will start taking nominations for our actual first recipient soon.

Kritta has enough material to make another magic quilt, and I am going to start quilting myself silly too. If anyone out there wants to help sew or donate fabric and share stories, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do! There are plenty of struggling sistahs around us who could use a little magic in their lives.

Speaking of magic, I'm going to leave you with a video I saw posted on LoW's blog yesterday featuring the amazing Nie Nie who is incredibly inspiring. Maybe I can get her to donate a piece of fabric for our next quilt.