tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64304229776483039562024-03-13T09:34:19.322-07:00The Magic QuiltThe Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-33300224529276566172011-04-17T21:51:00.000-07:002011-04-17T22:28:41.192-07:00A gift from Joaquin Benito Ruiz<p></p><p>In January I attended the funeral of a six-year-old boy named Joaquin Benito Ruiz.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0FJs3UqL419ZAdJ8Vu3J9HGQUqpJqSDpjDV-1ZnQ2xC2JNBUjl6-tEM47vTOKnqGvS2iPMaKtZYNKjy44wHZ81XxqOwfD2S9KIBpe1qm3InaNQ5VPUZWyfzX1X39VzVa_YbVl67gi-vn/s1600/img092.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0FJs3UqL419ZAdJ8Vu3J9HGQUqpJqSDpjDV-1ZnQ2xC2JNBUjl6-tEM47vTOKnqGvS2iPMaKtZYNKjy44wHZ81XxqOwfD2S9KIBpe1qm3InaNQ5VPUZWyfzX1X39VzVa_YbVl67gi-vn/s400/img092.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567480162614748098" /></a> I didn't know him, but his mom used to be my sister-in-law. And his sister is my niece. </p><div><br /></div><div>Joaquin died of complications from congenital heart disease, but he had other problems too--problems with long names that I can't pronounce or remember--and he actually lived three years longer than expected. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As soon as I showed up at the funeral I immediately fell in love with Joaquin and his family. Joaquin's many brothers and one sister (my niece) touched me deeply as I watched them gathered around his casket, stroking his hair lovingly. And longingly. The image of it lingers with me even three months later, as do the life lessons I scribbled down on a piece of yellow card stock during the service. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The funeral felt like a spiritual eye opening somewhere in the corners of my heart. My sister and her husband, who lost a child 12 years ago, agreed and later said it was life changing for them. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Joaquin's father gave such a beautiful tribute to his little's boy's life, that I dug into my purse for a pen and paper to write down the poignant insights to share here on The Magic Quilt with those of you who have lost your own children. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have been wanting to record my experience at the funeral, but somehow, somewhere the yellow card disappeared into thin air. I searched high and low for weeks, but to no avail. Finally yesterday I said a silent prayer, asking God to please, please help me find the yellow card so I wouldn't lose those comforting messages. And then I stopped searching. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day I started moving some bookshelves around and transferring books from shelf to shelf. Just as I was completing the project, the yellow card fell from one of the books and landed at my feet. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't surprised. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Allow me to briefly share exactly what I jotted down during the funeral. (I promise to expound on these ideas at a later date):</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>1. From death we learn about life. </div><div><br /></div><div>2. You haven't lost a child, you've gained a guardian angel. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. A touched heart is not a changed heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. Sometimes you have to break a heart to change it. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. Some souls don't come here to learn, but to teach. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The most powerful message came when Joaquin's father talked about how stunned and discouraged he and his wife were after the sonogram revealed his son's physical deformaties. They prayed to God saying, "Lord, this wasn't supposed to happen to us!" </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Six years later, after loving and losing Joaquin, they have changed their prayer to "THANK YOU, Lord, for allowing this to happen to us." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Love is never wasted or lost. No matter how fleeting. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even the most painfully fleeting moments of loving, and being loved in return, are abundant blessings. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I wrote down a quote by Winnie the Pooh, that was framed and displayed among all the family pictures at the funeral. It felt like a direct and personal (yet universal) message from Joaquin:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>If ever there is a time when we're not together, there is something you must always remember; you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is that, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I am going to ask Joaquin's parents to donate some flannel in his honor to our magic baby quilt. </div><div><br /></div><div>(By the way, I am still receiving fabric from mother's who have lost children and will continue posting photos throughout this week.)</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-30841495012738110022011-04-09T21:08:00.000-07:002014-03-20T13:49:03.116-07:00The Magic Quilt's Moves On<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January of 2011 I received the following email from a woman named Corrine:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I just wanted to let you know that this week, Lila and I passed along the quilt to its new owner, my great friend Kathy.</span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stan's wife, Lila, and daughter-in-law, Corrine passed the quilt on to a pregnant friend, who had, during her pregnancy, received the news that she also had breast cancer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following is the post from <a href="http://crayolabird.blogspot.com/2011/01/passing-on-magic-quilt.html">Corrine's blog</a>, Littlest Bird:</span><br />
<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;">
Passing on the Magic Quilt</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5638664945856489477" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember Stan, my sister's father in law, who passed away last October?<br />
<br />
Do remember the magic quilt that was given to him as a gift, to help him through his journey?<br />
<br />
The magic quilt was ready to burst with the need to give its magic to someone new<br />
<br />
and I thought of my friend:<br />
<br />
Kathy.<br />
<br />
My book-club companion and fellow lover of the written word.<br />
<br />
Six weeks after finding out she is pregnant with her third child<br />
<br />
she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.<br />
<br />
As of this week, she has already had surgery and several rounds of chemo (that began when she entered her second trimester).<br />
<br />
Her baby boy is doing amazing.<br />
<br />
They are holding off on more chemo, now, until he joins us on this earth and then she gets to start again.<br />
<br />
But this incredible woman needs all the magic she can get right now.<br />
<br />
When I asked if she was interested in being the next recipient of the magic quilt,<br />
<br />
she said yes.<br />
<br />
So on Tuesday evening, Lila and I went to her home.<br />
<br />
She and Lila sat on the couch while I helped Kathy's daughter, Naomi.<br />
<br />
Lila told her about the quilt, the love that went into making it and the strength that she and Stan found in its folds.<br />
<br />
I took their picture (along with the darling Naomi).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdIut_bxFSzIbaSln2tJZDLIlNRTkDDyhuwnQbon3F_9kWIr4mOtEAQ4XN7dCq32wMSNVHyI9_2JHcIzuAWhXMhyphenhyphengTgsSRQ2D4WR98y_u9_WtqNs06Dswr-kvZTJIVJWhjNxDDv129QQK/s1600/IMG_6789.JPG" style="color: #6600cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdIut_bxFSzIbaSln2tJZDLIlNRTkDDyhuwnQbon3F_9kWIr4mOtEAQ4XN7dCq32wMSNVHyI9_2JHcIzuAWhXMhyphenhyphengTgsSRQ2D4WR98y_u9_WtqNs06Dswr-kvZTJIVJWhjNxDDv129QQK/s400/IMG_6789.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566918201028381410" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I had Naomi hold my camera and take a picture of all of us.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_hjb1ytcoyvBdj9Ndzrl_mNh2NpbGH8tGD8EqXRbvp-Ny6KOdKt972vEzQCawHzHK6J8l0TaIyjt7JuDrt95RjHylXhhYAlK5G6OmHwKG3_f04ihqO4DcPnUu2atRuE0ngZv-FgW2zSL/s1600/IMG_6792.JPG" style="color: #6600cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_hjb1ytcoyvBdj9Ndzrl_mNh2NpbGH8tGD8EqXRbvp-Ny6KOdKt972vEzQCawHzHK6J8l0TaIyjt7JuDrt95RjHylXhhYAlK5G6OmHwKG3_f04ihqO4DcPnUu2atRuE0ngZv-FgW2zSL/s400/IMG_6792.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566918197627509970" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
May the quilt works its magic of peace and heart-healing for you, Kathy, and your family.<br />
<br />
You're in my prayers.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" style="color: #6600cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/318/549A1D0DF5BF52CCC0B8D90B828BFFCC.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: medium none; padding: 4px;" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px;">In June 2011, Kathy finished her chemo. On </span><a href="http://bobblehead-ology.blogspot.com/" style="line-height: 17px;">her blog</a>, Bobblehead-ology, she describes it perfectly:</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
Friday, June 24, 2011</h2>
<div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">
<div class="post-outer" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7876298869747600192"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://bobblehead-ology.blogspot.com/2011/06/done.html" style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">Done</a></h3>
<div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7876298869747600192" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 488px;">
I finished chemo on June 3. It was a date that couldn’t come soon enough. I really didn’t want to spend any more time in a room hooked up to Taxol and my one-time friend Steroids. Decadron was supposed to help my body accept the chemo called Taxol. I’m sure it did. But Decadron, you’re such a bi###. You seem all nice at first, giving me these wonderful break-from-the-norm energy bursts. But when that energy kick runs out, you’re just left with puffiness, swollen feet and ankles, weight gain and roid rage.<br />
<br />
Note this important equation before taking up a friendship with Steroids:<br />
<br />
Before steroids - 1 slice of bread = 110 calories<br />
After steroids – 1 slice of bread = 1100 calories**<br />
<br />
**(Actual calorie numbers may vary. This estimate based on fatigue and roid rage.)<br />
<br />
Anyhow, as I was saying, June 3 couldn’t come fast enough in my mind. I almost felt like if I could just fast-forward time, I could somehow escape the dizziness, fatigue, joint pain, hair loss and loss of feeling in my feet from chemo.<br />
<br />
But my fast forward button broke. So I just went through the 12 weekly treatments like every other mortal.<br />
<br />
And now I am done. DONE. I felt pretty drained after that last chemo session. My body feels and looks like some poisons had a party in it for six months. I look in the mirror and wonder who that person is. My hair grew back during the break from chemo to deliver Kilian and is now mostly gone again. But chemo is over. It is time to kick those poisons out, clean up the crap they left behind and move forward. I’m not waiting for radiation to be over to start this process. I’m reclaiming my body now.<br />
<br />
I joined Weight Watchers. And I’m making myself exercise with whatever energy I can muster. I went to a kickboxing class at the gym on Saturday. The girl in front of me wore a pink shirt. Since pink is the symbol color for breast cancer, I focused on her shirt during every kick and punch and imagined myself kicking cancer right in the nose. I’ve heard tales from runners about a euphoric feeling they experienced after running a certain distance. I never understood that feeling before. But after that kickboxing class, I did. I felt like there was this light exploding out of me and smashing into that pink shirt.<br />
<br />
Die cancer. Be gone Taxol and Decadron. Take your side effects and leave. You all are no longer welcome here.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
Friday, October 4, 2013</h2>
<div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">
<div class="post-outer" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7525209784619328245"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://bobblehead-ology.blogspot.com/2013/10/3-years-later.html" style="color: #993322; text-decoration: none;">3 Years Later</a></h3>
<div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7525209784619328245" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 488px;">
I saw someone at church this week who reminded me of something I've known for a while: I should probably tell all the awesome people who followed the blog and helped us that everything is going well for us. I recently passed my two-year anniversary of ending treatment. Last week I got a clean mammogram.<br />
<br />
Kilian is now two-and-a-half, healthy and seemingly a normal, curious, talking two-year-old despite growing in my belly through surgery and half of my 6-month chemo regimen.<br />
<br />
The biggest health scare we've had from him so far was a case of walking-pneumonia last spring and some extremely picky eating behaviors that made him suddenly drop off the charts for his weight, despite maintaining an average height.<br />
<br />
But thanks to weight-gain Pediasure, bacon, fruit smoothies with ice cream and scrambled eggs cooked in olive oil, we recently celebrated him returning to a more normal 11 percentile weight.<br />
<br />
(Below are two photos I took of the kids last spring in our garden out front).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizu4Iy6KjhOVxY8VTEISKO3B4C-3ogYhtWF-TlkM-K7aaW3x5YaK4-TUvlj5u2sG3UC06WVR2QpxMsjuPt76MGkjaCLnwyEXM-5gDEwV0sdEkvw5G3H6U7LDLy8GOnSHqPT-Rw9DasQeU/s1600/MidSpring2013+116edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #993322; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizu4Iy6KjhOVxY8VTEISKO3B4C-3ogYhtWF-TlkM-K7aaW3x5YaK4-TUvlj5u2sG3UC06WVR2QpxMsjuPt76MGkjaCLnwyEXM-5gDEwV0sdEkvw5G3H6U7LDLy8GOnSHqPT-Rw9DasQeU/s320/MidSpring2013+116edit.JPG" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJgpLqWTgEzq1lG1EZ79munVaO0gWItggRQs7f_2XJ_-_0YnzVxMbruIYnp1R3hindBBzuocM-_ZBoT8Pv5V8FfHqGj5cxjs4s_Yxih6iZEwnHWhSdHqRFHWqjKWCEM7NQMUudh8unB4/s1600/MidSpring2013+010edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #993322; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJgpLqWTgEzq1lG1EZ79munVaO0gWItggRQs7f_2XJ_-_0YnzVxMbruIYnp1R3hindBBzuocM-_ZBoT8Pv5V8FfHqGj5cxjs4s_Yxih6iZEwnHWhSdHqRFHWqjKWCEM7NQMUudh8unB4/s320/MidSpring2013+010edit.JPG" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="211" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-5016714987844406212011-04-08T14:55:00.000-07:002014-03-20T13:44:36.707-07:00The Passing . . .There is something about the song, <span style="font-style: italic;">Temporary Home,</span> by Carrie Underwood that always chokes me up. Maybe because we're all just passing through, and Earth is just a stop on the way to where we're going. Some pass through so quickly--they come and go in a flash--and for others the passing is long and drawn out, but they all leave a searing and lasting impact on those who were stricken by their love.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My daughter once went to The Festival of Colors and she came back different. Messy different. Her shirt had been splattered with all kinds of new colors, stained together forever. They are a permanent part of the shirt now. A permanent beautiful part.</div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOhcB8uihMDXh5DE1GWRxhPEopwtLjFUZw9BiJmZWFpmOICt7tSTfYIdKmLqRRvZqPNX0ueWpBgyOTueu7McOmV0jntk1JRFHCiS90r4ClJ9B63jYbIV1hTquwhLEAlkvnCHXIADV13Zs/s1600/IMG_9164.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOhcB8uihMDXh5DE1GWRxhPEopwtLjFUZw9BiJmZWFpmOICt7tSTfYIdKmLqRRvZqPNX0ueWpBgyOTueu7McOmV0jntk1JRFHCiS90r4ClJ9B63jYbIV1hTquwhLEAlkvnCHXIADV13Zs/s400/IMG_9164.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593417100782084994" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
Love is messy like that too--messy with joy, and with pain that changes us for good, even when it's bad.<br />
<br />
Lila Tolman came back changed after her husband's death. Permanently, and beautifully changed. For several months after Stan's passing, she kept the magic quilt as a source of comfort. But in time, she did the only thing there is to do with comfort. She passed it on. </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The following is the letter I received from Lila after she found a new recipient for the quilt: </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><i>I have found new strength in my Heavenly Father's love. It is so strong. I know I am not forgotten.</i></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<i>It was such a special experience to pass on the quilt. I gave Kathy a journal to record her journey. I also printed out the stories of the quilt and Stan's story and put them in a binder and gave it to her. I told her it would be nice for her to add her story to the book when she passed on the quilt. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<i>I want to thank you for the wonder and comfort the quilt brought into my life. When I took the quilt to Kathy I wanted to give her the Mozart CD you gave to Stan with the quilt, but I couldn't find it. Today when I was driving Stan's car (the one he drove to work everyday until just before he passed away), I turned on the CD player, and the CD you gave him started playing. That was the car he drove to work until was listening to your CD. Thank you for making his life richer.</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-62985798432030957262011-01-28T21:13:00.000-08:002011-01-28T21:52:21.453-08:00Grandmas are people too!<p>The fabric keeps on a comin'! Woohoo! I love it. Keep spreading the word. I want to make at least 10 baby quilts in the next few months and start them on their journey to comfort those women around the globe who are mourning the loss of a child. I need flannel. To represent those who are lost. But never forgotten.</p><p>Look at this adorable flannel I received today! Have you seen anything happier? It's the happiest fabric on earth.<br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8JlFpJZiIO1dYP6RARF1f_eWg4VTgwVLzJb6e4LV1sJ6Jop_Dzs5l2BN4PW9DcL7ImW-lvOxLaE8XseW_zq-BSrYtzpmKf_iO5Yfs29VzUHPOW-YKj66wPwj3LyUtV8IIod5xkFOS5YV/s1600/Jan+27%252C+magic+quilt+ella+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8JlFpJZiIO1dYP6RARF1f_eWg4VTgwVLzJb6e4LV1sJ6Jop_Dzs5l2BN4PW9DcL7ImW-lvOxLaE8XseW_zq-BSrYtzpmKf_iO5Yfs29VzUHPOW-YKj66wPwj3LyUtV8IIod5xkFOS5YV/s400/Jan+27%252C+magic+quilt+ella+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567472157204312722" /></a><br /><p>This fabric comes to us from this sweet, spunky woman named Marilyn Larsen. She is little <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2011/01/lady-bug-lady-bug-fly-away-home.html">Ladybug's</a> grandma.</p><p>A few weeks ago I got an email from her which said:</p><p><em>I'm Amy's momma and Ella's grandma. (the Matriarchal Madwoman) I would LOVE to send you some flannel because I want other grandmas to know of the love and compassion I have for them. So often we focus on the mommy (as it should be), but the grandparents suffer as well. I never saw my husband cry so hard as when we were watching our daughter hold her baby as her little heart stopped beating. We suffer for the loss of a precious grandchild, but the pain of watching your child suffer is incredible.</em><br /><br /></p><p>I have spoken to several other grandmas who confirm this is TOO TRUE! </p><p>In the letter I received with the fabric, Marilyn says: </p><p><em>I'm donating this in honor of Ella Standage, who came into this world Dec 29, 2010 and passed a couple of hours later. I'm honored to be her grandma and hope that this bright happy fabric will comfort another grieving mommy. </em></p><p><em>I've given the fabric a big hug and am sending it with all my love and prayers for those parents AND grandparents who grieve for our lost little ones. I'm honored to know that I have a choice, perfect granddaughter who will watch over us always. </em></p><p><em><br /></em></p><p>I just love it when people say things better than me. <em><br /></em></p><p><br /></p>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-56260320153520849312011-01-25T11:39:00.000-08:002011-01-25T11:41:31.023-08:00Lady Bug, Lady Bug, Fly Away Home<p>Remember <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-comfort-you-want-to-see-in-world.html">Amy and Ella</a>? My <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2011/01/amy-and-ella-and-sisterhood-of.html">inspiration</a> for the Sisterhood of the Magic Traveling Baby Quilt project? </p><p><br /></p><p>Well, the project is underway and Amy has contributed some flannel fabric for the quilt to honor her little Ella. </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocenz0iY02byaMGoXGZhZnISBPu6Ls4ffCXkCjFbBY5EAegBcjZlwHfFkYRXPZRHYmlEbw4tKo1dLZ2Kv99ZbT_aIcK7p5PMgCycDL3Oe5-_riBhj31a2ltTRkC1YRrjs9SjgyoMf8LYV/s1600/Ladybug+fabric+for+Ella+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocenz0iY02byaMGoXGZhZnISBPu6Ls4ffCXkCjFbBY5EAegBcjZlwHfFkYRXPZRHYmlEbw4tKo1dLZ2Kv99ZbT_aIcK7p5PMgCycDL3Oe5-_riBhj31a2ltTRkC1YRrjs9SjgyoMf8LYV/s400/Ladybug+fabric+for+Ella+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566198246115551810" /></a><br /><p>Ladybug was Ella's nickname whenever Amy talked about her online, and even though Ella was born and died on the same day, there is sonographic evidence which captures her perfect little ladybug loveliness while she was alive:<br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT_72Khj23JQ1xZ8ucU38WWo5WVFAV1i-ZQwqudAH3VKqABqYGCFImyoGpp-BAcEigezl9MFm3ZdHZfym8h_ns_R_3I9qteESUgbYlEZwHIQHTdhcVAge6TT2LcvQKUyLjQRSor-TSjP4/s1600/Ella.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRT_72Khj23JQ1xZ8ucU38WWo5WVFAV1i-ZQwqudAH3VKqABqYGCFImyoGpp-BAcEigezl9MFm3ZdHZfym8h_ns_R_3I9qteESUgbYlEZwHIQHTdhcVAge6TT2LcvQKUyLjQRSor-TSjP4/s400/Ella.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566198571910201938" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Ella Standage </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Born: December 29, 2010</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Died: December 29, 2010 </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Safe Passage Ella, as you fly away home.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-33498385331581579092011-01-20T22:13:00.000-08:002011-01-20T22:30:34.654-08:00Emma and TaylorHere's a heartwrenching story:<br /><br /><br />I have received several emails asking for my address for the purpose of sending flannel for our traveling baby quilts, but today I received the first fabric in the mail.<br /><br /><br />It is in honor of conjoined twin girls. <a href="http://emmaandtaylorbailey.blogspot.com/">Emma and Taylor </a>shared a heart. It's a beautiful metaphor, but the logistics of sharing a heart are quite a bit more complicated. This past August, at three years old, they underwent sugery to qualify them for heart transplants.<br /><br /><br />Neither one of them survived the surgery. <br /><br /><br />INCONSOLABLE!<br /><br /><br />This fabric was donated on behalf of the twins' mother, Mandy, by her sister-in-law, Sara.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ipI4D7HTq_uIZgFx0S_nK3YJ1xmU8M9wwh3yNbM_JDvU0G5B_rxKEMZ8LYlfsbwHqZvxMW6MdrSJoMdcQVp_kLOA8UGP8gsACrjWt1qalfczjzk284EJBQ_tgi8jVcWT9pDj_axYUbx1/s1600/January+Stuff+036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564519082928050258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ipI4D7HTq_uIZgFx0S_nK3YJ1xmU8M9wwh3yNbM_JDvU0G5B_rxKEMZ8LYlfsbwHqZvxMW6MdrSJoMdcQVp_kLOA8UGP8gsACrjWt1qalfczjzk284EJBQ_tgi8jVcWT9pDj_axYUbx1/s400/January+Stuff+036.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> </p><p>Blue and purple were Emma and Taylor's favorite color. </p><p> </p><p>This post goes out in memoriam to honor:</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Emma and Taylor Bailey </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Born: September 2o, 2006 </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Died: August 10, 2010</span></p>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-64976927199709346502011-01-13T07:52:00.001-08:002011-01-13T09:52:14.576-08:00Be the comfort you want to see in the world<p>Yesterday was <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2011/01/amy-and-ella-and-sisterhood-of.html">Ella's</a> funeral. I read her mother, Amy's words this morning and one line in particular struck me: </p><p><br /></p><p><em>Hearts that have been broken wide open need to be filled up with something else. </em></p><p><em><br /></em></p><p>How profound!</p><p><br /></p><p>Maybe that's why it is so important to fill broken hearts with love and comfort and compassion, before they get filled up with bitterness, anger, and regret. Broken hearts are so darn vulnerable like that. </p><p><br /></p><p>I was just made aware of <a href="http://nygardfamily.blogspot.com/">this family</a> who recently lost their 14-month-old son, Andrew. He died in his sleep of SIDS. It's a parent's worst nightmare! The thing we all secretly fret over and fear. Let us all go and give this family a hug! </p><p><br /></p><p>I bet my sister will make another "for keeps" baby blanket like the one she made for Amy.</p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLYXoIEKZscuQlw7hyHJw12Jx-AQu5D9x-2YHwRWl8dIC8rI8oc1FegU_r3kU-X6SRkUCieAGLT4yWDUExvHswf_-BgY6WFW-MEjYTjh4AUH5oB1608xVJ9fyFvKonQ7cJFdMJ2Ug0tV0/s1600/magic+baby+quilt+018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLYXoIEKZscuQlw7hyHJw12Jx-AQu5D9x-2YHwRWl8dIC8rI8oc1FegU_r3kU-X6SRkUCieAGLT4yWDUExvHswf_-BgY6WFW-MEjYTjh4AUH5oB1608xVJ9fyFvKonQ7cJFdMJ2Ug0tV0/s400/magic+baby+quilt+018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561728885647310834" /></a><br /><br />She just asked me yesterday to let her know if there is anyone else who needs one. Making baby blankets is such a productive way to grieve the loss of a child, don't you think? Just another way to fill up a heart that's been split wide open. </p><p><br /></p><p>Hey, I just thought of a new motto! </p><p><br /></p><p><em>Be the comfort you want to see in the world. </em></p><p><em><br /></em></p><p>I'm surprised Gandhi didn't think of that. ;)<em><br /></em></p><p><br /></p><p>So, to summarize: If you have lost a child, or know of someone who has, please join hands with the rest of us to soften the blow for others who are experiencing the same loss. It can be an adult child, or a miscarriage, it mattereth not. It can even be a grandchild or a niece or nephew. If you loved a child that has shuffled off this mortal coil, I am asking you to donate a piece of flannel in his/her honor. In remembrance. In memoriam.</p><p><br /></p><p>So how can you join hands with us? </p><p><br /></p><p>1. Send a piece of flannel fabric which represents the child of honor. It can be a yard, or several yards, or simply a 12x12 square. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Include your child's name and birth date AND death date. (My sister says the death date is very important to her since her son died.) </p><p><br /></p><p>3. The flannel will be cut into quilt blocks and sewn together with love, and with other quilt blocks honoring other children who have finished their earthly journey. </p><p><br /></p><p>4. The child's name, birth date and death date will appear in the corner of his/her quilt block. </p><p><br /></p><p>5. The baby quilt(s) (hopefully we will make dozens) will begin their journey as magic traveling quilts. Each person who receives the quilt will keep it as long as they need, until they feel ready to part with it and until they find someone else whose heart has split open wide and needs a filler. They will then pass it on. And so on and so on and so on. </p><p><br /></p><p>6. A notebook, which my sister is at this very moment making, will accompany the quilt on it's magical journey. The notebook will be for writing letters, messages, quotes, or little love notes to the absent child. This will be cathartic for both the writer and the subsequent readers. </p><p><br /></p><p>7. If you would like to include a love note to your child to be inserted into the magic notebook before it is sent out to the first recipient, please send it to me along with your fabric, or email it to ctddiaries@gmail.com. </p><p><br /></p><p>And please raise your hand if you would like to help sew "for keeps" blankets, or help piece together the traveling magic baby quilts once we get rolling.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let's get to work, peeps!<br /></p><p><br /></p>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-53448028614633127102011-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:002014-03-02T20:47:47.932-08:00Amy and Ella (and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Magic Baby Quilt)I've been taking my dog for walks around the duck pond a few miles from our house lately, and while I walk, I think. Sometimes I think about life and sometimes I think about the ducks, who swim along the waters edge, trailing me, as I make my way around. They honk, honk, honk at me, as if to say "I'm starving! Did you bring me anything to eat?"<br />
<br />
Ever since I fell in love with my dog, Lulu, I have developed this soft spot for animals. I can't stand to think of them hungry or neglected. Maybe that, coupled with the fact that I too know what it feels like to be hungry and needy, makes me feel enormously sorry for them.<br />
<br />
So, of course, I've started bringing them food. <br />
<br />
It's one of the benefits of pain and sorrow . . . once you feel it, you don't want others to feel it. And when you see them feeling it, you can't help but reach out and try to soften the blow.<br />
<br />
But how do you soften the blow? With soft words?--<em>I'm so sorry</em>--soft prayers?--<em>God be with you as you sorrow</em>--soft blankets? --<em>May I offer you a place to bury your head and cry. A place we have stitched together with love and compassion. You are not alone in your suffering. We have been there. We have all been there. </em><br />
<em><br /></em>
I don't know if it's possible to soften life's blows, all I know is that we have to try. <em><br /></em><br />
<br />
I recently heard a story about a mother who loses her child. It's an old story. A mother loses a baby. She is not the only person in the world to lose a baby--I could name dozens off the top of my head, and that's just who I know personally. I suspect you could name dozens too, but no matter how many mothers lose their babies, each story will always be immediate and deeply personal. And above all, agonizing. My sister, Melanie lost a baby 12 years ago. His name was Matthew and he lived for 12 hours.<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qT5b2kODHMeEE308pL8f7kiC-OhnJ1UWtFEpwHoQEU8Ib5Ze1op6dswI_vVl7b74gqVEo07zMmPO9X9BKerfMO_hmwiHpT4NSvEzL7AEMosxLMa6T-k2Cfd0bvlC60oeR4UyCzUY6woO/s1600/21.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qT5b2kODHMeEE308pL8f7kiC-OhnJ1UWtFEpwHoQEU8Ib5Ze1op6dswI_vVl7b74gqVEo07zMmPO9X9BKerfMO_hmwiHpT4NSvEzL7AEMosxLMa6T-k2Cfd0bvlC60oeR4UyCzUY6woO/s400/21.bmp" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560993782322771330" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 301px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />Her only son.<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyM12vllCG1zL-27mq5MgFWsQceJfSs3Q-sNCMdnv1SUNEWtS0ECRo7DwqfU0Tp-ZviggabeMbGJK8Jiwir4oAddA5ng2KzPfb5xbw4wGlrDXN0UP7ULTb5NWmX8CVDYM2nlmJn9wybLZ/s1600/15.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyM12vllCG1zL-27mq5MgFWsQceJfSs3Q-sNCMdnv1SUNEWtS0ECRo7DwqfU0Tp-ZviggabeMbGJK8Jiwir4oAddA5ng2KzPfb5xbw4wGlrDXN0UP7ULTb5NWmX8CVDYM2nlmJn9wybLZ/s400/15.bmp" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560993782346286274" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 285px;" /></a><br />
<br />
You could say that sometimes bad things happen, and draw little analogies about life's challenges, but it doesn't help when you're the one suffering. I'm going to draw little analogies anyway.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago my daughter filled the car up with Diesel gas. It felt like a catastrophe at the time, but out of all the stress and worry we found something we've been looking for for a long, long time--a decent mechanic who we can trust 100% and who makes house calls and who only charges half the price of other mechanics. And who, when we said, "Thank you for your help," he said, "Thank you for the work." <br />
<br />
And like last week when my hub lost the remote control . . . he was tearing the house apart, meanwhile my boys couldn't change the channel so guess what they were stuck watching? <em>The 700 club</em> with Pat Robertson. Seems like a bum deal for a 12-year-old boy, but you know what they said about it? <br />
<br />
"I'm kinda glad dad lost the remote because we got to watch all these miracles of Jesus Christ."<br />
<br />
There's a moral here. There's a definite moral here. When bad things happen we often find what we've been looking for, and we get to watch the miracles of Jesus Christ.<br />
<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GsA0CNsdtxvbVCyuQ-EplCsEHuttJexvhKMVY7Ez7C5xYACTDMGv312Lz9wp63KW0E6nyRNHOdfpdSNCb2IZmJySiCt9fU7MjEzrajtBavVjqUDz8WJZxFluZItA2hgfArmllSSUK3FP/s1600/Christ.bmp" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GsA0CNsdtxvbVCyuQ-EplCsEHuttJexvhKMVY7Ez7C5xYACTDMGv312Lz9wp63KW0E6nyRNHOdfpdSNCb2IZmJySiCt9fU7MjEzrajtBavVjqUDz8WJZxFluZItA2hgfArmllSSUK3FP/s400/Christ.bmp" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560993786742357666" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 249px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 279px;" /></a><br />
God blesses the broken road that leads us back to him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the broken road smarts something fierce at times, and we need to try to soften those blows.<br />
<br />
So I told my sister about Amy and the first thing she said was, "I want to make her a quilt!" She already had a lot of material because she's been collecting flannel for a while now, hoping for an opportunity to bring comfort to those who are going through the same loss she did.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclEYgeZlGD5AuWs1G2YeggxNLD-emdba1unxHds2MEwYLJEu3nA2gx5C8hzIOcAaWmBgfDg7V0Mnipu_04pW8Mw2qfDnoZ06q82nThlUNuqtG7-4PekprAESSU0RxzYiCOSG-HmlD7Rs7/s400/IMG_8211.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560990909888699154" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5UgU-qn02YR3NlwzPmLLIWH4-zmLxc9ehcjmnkKC5c89V0L0ElyIFbb6xXt9Urx79caeJInPAPeKoBqQg_gZr6oWq_AqZ1plFH1Gwt5ituUIDBd0_1BVTw_Ff_gJlCX7SfJeRhnK-EP0/s1600/IMG_8220.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5UgU-qn02YR3NlwzPmLLIWH4-zmLxc9ehcjmnkKC5c89V0L0ElyIFbb6xXt9Urx79caeJInPAPeKoBqQg_gZr6oWq_AqZ1plFH1Gwt5ituUIDBd0_1BVTw_Ff_gJlCX7SfJeRhnK-EP0/s400/IMG_8220.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560990905404090594" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kWUeombTfQPs8Rp-ohKO3qVrPRGBA3HTp6hQQuZ4I9lV_RQwSVQNxcJkY87QQFtBM8nXtcvtOot8mIPXze0bj4WBbOxK5thRzBTugYb6JxrbTvaAWy8C9wAdsOX0nFWt4jr98TQfD4Lw/s1600/IMG_8226.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kWUeombTfQPs8Rp-ohKO3qVrPRGBA3HTp6hQQuZ4I9lV_RQwSVQNxcJkY87QQFtBM8nXtcvtOot8mIPXze0bj4WBbOxK5thRzBTugYb6JxrbTvaAWy8C9wAdsOX0nFWt4jr98TQfD4Lw/s400/IMG_8226.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560990891994340818" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Below is the fabric she chose to make the blanket for Amy. She chose white, which represents purity and the heavenly place where Ella now resides.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWlcaHeOdVMGY4QWMxkfNS_q9Fr9ySgcxzT_lsAuD2VtA0Cb1obBekgQm9NR-7T3lga9PwVg5nzw5B4SD-ZZvNDgCvM8zjfjae2dSzIc3GIyPvYXT8zpOxbHIL-fNsM3Eozcc8acMCOvI/s1600/IMG_8210.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWlcaHeOdVMGY4QWMxkfNS_q9Fr9ySgcxzT_lsAuD2VtA0Cb1obBekgQm9NR-7T3lga9PwVg5nzw5B4SD-ZZvNDgCvM8zjfjae2dSzIc3GIyPvYXT8zpOxbHIL-fNsM3Eozcc8acMCOvI/s400/IMG_8210.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560990883801951634" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
This is the finished product, which I mailed off to Amy this morning.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYCTaL-bjfMSIy7D0k7wS7jUIsw2QxDVsKy7xPRlMtQU66ZS7LphYkZT1KnUnwR8ZCH0Y7qP0hCSoHausdi9kUIJFletoLujy-0Ndetk1FLz-8ywpDVttg7hSiIwYjhi7VegJig7vhUW4/s400/magic+baby+quilt+018.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560991047109613362" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
<br />
My sister and I decided that we would send Amy a small receiving blanket--the one pictured above--that she could keep forever. Something just for her.<br />
<br />
But we are also going to make a Magic Baby Quilt, which, when completed, we will send to Amy to kick off our <em>Sisterhood of the Traveling Magic Baby Quilt</em> project. She will keep the quilt as long as she needs to, until she finds the next recipient--someone going through the same loss--and then she will pass the Magic Baby Quilt along.<br />
<br />
And so on and so on and so on. <br />
<br />
The magic will be grow stronger every time a mother receives the blanket and passes it on. <br />
<br />
Along with the Magic Baby Quilt, there will be a Magic Baby Book. We will call it something like <em>Letters to Heaven.</em> Each mother who receives the notebook will write the name of her child in the book, along with a letter to her child. After a while, the book will be filled with letters to Heaven, which will hopefully be cathartic and bring comfort to many mourning mothers.<br />
<br />
Questions? <br />
<br />
How will the quilt be made? What will it look like? I was just getting to that. <br />
<br />
The quilt will be made up of flannel fabric sent in by you. If you've lost a baby, or even an adult child, I am asking for you to send me flannel fabric--as much or as little as you like--which represents your child, along with your child's full name and birth date. We will cut the fabric into quilt blocks in honor of your child. We will then print your child's name and birth date onto clear iron-on decals and iron it into the corner of their quilt block(s). <br />
<br />
I am thinking big. I want <span style="font-size: 180%;">a lot </span>of material so we can get <span style="font-size: 180%;">a lot</span> of baby quilts circulating.<br />
<br />
I'm soliciting material from people I know who have lost a child, but if you've lost a child or know someone who has, please spread the word and join our efforts. <br />
<br />
If you would like to include a letter to your child before the magic book is delivered to Amy, please email the letter to me at ctddiaries@gmail.com. You can also send the letters snail mail. Email me for my address.<br />
<br />
Look to it, peeps! <br />
<br />
<br />
P.s. To keep updated on Amy's story, you can find her on my sidebar at My Infernal Journal.<br />
<br />
<br />The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-89975158933039925912010-12-18T22:58:00.000-08:002010-12-18T23:56:03.037-08:00Dollars and blankets and quilts, oh MY!Look what my boys did today:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeKBNGzohe5u8i1ikckH0p0CIt6pNnxhvtjP6kQZ_VpbQmMr1fgEMdHwLIsw4-aUjb1BFOshyH-yPCchyphenhyphenYWa_v8vI6JHj8mMQ71OHpcMyizhvKPaTyRqGXGrTgriMwTZq5Y_8E4amJasr/s1600/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552285073147310882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeKBNGzohe5u8i1ikckH0p0CIt6pNnxhvtjP6kQZ_VpbQmMr1fgEMdHwLIsw4-aUjb1BFOshyH-yPCchyphenhyphenYWa_v8vI6JHj8mMQ71OHpcMyizhvKPaTyRqGXGrTgriMwTZq5Y_8E4amJasr/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />They wrote a note to Matthew Blanchard on their own hand made cards and slipped him $1. Even Lulu did it, cept she slipped him a $5.<br /><br /></p><p>Even my twin's friend, who was here at the time, pulled a $1 out of his pocket and said, "Can I do it too?"<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fb5gGl2BzpL1puQaqzWRZya6RUwL1lFE_L9LYpsaK2Xg6RIEMHVKvrrxR_ao6gqrJmzC1plBb1Y5ryI_ER9YDP8nZPQcYCYrWPW1Go-ARQyaeQ0nrLZGTBSdo9bfaWK7ygc1brzppis3/s1600/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552285071547846434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fb5gGl2BzpL1puQaqzWRZya6RUwL1lFE_L9LYpsaK2Xg6RIEMHVKvrrxR_ao6gqrJmzC1plBb1Y5ryI_ER9YDP8nZPQcYCYrWPW1Go-ARQyaeQ0nrLZGTBSdo9bfaWK7ygc1brzppis3/s400/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9Fb5tbuwh1MNzy1LQcH3tS5tMrEO_rQ1Ng4dFp8LHvp0-WCo6kb1ygoGodPHUN57KzMyMqGyhGN1nv_XXRAgvs3LuRAfTqNRi1oKi4y1kzczfQKMUmD3kyLVEkOAfpFazZLDv4NjhnkN/s1600/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552285066869340226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9Fb5tbuwh1MNzy1LQcH3tS5tMrEO_rQ1Ng4dFp8LHvp0-WCo6kb1ygoGodPHUN57KzMyMqGyhGN1nv_XXRAgvs3LuRAfTqNRi1oKi4y1kzczfQKMUmD3kyLVEkOAfpFazZLDv4NjhnkN/s400/016.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBq55KaHLp2muQosy097l_uDMb2MO2Z07qh6zGwEslQKh0QqQL5LE4pVgUqMbZ8rlwSQFjA9a0TDHoXXRfILPER5wyaRYqgVlkWbiDuurZWYzKLgzXfcViIndyrIWRHG9Vu6VNwjdcy-9/s1600/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552285059659006274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBq55KaHLp2muQosy097l_uDMb2MO2Z07qh6zGwEslQKh0QqQL5LE4pVgUqMbZ8rlwSQFjA9a0TDHoXXRfILPER5wyaRYqgVlkWbiDuurZWYzKLgzXfcViIndyrIWRHG9Vu6VNwjdcy-9/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>How sweet it was.<br /></p><p>And then I sent him a magic blanket.<br /><br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6Nnv5ZuwoeXYMY9Qy_A9IXxaF7HbEKrOXzWn2ETlQslLCaDdOz-kQ0girWAycgz_FoecNugAMH1FkqvPFQyS8r4raSHO1xaGzyxUzwC4O7F_GauPPt_2lfm-Id1EDP0BKpUpyCC48pGV/s1600/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552285057163572034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6Nnv5ZuwoeXYMY9Qy_A9IXxaF7HbEKrOXzWn2ETlQslLCaDdOz-kQ0girWAycgz_FoecNugAMH1FkqvPFQyS8r4raSHO1xaGzyxUzwC4O7F_GauPPt_2lfm-Id1EDP0BKpUpyCC48pGV/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />So excited. Just can't hide it.<br /><br /></p><br /><p>You can still join the dollar drive and send $1 to Matthew at 8444 Brody Marsh Ave/Las Vegas, Nevada/89143. Just think, if 1,000 people send a dollar, Matthew will have smiled 1,ooo times. And I've heard somewhere that 1,ooo smiles are as powerful as pixie dust. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.matthewblanchardfoundation.com/">Click here if you want to find out more about Matthew. </a><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><p>If you read my post yesterday on my CTD Diaries, you'll also know that I made and delivered three more magic blankets to three little boys who have a very sick daddy. <a href="http://www.matthewblanchardfoundation.com/">You can read all about it and see photographic evidence here.</a> </p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.friends4clint.blogspot.com/">And you can read about the sick daddy here. </a></p><br /><br /><p>If you are interested in banging out some magic blankets yourself, let me just say it's SOOO dang easy. All you need is 1 yard of fleece, preferably no-pill because it's so forgiving, and 1/4 yard of a coordinating solid color to tie up the loose ends. </p><br /><br /><p>Lay the fleece out flat and on both ends cut strips--1 inch wide and 5 inches long--all the way across each end of the blanket.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p>Next cut 1 inch wide, 5 inch long strips out of the solid coordinating color. </p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcrNCIui183Brcod5qe7OPJUrZM7WbrL00U7JGp7by9la0DZLHv0AiXAJGzbNgqbGDeLJnMizOXMrBDyW8j-yq4HfdkD1Uy0WA3xQzA30YL8-OJw0eL9Et_Zn7iXVJ6yczMG6VJt5u8q-/s1600/m+q.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294398890979778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcrNCIui183Brcod5qe7OPJUrZM7WbrL00U7JGp7by9la0DZLHv0AiXAJGzbNgqbGDeLJnMizOXMrBDyW8j-yq4HfdkD1Uy0WA3xQzA30YL8-OJw0eL9Et_Zn7iXVJ6yczMG6VJt5u8q-/s400/m+q.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3gqgwzsg9lC-vGxUZloxexUXehqcP52Z0m54lVNFIrGKborh-cnhtJCmrPKIvP0juqnq9wpx2CpjsV2udt5Gs4ynayOtsA2yDv56iwJ2yi_p0lACR4xWbVjbRLZNEP-4nh6-SMitiBpy/s1600/magic+blanket+demonstration+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552293792818944098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3gqgwzsg9lC-vGxUZloxexUXehqcP52Z0m54lVNFIrGKborh-cnhtJCmrPKIvP0juqnq9wpx2CpjsV2udt5Gs4ynayOtsA2yDv56iwJ2yi_p0lACR4xWbVjbRLZNEP-4nh6-SMitiBpy/s400/magic+blanket+demonstration+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>Tie a solid strip around each strip (aka loose end) on the blanket. </p><br /><br /><p>Viola! You're done!<br /><br /><br />And finally, guess what? Kritta's done it again. She made another Magic Quilt with all the original fabric contributed by the people. And <em>for</em> the people. And <em>of </em>the people.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TUlA8tnfFWlzMxa4tt0SW_iOCWfc1bDZiMp-mCBKkE6o10LD5N8g_tp1CfOuuqCZ-3FaYlbnND15R8RA59P5QaOVzScXF3CS9JdgXrDglFG8LaOAFzBctKpUvHQ3MQ1VCP9iy9G6_JMM/s1600/Magic+Quilt+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552296105718416530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TUlA8tnfFWlzMxa4tt0SW_iOCWfc1bDZiMp-mCBKkE6o10LD5N8g_tp1CfOuuqCZ-3FaYlbnND15R8RA59P5QaOVzScXF3CS9JdgXrDglFG8LaOAFzBctKpUvHQ3MQ1VCP9iy9G6_JMM/s400/Magic+Quilt+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Ain't it gorgeous!? Mahalo, Kritta.<br /><br /><br />I'll be back to expound very soon, so don't touch that dial.<br /></div><div></div>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-63151439047286720662010-12-07T13:10:00.001-08:002010-12-09T11:33:39.684-08:00Magical Money for MatthewI need to spew forth a Magic Quilt update before I explode into a thousand tiny pieces. So many, many things to share, which I have neglected to share because I've been pounding the pavement trying to win myself a job.<br /><br /><br />Win or lose, this job race helped refuel my Magic Quilt fire. Plus I've made a few new friends and reconnected with a few old friends who have turned out to be Magic Quilt muses.<div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One of them is Dana. I only recently met her but she's been a huge supporter of my SAM-e Good Mood Blogger gig efforts and organized a voting tree with 60 of her most amazing friends. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out she also makes fleece quilts. For friends. In need. (That's probably why she has so many amazing friends.) She has made 45 quilts within the last two years.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetpjnBNxkm0fq1MTygeVwQoeNt90zIXShtlPfdxtGJss9J5w_DbhZ1j5E5Cf0BRpCQ2GtW9ymeRrMY3tstUBu9-Lnyqf5LbcpoPhTSt_bUD5tDE1LhQtpxii1lg8aErdyPhPlb8hErbmH/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetpjnBNxkm0fq1MTygeVwQoeNt90zIXShtlPfdxtGJss9J5w_DbhZ1j5E5Cf0BRpCQ2GtW9ymeRrMY3tstUBu9-Lnyqf5LbcpoPhTSt_bUD5tDE1LhQtpxii1lg8aErdyPhPlb8hErbmH/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548736932294392850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wtkCkE7UAzrcZLmysM9Yb43MksGrbQRcu9GjsiuyV5YvQ0Ghyphenhyphenu3-_CBeKhORGEjWveahuoPs98JH8TWCpR_KxaTIDbiWXCGQsZUBGuM9HCqfjSX6B_lUi-3qUj0ZTOvqChw6YZK_9-4K/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wtkCkE7UAzrcZLmysM9Yb43MksGrbQRcu9GjsiuyV5YvQ0Ghyphenhyphenu3-_CBeKhORGEjWveahuoPs98JH8TWCpR_KxaTIDbiWXCGQsZUBGuM9HCqfjSX6B_lUi-3qUj0ZTOvqChw6YZK_9-4K/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548736925376676162" /></a><br /></div><div>Her son made 100 fleece lap blankets for his Eagle project and donated them to the <a href="http://www.huntsmancancer.org/">Huntsman Cancer Institute</a>. (Apples don't fall far from their trees.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8MnYERCiJ_f43HXT5PEzisypuwM6rDNvJH6LbcA_zuyw_nXAmsqEXoqlPAS5ze_moADbv3yC7dozeUWK5uydoeEBHOPPNR-vciAiKtwM3-NtuDP364VRqOb9GRLfYoqknsxbX2GXFvw-/s1600/IMG8574+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8MnYERCiJ_f43HXT5PEzisypuwM6rDNvJH6LbcA_zuyw_nXAmsqEXoqlPAS5ze_moADbv3yC7dozeUWK5uydoeEBHOPPNR-vciAiKtwM3-NtuDP364VRqOb9GRLfYoqknsxbX2GXFvw-/s400/IMG8574+%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548141860115213938" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>(Hmmm . . . my son needs a great idea for his Eagle project too . . .) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dana got her inspiration for the fleece blankets when her own world was tipped by a medical condition. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ORIuyU0a3pNLJgevWpRPsupPSetfGuhoh0jePpRxGlGPO1_U3094JGcY5DSYml8AS7-d2p2AK9dEsD1RqqSIUpaZaYEMoKdTnZ6Ef4mbMsAn7vaUYJ9HKAA4cbB22up_BjoCjTecNgEI/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ORIuyU0a3pNLJgevWpRPsupPSetfGuhoh0jePpRxGlGPO1_U3094JGcY5DSYml8AS7-d2p2AK9dEsD1RqqSIUpaZaYEMoKdTnZ6Ef4mbMsAn7vaUYJ9HKAA4cbB22up_BjoCjTecNgEI/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548736953064843522" /></a><br /></div><div>After years of medical challenges her husband was diagnosed with <a href="http://www.lifescript.com/Health/A-Z/Conditions_A-Z/Conditions/A/Amyloidosis.aspx?gclid=CK2l_tXf36UCFQgEbAodOjaw0Q&trans=1&du=1&ef_id=opRNARisAwABBkg:20101209175804:s">Amyloidosis</a>. It's not cancer, but he had to go through Chemotherapy in 2008, plus undergo a stem cell transplant. While in the hospital Dana was given a little fleece blanket, which she and her husband kept on their laps for a month as they went through one of the most difficult challenges of their lives. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Since then Dana has been spreading comfort and cheer to friends in need in the form of what I like to call m<i>agic</i> fleece quilts. The quilts are a little different than the blankets. They are twice the size of the blankets and have two layers of fleece, plus batting. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I went to her house last week to go shopping for fleece and learn how to make the quilts and guess what? She surprised me with a quilt of my very own. Me!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI868edMoMvaE1oS6WVxsquo5wN4zwgjdChQXTrbZtAmMO51cGvcmM8_rBlmE29RNwcksUIfCtN7juUPnS18jMu79nFXjFPWHJpyK_gaceKhVTUq3kgRiv1amK2iaSxUiged-m9mZhUr8/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+009.JPG3144"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI868edMoMvaE1oS6WVxsquo5wN4zwgjdChQXTrbZtAmMO51cGvcmM8_rBlmE29RNwcksUIfCtN7juUPnS18jMu79nFXjFPWHJpyK_gaceKhVTUq3kgRiv1amK2iaSxUiged-m9mZhUr8/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+009.JPG3144" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548735555553975730" /></a>And guess what else? My fleece quilt has a twin. <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbJVTOuTr9lrp2LWZ6ZSg0hR09h2sSlU437eMDmu2_2rtskvukx_iaN9pfMvRigik9-nPrCzAzXDWTHDfxZPe8a_OrYl1lFpBGA6WIZs439U_pvFjolVRX1HNqRiXLHO7MvF7L3SJDdnH/s1600/img081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbJVTOuTr9lrp2LWZ6ZSg0hR09h2sSlU437eMDmu2_2rtskvukx_iaN9pfMvRigik9-nPrCzAzXDWTHDfxZPe8a_OrYl1lFpBGA6WIZs439U_pvFjolVRX1HNqRiXLHO7MvF7L3SJDdnH/s400/img081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548734478583510578" /></a><br />These hands belong to Dana's friend and neighbor who is just like me. A mom. A wife. A daughter. A friend. The only difference is she has a brain tumor and she is almost done with her mission here on earth. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've always wanted a twin and am deeply honored to share her magic fleece quilt. I will do my best to live up to the responsibility I feel to create a place of refuge and bring comfort to those who are suffering, sad and scared.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And GOSH DARNIT, there are too too many. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We have a lot of work to do. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So Dana took me shopping for fleece at Joann's Fabric. We filled two carts. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jQXkqCaqQX7L6kGwUjZC4Xr5FbIFwDqRrmf6MJUBpWduqBiPK8Mjx0aawiRznrlgts5AaGU2Yo_7D_dJRyvip9I0Y28gaaXPCjy8ij34Ih_J4DWrq5lcjP6wlsM7o9M35qPAZ1j-4zWq/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jQXkqCaqQX7L6kGwUjZC4Xr5FbIFwDqRrmf6MJUBpWduqBiPK8Mjx0aawiRznrlgts5AaGU2Yo_7D_dJRyvip9I0Y28gaaXPCjy8ij34Ih_J4DWrq5lcjP6wlsM7o9M35qPAZ1j-4zWq/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548735520346753106" /></a><br />I've always said that addiction is BAD, unless you're addicted to oatmeal or IKEA furniture, but fleece is SUPER addicting. If you HAVE to get addicted to something, fleece is a good choice.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We picked out this fabric for a little boy named <a href="http://www.matthewblanchardfoundation.com/">Matthew Blanchard</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyPhiUIudOqmK7Dj3JZxGw_eHOipnPphqvmxIFanqMafcTgZ_iuoiH7ad9n-BT9MwC8lrlIjTk5DzeXmaLLu740iTivLKrny4WMCjbpDUx3GkyDpy8nltNckPaGMitUiT0CI2yRebOAJ7/s1600/Shopping+with+Dana+019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyPhiUIudOqmK7Dj3JZxGw_eHOipnPphqvmxIFanqMafcTgZ_iuoiH7ad9n-BT9MwC8lrlIjTk5DzeXmaLLu740iTivLKrny4WMCjbpDUx3GkyDpy8nltNckPaGMitUiT0CI2yRebOAJ7/s400/Shopping+with+Dana+019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548735537628153106" /></a><div>He loves sports, but he can't play them anymore because he contracted a virus which led to chronic <a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/info/v1t04/lymphocytic-myocarditis?xid=g_dlp-v1t04_test10&s_kwcid=TC|16931|lymphocytic+myocarditis||S||5626696574&gclid=CPbD5Yfm36UCFQqAgwod4DIo1A">Lymphocytic Myocarditis</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't you hate big words that make you sick? It's just wrong. And it's just wrong that a 12-year-old boy can't play sports. I have two 12-year-old boys who love sports so I know what I'm talking about. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>DeNae Handy, over at <a href="http://thebackorderedlife.blogspot.com/">My Real Life was Backordered</a> created a foundation for Matthew because not only can big words make you sick, they can make you poor too. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you click on this button, you can grab a button of your own and post it on your blog. And so on and so on and so on. Plus you can read all about Matthew and make a donation on his behalf. (Don't tell my husband, but I made one when I only had $75 in my bank account.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.matthewblanchardfoundation.com/"><img src="http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z462/Nickeldesignllc/improvedBlogButton.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dana gave me another good idea--something she did a few years ago for a friend who's little boy, Spencer got cancer. Yes, she made him a magic fleece quilt . . .</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75ffv0wZqRS2f3EifIJuA4kUgjlCZWBEhQTzXNohyphenhyphenT90BoFKjYGu6R5hSzGFKWbxTB2zpuLhzv4dozsBtsGPlo5yWSvsljcXX9XqkMvW7GJ52T4oHJvOGZW6F0QOW9bchFtbbBVgw5zwM/s1600/l.iSFCRGwXFMOEikmW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75ffv0wZqRS2f3EifIJuA4kUgjlCZWBEhQTzXNohyphenhyphenT90BoFKjYGu6R5hSzGFKWbxTB2zpuLhzv4dozsBtsGPlo5yWSvsljcXX9XqkMvW7GJ52T4oHJvOGZW6F0QOW9bchFtbbBVgw5zwM/s400/l.iSFCRGwXFMOEikmW.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548754476202791410" /></a><br /></div><div>but she also started a dollar drive for him--she told all of her friends to slip $1 into an envelope and send it to Spencer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine a young, sick boy getting all of these letters in the mail. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoXIaJFCsr2gj8Ur9egu_sZLFTd9DcnDvZL7AZz_f2Z8dSK1a2dDpDYY0ymPDPVS8yKVK8e6Rf-OWhgPF2M4E6LCtS8VYXg7mxDGt-0yLzdEXeZjwzJINquGmfEmRH0Bf-FZ2zhd6_hWm/s1600/l.QcHTKqsNrmGIQLPq_2+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoXIaJFCsr2gj8Ur9egu_sZLFTd9DcnDvZL7AZz_f2Z8dSK1a2dDpDYY0ymPDPVS8yKVK8e6Rf-OWhgPF2M4E6LCtS8VYXg7mxDGt-0yLzdEXeZjwzJINquGmfEmRH0Bf-FZ2zhd6_hWm/s400/l.QcHTKqsNrmGIQLPq_2+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548754474218575314" /></a><br /></div><div>And then imagine him opening each envelope and finding a $1 bill. It would be just like Harry Potter. (I bet that's where J.K. Rowlings got the idea.)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLymxR4Hjsuufn5cQubhoWqZWrhw1KhA3s5N1BMDzFDT5HYZg3nyNLi-ICBzq0yPTdTNDryNCGjeIWP9HtPc-KM8DmoCrfgGschmfrVmL4lH-07vu-y5VAZg_v5CRccnvZQGjuwjwmwbQP/s1600/harryletters.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 369px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLymxR4Hjsuufn5cQubhoWqZWrhw1KhA3s5N1BMDzFDT5HYZg3nyNLi-ICBzq0yPTdTNDryNCGjeIWP9HtPc-KM8DmoCrfgGschmfrVmL4lH-07vu-y5VAZg_v5CRccnvZQGjuwjwmwbQP/s400/harryletters.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548756956484077890" /></a></div><br />They would be like magic dollars. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was thinking we could do that for Matthew. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It would be like magical money. For Matthew. I bet that would really brighten his Christmas season. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, so you know how you're busy stuffing envelopes with Christmas cards right now? Would you mind adding Matthew Blanchard to your list? It will only take a sec to slip a $1 bill into it. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And tell all of your friends, okay. </div><div><br /></div><div>His address is: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">Matthew Blanchard </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">8444 Brody Marsh Ave. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">Las Vegas, NV 89143 </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz7DdgI8oP7ZgFOL4PPXkn2sb3sWj1rdBcncO45s8rA0SwSeN3FwZsQOmeSoK6-9zldUGuAckH7jHjbWQDyPrtryY2RDXdPgWvd2mv0NSzkjrR8Z4FdMiERtswNAv-0_BNvD-xZemLYGe/s1600/matthew+Blanchard.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz7DdgI8oP7ZgFOL4PPXkn2sb3sWj1rdBcncO45s8rA0SwSeN3FwZsQOmeSoK6-9zldUGuAckH7jHjbWQDyPrtryY2RDXdPgWvd2mv0NSzkjrR8Z4FdMiERtswNAv-0_BNvD-xZemLYGe/s400/matthew+Blanchard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548759010453481090" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 17px; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><br /></span></div><div>By the way, Spencer is completely cancer free now. He's been cured! </div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Just sayin'.</div>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-20005543672844642742010-10-10T17:33:00.000-07:002010-10-10T18:29:36.639-07:00A moment of silence, and the 2nd magic quiltSometimes I think the most magical thing about The Magic Quilt are the relationships forged through the suffering and the compassion. The reaching in and the reaching out. I feel so thankful to be making new magic connections on a regular basis, and it only strenghtens my resolve to reach further and dig deeper. One thing I've learned from this is that EVERYONE has a story. And everyone <em>needs</em> a story. Please share yours and help us heal the world, one quilt at at time.<br /><br /><br />When I first started this project I wanted the magic to save people. Make them all better. Now I see that people don't need to be saved. They need to be comforted. We cannot decide who lives or dies, but we can decide to lend a hand in carrying the burdens and easing the suffering of those who live and die.<br /><br /><br />The magic quilt has exceeded my expectations by every stretch of my imagination. I never dreamed it would come to mean so much to so many so quickly. If you're new to this blog and don't know the story of Stan and Lila, <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/07/where-in-world-is-magic-quilt.html">this post </a>and <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/08/priceless.html">this post </a>will help you understand them better.<br /><br /><br />I am deeply honored that I was allowed to be a small part of their journey. MAHALO!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrRAG1YADV0UQl9zDe3j1xGyjKByCisreDU6GpRWbwGWbqVPMi4sQEj9mUtXYNJsKKwhovgMuVzKSVnI9XyvCV_eTcI7pv1HQ5iK5w-02s6__TIjQOgZypCdvl65XYarjRRN2C0_p5bEO/s1600/Stan+and+Lila+and+Me"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526589317279681602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 277px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrRAG1YADV0UQl9zDe3j1xGyjKByCisreDU6GpRWbwGWbqVPMi4sQEj9mUtXYNJsKKwhovgMuVzKSVnI9XyvCV_eTcI7pv1HQ5iK5w-02s6__TIjQOgZypCdvl65XYarjRRN2C0_p5bEO/s400/Stan+and+Lila+and+Me" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Allow me to share an email I received after Stan's passing from a girl named <a href="http://crayolabird.blogspot.com/2010/10/passing.html">Corinne</a>, who knows Stan and Lila.<br /><br /><em>.................................................................................<br /><br /><br /><br />I need you to know how much that quilt meant to Lila and Stan. When I first arrived at their home, Stan had passed about an hour earlier. The quilt was still on him, then, and was on him until the funeral home came and my husband and Tom helped them carry him to the car. Lila showed me different parts of it, told the stories and showed me, in quiet whispers, the names that had been sewn into it. OH the spirit was there. I am telling you. THANK YOU for the balm you handed to my friends.<br /><br /><br />Corinne<br /><br />.................................................................................<br /><br />I also found this beautiful poem/post on Corrine's blog </em><a href="http://www.crayolabird.blogspot.com/"><em>Littlest Bird.<br /></em></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:courier new;">in the home where someone has passed away<br /><br />after a long illness,<br /><br />there is a blanket of peace. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /></em><em><span style="font-family:courier new;">it is made by the weight of an amazing life lived,<br /><br />and by the strength of the people who<br /><br />stood by bedsides<br /><br />held hands<br /><br />stroked foreheads<br /><br />administered relief<br /><br />pulled up blankets<br /><br />taped cheerfully drawn pictures on the wall<br /><br />told stories<br /><br />and remembered.<br /><br />remembered and remembered about life<br /><br />before cancer. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /></em><em><span style="font-family:courier new;">hugs are tighter, then, in that home,<br /><br />where the loved one is lying still on his bed,<br /><br />his spirit released from the prison of his<br /><br />ailing body.<br /><br />it's as spiritual as the feeling in the temple, or the most<br /><br />sacred place you can imagine.<br /><br /><br /><br />feelings are raw but that rawness is absorbed<br /><br />in a love that chimes with selflessness.<br /><br />and when you look into the eyes of the woman who has lost<br /><br />her companion of thirty-five years,<br /><br />you KNOW<br /><br />you KNOW<br /><br />that God was watching over her<br /><br />as she helped her husband<br /><br />pass from this life<br /><br />to the next<br /><br />and that He will continue to be with her<br /><br />as she waits to be with him<br /><br />again. </span><br /><br /><br /></em><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em>....................................................................................................................</em></span></p><br /><p>And finally I want to show you the 2nd magic quilt, thanks to April from <a href="http://springrosejournals.blogspot.com/">Springrose Journals</a>. She made a mini magic quilt for a young girl named Riley who was recently diagnosed with stage four spinal cancer. I really love this quilt because it is so happy. So very happy. And cheery. Springrose, did you put Mighty Man Adam's fuzzy blanket on the back?</p><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526587433894624130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 394px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82K3zKZwz9aMuQIlcToRmYVIv9r1-jpAx9GBVzSJ32U-7aN4juG91j9DhHKBEe1x_Bi3yoyWoME-7Ig0TOPk1qSWeCn616VXpKYGgJPisFDKZf6UHUWryr3DRvZw7uQZZBAKtFilNKDzM/s400/Mini+magic+quilt.jpg" border="0" /> </em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mjCgRMyAiCj40trDZtDd2bISjiIMh8PwXI_DmqnUiruYpdoQEF3Pat1Jh9Jafj8L5HgrFVG1PCyNHpd3GLfc_lFDRK_ssvCkmG90_aXboIvghsbUULY9msvB6PNuPcMRTlJqaxpzUyBB/s1600/close+up+of+mini+magic+quilt.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526591811934146226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mjCgRMyAiCj40trDZtDd2bISjiIMh8PwXI_DmqnUiruYpdoQEF3Pat1Jh9Jafj8L5HgrFVG1PCyNHpd3GLfc_lFDRK_ssvCkmG90_aXboIvghsbUULY9msvB6PNuPcMRTlJqaxpzUyBB/s400/close+up+of+mini+magic+quilt.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><br /><br />Springrose! This whole design made my eyeballs completely sweaty! MAHALO Springrose! BIG HUGS! Look at me surrounded by <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/08/magic-and-aloha.html">Don</a> and <a href="http://setupdates.blogspot.com/">Stan and Lila </a>and <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/09/super-grover-and-mighty-man-adam.html">Mighty Man Adam</a>. That's the closest I've ever felt to being queen for a day. ;)The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-26721190244751654702010-10-08T11:14:00.000-07:002010-10-08T11:47:12.900-07:00Aloha OeYesterday, October 7th, our first Magic Quilt recipient, Stan completed his journey here on earth and returned home.<br /><br /><br /><br />The day before he passed Amanda sent me an email that poured chicken soup all over my soul. I printed it and shared with all of my kids before they went to bed. I have shared it below. When I awoke the next morning there was another email waiting for me from Amanda. This time telling me that Stan was done with his suffering.<br /><br /><br /><br />I can't really describe how I feel to have been apart of this process in some small way. I feel completely honored that the Magic Quilt led me to Stan and Lila. They are two of the most beautiful people I have ever met.<br /><br /><br /><br />Aloha Oe Stan, safe passage.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxOXuxiIaHNrf3GbzfZ2x1ZfGdZ58Wp9eB0cAiL9DiZD8pPQXq_hLnh2UpP9WLhBgwR7dkVKJ29jHyv-IMXVcUtb-cWIuCPhiegb1eJ8jK2NvGBSjCGkktjbCVU2TZGi8J3hMmoirzlCS/s1600/Fire-Canoe-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525748128197085330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxOXuxiIaHNrf3GbzfZ2x1ZfGdZ58Wp9eB0cAiL9DiZD8pPQXq_hLnh2UpP9WLhBgwR7dkVKJ29jHyv-IMXVcUtb-cWIuCPhiegb1eJ8jK2NvGBSjCGkktjbCVU2TZGi8J3hMmoirzlCS/s400/Fire-Canoe-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And please remember your promise to say hello to my dad for me.<br />...................................................................................................................................<br /><br />Email from Amanda:<br /><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>I just wanted to take a minute and share something with you. I had a prompting to stop in to see Stan and Lila today, then I ignored it. I drove right past their street and my chest felt like someone just sat on me and I felt as if I were nearly possessed, as I didn't feel like myself. I promptly made a u-turn at the very next light, just a few hundred yards past their street. I instantly felt calm and knew that I shouldn't have talked myself out of following that initial prompting. </em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>When I knocked on the door, Lila greeted me with the most welcoming smile. She is so beautiful and sweet and precious and there are not enough adjectives to begin to describe how amazing she is. She explained that her sister came to stay with her and how grateful she was that she arrived on Monday because Stan fell Tuesday night and she could not get him up alone. She then asked me to go see Stan. I declined, the 4 kids were screaming in the car. She said, "Just go hold his hand." How could I refuse? </em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>I knew immediately that things weren't good, I mean, we've known the cancer was terminal, we've known he would get to each of these stages, but reading it, thinking it, even hearing it doesn't prepare you for seeing it. I couldn't help the tears that filled my eyes and my heart wept, also. Lila stood over him so lovingly, smiling constantly and adoring another opportunity to gaze upon him. I called his name, placed my hand upon his hand and looked into his peaceful eyes. </em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>He can no longer talk and it's been 3 or 4 days since he's had any type of nourishment. His time left here is short, the veil is certainly thin. However sad that reality may seem to us, he is between two worlds and has the comfort of sight beyond ours. He is okay, he is at peace. Stan and Lila's sons were planning to come in for the weekend, but Lila had encouraged them to change their plans as Stan may not make it to the weekend. Lila is doing better than I could ever hope to be in a situation such as hers. She continues to tell people how graceful Stan has gone through all of this, but really she has shown tremendous grace, as well. And the love she showers him with and the attention she pours into him allows him to be so graceful during this truly difficult time. </em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>Let me step back a few paces to when Lila introduced me to her sister. She said, "This is Amanda, you know Amanda...." Her sister teared up and rushed to my side to hug me and through all the tears and arms she said, "Thank you." She was thanking me for the Magic Quilt project. The quilt has made a tremendous impact on this family. Lila went on to explain to me that Stan always has the quilt with him. When he was able to sit in his chair, the quilt came with him. When he went to bed, the quilt traveled there, too. I know the quilt is seeing the beginning of its innumerable days of comforting others. And as this first chapter of the quilt's life is coming to a close, I believe the second chapter may open while being wrapped around Lila's shoulders in the weeks to come. There is love in every square of fabric and blessings in every stitch of its magical seams. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for birthing this project and allowing so many of us to share in your dream of sending magical love around the world. I wish everyone could feel the magic quilt in action, it is a beautiful thing! </em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em>With Love, </em><br /><br /><em>Amanda</em>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-22581456552617300952010-09-24T08:38:00.000-07:002010-09-24T08:54:02.030-07:00GROUP HUGI've been reading Lila's blog with updates on Stan today, and sweet Springrose wrote a beautiful comment of comfort in reply to yesterday's post. <a href="http://setupdates.blogspot.com/2010/09/busy-times.html">You must go read it</a>.<br /><br /><br />Springrose is making two magic quilts, one for a child and one for an adult. The child is a four year old girl in her ward who was diagnosed with stage 4 spinal cancer last night.<br /><br /><br />Let us all keep her family in our prayers. What devastating news.<br /><br /><br />She immediately started on the quilt and will finish it and deliver it to the hospital today.<br /><br /><br />I stand all amazed.<br /><br /><br />I love this magic quilt project and feel so grateful for all of you who have donated fabric, time, stories and support to it. I can feel the comfort growing and I hope someday it will bring comfort to many many many more. <br /><br /><br />MAHALO!<br /><br /><br />LY everyone!<br /><br /><br />GROUP HUG!<br /><br /><br /><br />P.S There are more stories on the way.The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-39467444676036248342010-09-04T19:15:00.000-07:002010-09-05T13:49:15.288-07:00Super Grover and Mighty Man Adam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJVbb1Bw1BbGVFm49LUT2I9dzf0N1puWQ69tnpJ1oo48K-lEkhgx-zytVo1CGwv9wvG5UQEtCdW0FdvglKEiao6LzHml4bIUWTixIW9h45aEV7EoRRJXzy8WXcfu3qNEHnqStGp74IrGl/s1600/lilas.jpg"><br /></a><br />Aloha my magic quilt peeps. I am so excited (and touched) today because <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2010/08/priceless.html">Stan and Lila</a>, the <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> recipients of the <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> magic quilt, sent fabric to Springrose to include in the second magic quilt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJVbb1Bw1BbGVFm49LUT2I9dzf0N1puWQ69tnpJ1oo48K-lEkhgx-zytVo1CGwv9wvG5UQEtCdW0FdvglKEiao6LzHml4bIUWTixIW9h45aEV7EoRRJXzy8WXcfu3qNEHnqStGp74IrGl/s1600/lilas.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJVbb1Bw1BbGVFm49LUT2I9dzf0N1puWQ69tnpJ1oo48K-lEkhgx-zytVo1CGwv9wvG5UQEtCdW0FdvglKEiao6LzHml4bIUWTixIW9h45aEV7EoRRJXzy8WXcfu3qNEHnqStGp74IrGl/s400/lilas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513527708278941906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Doesn't it just give you chicken skin?<br /><br />The blue fabric represents their four sons and the striped fabric is cut from one of Stan's shirts. Stan turned 6o years old last week. Read this <a href="http://setupdates.blogspot.com/2010/08/birthday-greetings.html">short and simple, but sweet</a> post about how Lila celebrated with him.<br /><br /><br />I'm also extremely excited (and extremely touched) by our next contribution. It's from Janna of <a href="http://www.mightymanadam.com/">Mighty Man Adam</a> and Susan, from <a href="http://susansscribble.blogspot.com/2010/08/mighty-man-adam.html">Susan's Scribble</a>. I met Susan through Melanie J. at the LDS Storymaker's Conference last May. We sat by each other at dinner and instantly connected because she's a darling, and, if I'm not mistaken, she is a soon-to-be-published-author. <br /><br /><br />Meet Adam, Susan's nephew:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpiphzLkseUVayq5dOzZCZgmYBR6g1EGXyML8BWoZvhHYstYQOGYKWqyBJFV0WWGcJxPTOE_pFjr5MbBLPVQ3f5FsCcwhCK3MgZvY-KS2kiXo8G-2-YdZmfF-juNINrylia0NAayu4k91/s1600/Adam's+ReAdmit_024Low.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpiphzLkseUVayq5dOzZCZgmYBR6g1EGXyML8BWoZvhHYstYQOGYKWqyBJFV0WWGcJxPTOE_pFjr5MbBLPVQ3f5FsCcwhCK3MgZvY-KS2kiXo8G-2-YdZmfF-juNINrylia0NAayu4k91/s400/Adam's+ReAdmit_024Low.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513247883713900882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Susan wrote a post about him entitled <a href="http://susansscribble.blogspot.com/2010/08/mighty-man-adam.html">Mighty Man Adam</a>. I asked her if I could share the story with my magic quilt peeps and she immediately said YES and then asked her sister-in-law, Janna about donating some fabric for our 2nd magic quilt. I received the following email from Janna yesterday:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm touched by what you are doing. It was these acts of kindness that really helped us not feel so alone. The fact that you are creating a gift with meaning is really something special. I'm excited to be apart of it. I told Adam that we had to send part of (one of the three) his blanket and I asked him to choose which one it would be. I told him we are going to send it to a lady who is going to use it to make a nice, warm blanket for sick kiddos or grown-ups. He is really excited to send it to you!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's some of the story. Adam was Dx'd with Leukemia in March 2008. I won't go in to much detail simply because Susan covered it very well. We were in treatment for 5 1/2 months, having received five rounds of chemotherapy. Because of the nature of his illness, Adam was not able to go home right after he received his chemo. He could not get shots that would help him regenerate white blood cells (other kids were able to do that and them go home within a few days) because his cancer was his white blood cells. Anyway, we were there for what seemed like forever. Finally, we were discharged for good in September 2008 and sent home with a follow-up plan. When we left, I knew we had not seen the last of the leukemia and he was most likely going to relapse. At first, I tried to dismiss it as paranoia, but the feeling never went away. So when he developed a fever with no other symptoms in June of 2009, I immediately took him to the doc for a CBC. They called me that night with a white blood cell count of 57,000. I knew he had relapsed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Between the first and second cycles of treatment, I took Adam to Target one day to find a blanket of his own. He had been bugging his older brother a lot by stealing his all the time. As we were walking through the bedding aisle, Adam pointed to the red fuzzy blanket and said, "Super Grover covers" (he was just barely two). I guess it looked like the cape that Super Grover wears and he liked that. So we bought it. When he relapsed and we were back in the hospital, I quickly learned that one blanket was not enough. He would throw up on it or get it messy when changing his diaper, etc. So I went back to target and bought two more red ones and a green one. Every time my husband and I would switch places, I would bring in the clean ones, and would take the dirty ones home when I left. During the second course of treatment, Adam was never without his "Super Grover covers". They went everywhere with him–to surgery, to the cafeteria, to the playroom... Next to myself, these blankets were his one consolation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I decided to send you a part of one as our contribution. Hopefully, it will be what you need. I am also including a picture of Adam with his "Super Grover covers" at the beginning of the second course of treatment. I thought this one was appropriate because it shows the blanket "in action", so to speak.<br /><br />Janna<br /><br /><br /></span>I am also including Susan's Story below. Mahalo Susan and Janna. And much love and aloha to Adam.<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">When my brother and sister-in-law brought Adam down to the farm for the first time, when he was tiny and brand new, I remember thinking what an adorable baby he was. He had a dimple and was so goodnatured. I wanted to hold him lots, and I did. As he grew he was still enchanting and darling. But then things changed. He wasn't so good natured anymore--he cried and whined and kept them up at night, and I think his mom wondered what had happened to her angel. Months passed and it got worse. And worse. And worse and worse. The weekend before their world was flipped upside down, my whole family was down at the farm. I can't remember much about the weekend. I don't even know why we were there. I only remember that Adam was miserable. His mom said he wouldn't walk, and he'd been that way for a few weeks. She or my brother had to carry him everywhere. He didn't want any of us to hold him, only her. And he was washed out, lethargic and running a low grade fever. Something was definitely wrong. His mom had been taking him to specialists for months, trying to figure this thing out, but no one could. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I think my sister-in-law decided she'd had enough, and she took matters into her own hands. Something had been nagging at her for so long, but she was feeling helpless, I think. So she turned to the internet. One by one she googled his symptoms (brilliant girl) and slowly her nagging turned to panic. Every search had one scenario in common. Leukemia. And then she knew. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">She calls my brother on the phone to tell him. Adam is flown by helicopter to the hospital. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I'm sitting at home, making dinner and the phone rings. It's brother Number Three. Usually he's so cheery when he calls and sings out one of his usual greetings like "Hey, Suzie Boozie." But this time he was solemn. He cuts right to the point. "They found out what's wrong with Adam. He has leukemia."<br /><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;"> </div><div style="font-style: italic;">A big gasp and then "No," escapes my lungs. And then I'm crying because I know. I know what's coming. Fear. Fear like they've never experienced. This is not the first time I've seen cancer first hand. The last time, it took my brother in law who wasn't yet thirty, leaving my sister in law widowed with three kids. Number 3 tells me that Brother Number 1 met them at the hospital (I've never been so glad they live kind of close) and he said they were not doing well. I can picture them crumbling, terrified. I'll be honest--I wonder what they'll do if Adam doesn't make it, and then I shove that thought out of my head. I can't even think it. I know how much they love him, because I'm a mom, and I can't stand to even think what that would be like for them. I can't stand to think of my brother and his wife sobbing in that hospital while I stand there and cook for my three healthy kids. And I'm too far away to help them. And I hope they know how much I love them. It's not fair. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I gather my kids and my husband and I tell them the news. My kids prayed everyday for their cousin-probably five times a day. When we visited Adam a few months back my second son is asked to give the blessing on the food. He's only six so his prayers are pretty much the same every time. He has a list he's ticking off in his head. Please help Dad to graduate. Help mom to get her book published. Help us to be a forever family. And in this case, please bless the food. He opens his mouth to say one last thing and I hold my breath. Please don't let Adam die. My son doesn't even blink. He doesn't realize he just said that in front of Adam and his family. My eyes fly open and flash to my sister in law. Her eyes are glistening and she thanks Cole. She is touched. I exhale.</div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Back to the story. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Adam went through chemo. His older brother was tested as a bone marrow donor, and we all prayed he would be a match since he had the best chance. He wasn't a match. We all volunteered to be tested and my sister in law said we could, but the chances of any of us being a match were very slim. They move into the Ronald McDonald house next to the hospital (with a four year old in tow) for six months, switching off to be with Adam every couple of days. Can you even imagine what it would be like to not leave the hospital for more than a handful of days in that entire time? But then it's finally over and they return home. But the fear doesn't leave and less than a year later, the leukemia returns. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I believe I was making dinner again when I got that call. My mom called that time. She was steady as always, not crying, because she almost never cries in public. All her crying is done in private. But not me. I burst into tears. This time all my kids are out riding bikes in the neighborhood, except for my baby who's somewhere near my feet. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">We get off the phone and I'm wondering why I don't feel a crazy amount of panic. Leukemia returning for the second time is a terrible scenario. I squat down and my head falls to my hands. Addy crawls into my lap and I hug her, and then I pray long and hard and fervently. I'm comforted knowing the rest of my family has to be on their knees at that same moment. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I go back to finish dinner and somewhere between serving and eating, I get the craziest good feeling inside. He's going to be okay! And not just okay. He's going to live. He's going to make it! I just knew it. Somehow this kid was going to beat this thing. So I call my sis-in-law and I say, "I hope this doesn't make you mad (you know, since I don't like to tell people I just got revelation for them. I don't make a practice of that kind of thing and can't stand it when other people do that to me) but I have this really good feeling that he's going to be okay." I don't know what I thought--that maybe she would collapse with relief, as if my words were gospel truth. But that's not what happened. I could hear her choking up and she says, "Well, I wish I had that feeling but I don't. Right now I'm just really, really mad at Heavenly Father." And can you blame her? Not only was this child sick and let's face it, dying, but they had also recently found out that their oldest son had Aspergers, a form of high functioning Autism. I can only imagine how picked on she was feeling. I mean that--I could only imagine. I couldn't possibly begin to understand. But I knew the Savior could, and I was praying she'd let Him help her.</div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Adam starts chemo and they are back at the routine. The doctor has told my brother and sis-in-law that there is no possibility that they could be matches for Adam for the bone marrow transplant he needs to have, but on a whim they decide to be tested anyway. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Here's the Miracle.</div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">His mom is a 100% perfect match in every single way. I can't get into all the ways that this is just complete and total craziness, but it is. The doctor said is was higher odds than winning the Super ball lottery. Maybe they can comment below and explain the coolness of it because I don't think I can get you to grasp just what a miracle that is. Basically, this had to have been worked out generations ago, for my brother and the girl he was going to marry someday to have just the right genetics that she would be this match. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">A light bulb goes off in my brain, and I know that that feeling I had was because of this. It was Heavenly Father showing us that his hand is in everything, and over everyone. How can I ever question that He is there? He is watching. He loves us so much and cares for us so much. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Just minutes ago, I found out that Adam got his one year bone marrow aspiration results back, and guess what? His bone marrow is 100% donor cells and 0% cancer. One year was the time limit the doctor gave for him to be considered cured. I'm sure Brother and Sister-in-law are afraid to let the word 'cured' squeak out of their lips lest they jinx him, and I don't blame them. But I'm hoping you'll join with me the next time you kneel down to pray and just send Him a little thank you for this blessing. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">I didn't tell you this to make you think that I believe my family deserves some special miracle when others haven't received such a blessing. We are just normal people who make mistakes, just like everyone else. People die from cancer, heart disease, car accidents and thousands of other things every single day. I'm also aware that some trials are worse than death. And that some just plain hurt. Dealing with addictions of any kind, or not being able to get pregnant when you so desperately want a baby, or getting pregnant but then losing that baby or a thousand other ways that our hearts ache for our plans unraveled. I'm very aware of that, and I ache for my friends and family when these things happen. We've had some of our own pains. I only shared this with you because sometimes it's hard to see past all the hurt and sorrow and trials and exhaustion that can accompany this trial we call Life. And when we feel our lowest I hope we can all remember that He is there. He has a plan. Sometimes His plan intertwines with our own wishes, and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes someone else can stick their foot out and trip up that plan, and wreck something that was supposed to be beautiful and perfect. But sometimes. Sometimes, He gives us a little glimmer of His power and His love and we are reminded that there is more to all of this than what we can see right now.</div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">It may not feel like it sometimes, but God really is over All. </div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic;">Adam, you are a Mighty, Mighty Man. And you will forever be my hero.</div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-55234129317016795572010-08-28T21:35:00.000-07:002010-08-28T21:52:41.990-07:00Magic and AlohaI'm excited to announce another contribution to our 2nd magic quilt. This one is from the soon-to-be author, <a href="http://donaldjcarey.com/">Donald J. Cary</a> whose first book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bumpy Landings</span> is coming out in January. Don grew up in Laie, Hawaii (WOOHOO)! He should be one of my homies from the hood but I didn't really know him in Hawaii, I only knew <span style="font-style: italic;">of</span> him. Now, thanks to blogging, I'm proud to call him a friend.<br /><br />MUCH MAHALO Don, for sharing.<br /><br />...........................................................................................<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Oqova6b-N7w-CZs09-v1LEnG9KL-lszjspIV7EBl0uvTiuD4p-vL8-0ASb9pQkDn-Z-DCUEDGu6n-B5fp5WbYcfb1K_yasRBTOy_Tim4jW6Md4oZ324BmQoI7hxalGvHQcJhBZXG3eEf/s1600/Magic+Shirt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Oqova6b-N7w-CZs09-v1LEnG9KL-lszjspIV7EBl0uvTiuD4p-vL8-0ASb9pQkDn-Z-DCUEDGu6n-B5fp5WbYcfb1K_yasRBTOy_Tim4jW6Md4oZ324BmQoI7hxalGvHQcJhBZXG3eEf/s400/Magic+Shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510686184664717090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Given the circumstances, a trip to Hawaii seemed like a very selfish move. My wife was living half a continent away so she could get medical treatment, and my two young girls were finishing their last year of school in Utah before we were to sell the house and move away from our vital support network of family and friends.<br /><br />Yet given the circumstances, a touch of selfishness was just what I needed. And twentieth high school reunions only come once in a lifetime. So with assurances from both heaven and earth that my loved ones would be well taken care of in my absence, I boarded a plane for Honolulu.<br /><br />Near the top of my list was the task to find an Aloha shirt or two – a classy one like the kind I’d grown up with. After searching high and low, I found two.<br /><br />My contribution to the Magic Quilt is one of them.<br /><br />The months that followed this short, personal vacation were by far the toughest of my life. With any luck the future won’t hold any even remotely that hard.<br /><br />My wife was sick, and had been for years. We didn’t know what was wrong, other than she had a list of symptoms as long as all of our arms, and the doctors couldn’t find anything in her battery of tests. Headaches, tremors, neuropathy, and brain fog joined fatigue, sensitivity to everyday chemicals, and drastic, unexplained weight loss. The best we could do was find costly, time-consuming band-aids that would slow the symptoms, but solid answers were few and far between.<br /><br />My role in this adventure was to be Superman. Hold down a job, take care of two small children, help my wife find answers, and keep the family afloat. The only way I could see to do this was to sell our dream home, pay off our six-digit medical debt, and move our family to a Texas where my wife had found some promising treatments.<br /><br />I wore this shirt as I packed the house, loaded the moving truck, and drove to Texas. I wore it to hundreds of appointments with dozens of different doctors. I wore it while trying desperately to provide two little girls a normal life amidst utterly insane circumstances. I wore it to writing conferences where I tried to find a little bit of normal for myself.<br /><br />I wore it to the hospital where my wife lay dying of malnutrition, despite bottle after bottle of nutrients being pumped into her veins. I wore this shirt as I pleaded with heaven to spare her life – if not for me, then for our children.<br /><br />And I wore it when those prayers were answered.<br /><br />I wore it to the doctor who figured out why my wife couldn’t digest her food, and found the one enzyme that would work for her. I wore it to the doctor who diagnosed our whole family as having Lyme disease.<br /><br />I wore it as I watched my wife gain dozens of pounds. I wore it as I helped her move home, and later join us on our first family vacation in years.<br /><br />I wore it until the edges tattered and the seams ripped out and I couldn’t wear it any more.<br /><br />I wore it until only the magic was left. The magic, and the Aloha.<br /><br />And now I’m sending it to you, so the magic can help someone else.<br /><br />God bless you.<br /><br />Don Carey</span>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-88057516286797394512010-08-27T10:56:00.000-07:002010-08-27T11:02:20.103-07:00The Magic Wand<div>I posted this on my <a href="http://crashtestdummydiaries.blogspot.com">Crash Test Dummy</a> blog last week and I wanted to re-post it here for my Magic Quilt supporters. <br /><br />I also wanted to post a link to a powerful story From <span style="font-style: italic;">Susan Scribble</span>. She said we could include it in our Magic Quilt book and she's going to send fabric. YAY! I will post the story in full as soon as I get photos of the fabric. If you want a sneak peak click on the following link: <a href="http://susansscribble.blogspot.com/2010/08/mighty-man-adam.html">Mighty Man Adam<br /></a><br /><br />Okay, on the my re-post:<br /> ................................................................................<br /><br />Last Sunday I laid in the room in the house where my great grandmother Constance was born over 100 years ago. I read the beautiful history her daughter, my grandmother, wrote about her and her family and I got choked up. These are my people, I thought.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>I have people.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Constance is one of my people. She has a mysteriously tragic story, which I will tell sometime. She did something that caused deep shame to her family and had an indelible effect on her posterity. But she is mine. I come from her. And I am honored to have her as my people.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>I wish I could hug her right now and tell her that all love is a blessing, even if it's short lived. And that no love is wasted, even if it's ill-timed.<br /><br /><br />I hope she saw it that way when she was alive, but I'll never know.<br /><br /><br />This post is not about my great grandmother. This post is about April from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Springrose Journals</span>, who is making the 2nd magic quilt. She needs our help.<br /><br /><br />Springrose didn't do anything shameful, but I wish I could hug her too and tell her that all love is a blessing, even if it's short lived. And that no love is wasted, even if it's ill-timed.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Springrose just lost a baby. It's the second pregnancy that has ended in a miscarriage in the past year and a half. I was hoping the magic quilt would miraculously keep her baby growing, but it was not to be. So now she needs our magic more than ever. She needs more fabric to finish the quilt because she is anxious to work and get her mind off her grief. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Stan and Lila (the recipients of the first magic quilt) are sending her fabric as we speak. My MIL is donating fabric as well, and I brought home a quilted shower curtain from my aunt and pillow cases from my grandmother.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Please, if you have a story of healing or faith or inspiration or comfort or joy, (and who doesn't) and you have a piece of fabric which either represents that story or which you actually wore or used, please send it to April so she can make some magic and experience comfort from you.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Please, please, pretty please. Dummies with stone cold hearts don't usually beg but here I am on hands and knees, because not only is one of our friends in need of a little magic, but there is a whole world in need of a little magic.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Let's be the wand.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Here's a poignant comment on my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Magic Quilt</span> blog from Aunt Claudia:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Isn't this what God does with our lives? Takes all the scraps in our journey and sews them together with strength, love and healing.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Did I already say let's be the wand?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I know my great grandmother Constance would give Springrose a hug too. There was no written record of her life, but at her funeral her bishop said, "Whenever I had to call upon the Relief Society to aid me in giving service to those in need of help, Sister Connie was always the first one to come forth." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>See why I'm so honored to have her as my people?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In her scrapbook two words, "my favorite" were written next to this poem: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The Holy Supper is kept, indeed</div><div>In whatso we share with another's need;</div><div>Not what we give, but what we share,--</div><div>For the gift without the giver is bare; </div><div>Who gives himself with his alms feeds three,</div><div>Himself, his hungering neighbor and me. </div><div><br /></div><div>(From The Vision of Sir Launfal). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to send fabric, email me for the address. MAHALO!</div>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-72950301608410948752010-08-03T20:57:00.000-07:002010-08-04T00:03:43.101-07:00Priceless!Today was a very humbling day for me because I got to meet the first recipient of the magic quilt, Stan Tolman and his wife, Lila.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo87G_jE9UAojkHGziiWdrrp0_ZH38L-4ymg5JXBOB6fythQuGwKKkotFiaLhsTxh6aVOw5b-YYgM_obDmfjZz0FkloVj-ujcj9Ldv9s509D2VFOo6Q1jBpTCQb7yMoA5vDqH2MdR7W98/s1600/camp+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379989252408178" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 277px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo87G_jE9UAojkHGziiWdrrp0_ZH38L-4ymg5JXBOB6fythQuGwKKkotFiaLhsTxh6aVOw5b-YYgM_obDmfjZz0FkloVj-ujcj9Ldv9s509D2VFOo6Q1jBpTCQb7yMoA5vDqH2MdR7W98/s400/camp+028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was amazing. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was already verklempt before I met them because I had read their latest blog update and seen this photo of Stan with his grand kids snuggled up in the magic quilt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVkprA02NkGyi4OL_Y9Hi3uXzoPfQ3dyaIamjGaooIgMzlizaGnlmMoxX2PbVVIfVLhH8bbxfl5u7mU57oimWJJWGeKE2rwS4MAmrdUYK-iH1R4ZnW_ENFKDH5O7xbZ4y1_nU-Zqovc3h/s1600/Stan+and+the+magic+quilt.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379960878810002" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVkprA02NkGyi4OL_Y9Hi3uXzoPfQ3dyaIamjGaooIgMzlizaGnlmMoxX2PbVVIfVLhH8bbxfl5u7mU57oimWJJWGeKE2rwS4MAmrdUYK-iH1R4ZnW_ENFKDH5O7xbZ4y1_nU-Zqovc3h/s400/Stan+and+the+magic+quilt.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Priceless!<br /><br />That's how I would describe the sensation--the charge of emotion that blew through me. Let's just say my eyes started sweating at the sight of it.<br /><br />After all of our dreaming and planning and sharing and sewing . . . and now the quilt is REAL. It's REALLY REAL. And it's traveling around doing what it was made to do, spreading love and bringing comfort to those in need.<br /><br />Does anyone else feel like a group hug is in order?<br /><br />Stan has gall bladder cancer. It's rare. And it's hard to treat. In fact, none of the treatments have worked and Stan and his family have decided to stop with the <span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1279070410_3">medical procedures</span> and enjoy life. After they decided to quit treatment they began traveling across the country to visit their family. They see it not as the end, but as a new beginning.<br /><br />SNIFF!<br /><br />So Stan received the magic quilt the night before they embarked on their final journey together, and he has been taking it with him and sharing it's message. Lila says on her blog:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I would like everyone who was involved in this magic to know how much it has touched our lives and the lives of all of those who love Stan.</span></span><br /><br /><br />GET THIS! After stopping in Nauvoo and Mt. Rushmore, they were driving past Martin's Cove on Friday morning and decided to stop. Lila says:<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />It was too early for the buildings to be open so we started the two-mile walk to the cove. We took it slow and stopped at the benches to admire the view and rest. Stan was getting very tired but we could see a little cabin ahead and pushed on. The cabin was manned by 3 senior missionaries. Stan sat on the bench and asked them if this was the cove. When they said that it was a mile farther up the trail you could see the pain on his face because he wanted so much to see the cove, but he knew he could go no father. I explained to the missionaries his condition and his desire. One of the sisters went into the cabin. She used a walk-e-talkie to ask them to send a rover up to pick up Stan. A wonderful missionary drove us up to the cove. At the cove he explained what happened there and told us we could take all the time we wanted. The spirit was so strong as we held onto each other and looked at the spot where so many had given so much. I couldn’t stop crying. Their faith was so strong and even though their trials were great, they were never alone. As we drove back down I looked out across the mountains and saw a handcart company coming in. It was about a mile long of youth and leaders experiencing their own faith promoting experiences. </span></span><br /><br />Okay that mile-long handcart company having their own faith promoting experiences . . . that was ME and MY stake! Lila saw MY handcart company, and she was right, there were several faith promoting experiences going on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIUpyBWSPYIzt2TMSKC5ShB72DW6biKEYYCLcZ_t9v57P3FVthuVF5QeW2kLTcxKDLvbr0O8qRJMupgkYi-ACfQgOsuzSAfvhXynD1WIwIVZ3DQOc5UQXYuztsv-MwQO_OPQPbUePIe7C/s1600/Trek+2010+210.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIUpyBWSPYIzt2TMSKC5ShB72DW6biKEYYCLcZ_t9v57P3FVthuVF5QeW2kLTcxKDLvbr0O8qRJMupgkYi-ACfQgOsuzSAfvhXynD1WIwIVZ3DQOc5UQXYuztsv-MwQO_OPQPbUePIe7C/s400/Trek+2010+210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501436956335151890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr73tc11RNZXk-UyUoeR4a7PhHm56g0BfHGM-CWDM6e0LxezjRHrcywpfoTiun7gPcCp5ymonMg9yGPPm_8sVo3-NRVZz280euhYVY939mP_MjeOu2yFQ52ZFxEzVgbZJqEMb0INip32ZS/s1600/Trek+2010+164.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr73tc11RNZXk-UyUoeR4a7PhHm56g0BfHGM-CWDM6e0LxezjRHrcywpfoTiun7gPcCp5ymonMg9yGPPm_8sVo3-NRVZz280euhYVY939mP_MjeOu2yFQ52ZFxEzVgbZJqEMb0INip32ZS/s400/Trek+2010+164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501436947483646194" border="0" /></a><br />How crazy cool is that?<br /><br />Lila goes on to say:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Friday night we were in the arms of our sweet little grandchildren. Stan wanted them all to see the 'magic quilt'. As I told them the story of the quilt I could see Stan lovingly rub his hand over the quilt. This is when I knew how much the quilt meant to him.<br /><br /><br /></span></span>This alone makes it worth all the effort, but I know this is just the beginning. I can feel the momentum. I know that the more people the magic quilt touches and comforts the more power and comfort it will be able to bring to those who need it.<br /><br /><br />You get me?<br /><br /><br />So today, not only did I get to meet Stan and Lila . . .<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktf3_b7E18jiA9FbEpBCQsjXGePNdK1_GpHASj8XzjAzDozYdi6HVO9ImvelbbHgUGGy7zqFRNSBtLSXniknI73Hd9Pu7Kne3GWRaOC4me4HHXelkulbwRTfESNb-FZn0ufQrtANZ3W1B/s1600/camp+027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktf3_b7E18jiA9FbEpBCQsjXGePNdK1_GpHASj8XzjAzDozYdi6HVO9ImvelbbHgUGGy7zqFRNSBtLSXniknI73Hd9Pu7Kne3GWRaOC4me4HHXelkulbwRTfESNb-FZn0ufQrtANZ3W1B/s400/camp+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501420086022954754" border="0" /></a><br />I also got to meet two of their sons, one daughter-in-law, and three of their grand kids.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVkprA02NkGyi4OL_Y9Hi3uXzoPfQ3dyaIamjGaooIgMzlizaGnlmMoxX2PbVVIfVLhH8bbxfl5u7mU57oimWJJWGeKE2rwS4MAmrdUYK-iH1R4ZnW_ENFKDH5O7xbZ4y1_nU-Zqovc3h/s1600/Stan+and+the+magic+quilt.JPG"><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2c7aQepO1xWAb4ejNaD_TPaGKMDra8Whu5a29abIk5nkI9VkkfzIGzdYSPeh5YHzzvKZSVSo4g9nTa6h_Ki_WUk4Z8_SAjodhx-G_c1jd7-P-xQeB1_PRa-WiHABDaiKOjcKktBEB2hP/s1600/camp+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379979688979746" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 276px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2c7aQepO1xWAb4ejNaD_TPaGKMDra8Whu5a29abIk5nkI9VkkfzIGzdYSPeh5YHzzvKZSVSo4g9nTa6h_Ki_WUk4Z8_SAjodhx-G_c1jd7-P-xQeB1_PRa-WiHABDaiKOjcKktBEB2hP/s400/camp+007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnneMmUQjtPQk3wF3eTqfucpS5XhOm32iS1DKReakcPl-K8PYGS9JIX09QHwqGd_LQX3X2ha-MSJZ6L2prfeKcfh1gWdKa3Fc3rOYW26W1MAbmTwG_OvvnExjApm_OKmZySKV-To5fuNh/s1600/camp+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501379972840611778" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnneMmUQjtPQk3wF3eTqfucpS5XhOm32iS1DKReakcPl-K8PYGS9JIX09QHwqGd_LQX3X2ha-MSJZ6L2prfeKcfh1gWdKa3Fc3rOYW26W1MAbmTwG_OvvnExjApm_OKmZySKV-To5fuNh/s400/camp+015.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Did I already say it was amazing? Because it WAS amazing.<br /><br />First of all, they are all gorgeous--the whole lot of them. Seriously, the look good in their photos, but double that in real life. Stan is so dang handsome. And Lila is muy bonita. (Their offspring were kinda easy on the eyes as well.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Second of all, they are shiny people. As Lenny Kravitz would say, their eyes could light the world on fire.</div><div><br /></div>We talked for a while and got acquainted and I told them how the magic quilt got started and told them about some of the quilt blocks and about Kritta finally being able to get pregnant after she started the quilt and how she felt the quilt really was magic because it got her through her high risk pregnancy safe and sound.<br /><br />But I forgot to tell him why I also gave him a Mozart CD along with the quilt. I haven't told you guys that yet either. I promise to tell that story soon.<br /><br />Lila told me that once they accepted Stan's condition she began praying that he wouldn't have to suffer. She prayed it over and over, but then one day she received an answer in the form of a voice in her head saying in effect, "why would want to take these learning lessons away from him?"<br /><br />That made me cry because, darnit, isn't it just the truth? Since I've been playing pioneer woman as of late, I've been thinking a lot about the lessons that come from our struggles.<br /><br />One of my favorite parts of the trek was the hardest part of the trek--the woman's pull, where the women had to push/pull their handcarts up a steep, sandy hill without any help from the men. It was super tough, but I felt close to the other four girls in my handcart family in a way you only feel close to people you go through struggles with. I loved them. Whole heartedly.<br /><br />And isn't love all you really need?<br /><br />Love is the magic.<br /><br />While we were pulling our handcarts up the hill, the men had to stand in silence, lined up along the trail with their hats over their hearts. My husband said later how much he wanted to step in and push our handcart, but he wasn't allowed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzKvxBjLLctBu8st5zFh3BRa7b6oRbMNwcshnB6DLgKB3ZBbcw0qCJUKwS5TSYn5ZSNOWeZGLWK0g8-ukBa3eAkv9ParlTPLa2QXfn-A3U0ILfO7iDJ_dZ02-Wd3c02TTcv0Ouje5yVh/s1600/Trek+2010+745.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzKvxBjLLctBu8st5zFh3BRa7b6oRbMNwcshnB6DLgKB3ZBbcw0qCJUKwS5TSYn5ZSNOWeZGLWK0g8-ukBa3eAkv9ParlTPLa2QXfn-A3U0ILfO7iDJ_dZ02-Wd3c02TTcv0Ouje5yVh/s400/Trek+2010+745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501437524831768370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-yD7pzmnO_4a2hhNtGdFf8-elK2UBgX2tiur67YdjL2hxwwOjmJcpMBykY2li_Vv0Owjn_dFhfJkkSJySBaTr2lL_OjYAZJB6Zkh0OO8H4R9mp-06EjSV_haVfc89NB_dqs4GILAZKhO/s1600/Trek+2010+505.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-yD7pzmnO_4a2hhNtGdFf8-elK2UBgX2tiur67YdjL2hxwwOjmJcpMBykY2li_Vv0Owjn_dFhfJkkSJySBaTr2lL_OjYAZJB6Zkh0OO8H4R9mp-06EjSV_haVfc89NB_dqs4GILAZKhO/s400/Trek+2010+505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501437515531826466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I guess sometimes we just have to stand by and watch those we love receive their lessons.<br /><br />But you know what? When I started up the hill and saw all the men standing in silence on either side of the trail I just knew I could do it. Their energy! It was powerful! To me they represented all those who have passed on before us, who are silently cheering us on along the sidelines. Wanting us to make it to the top of our own challenges.<br /><br />I wish I had told Stan about the day my twins were born. About how I was panicking because one of the twins had dropped into the birth canal way too soon, at only 29 weeks. My husband laid his hands on me and gave me a blessing and I was instantly calm.<br /><br />"It's okay," I told him. "They aren't going to be born today."<br /><br />But I had mistaken my instant peace for the answer I <span style="font-style: italic;">wanted</span> to hear. While I didn't get what I wanted, and what I <span style="font-style: italic;">thought</span> was best at the time, I got something better. I got a glimpse into the world beyond and while I was being rushed into an emergency c-section I could see that the room was completely full of angels, excited and cheering me on, so to speak. Two of them, a man and a woman, were physically touching me and helping me through each contraction.<br /><br />I know there will be a room full of angels waiting to greet Stan when he takes his journey back. I feel so sad that he has to leave early, and yet there is a little tiny part of me that is excited for him. I told him so when I hugged him goodbye and wished him aloha oe. I didn't mean to tell him, it just slipped right out of my mouth. I hope it didn't make him feel bad.<br /><br />And then I asked him to please say hello to my dad for me when he gets there. And to tell him I miss him. I didn't mean to say that either, but Stan nodded and said he would.<br /><br />And then we hugged aloha oe again.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-9634367568912235292010-07-28T21:36:00.000-07:002014-03-02T20:34:52.429-08:00Where in the world is the Magic Quilt?The Magic Quilt is finally in the hands of the first recipient, Stan (thanks to Amanda, who nominated him.)<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWb2KVmbL1_AmZapNNUOD2FpY7S6fstBRicJYOOoQeDkO1FQU47C5er2rUmmvgAGpLyw8-ilSg5lkjv9s6Eqfuh9ML73kEMC3o6Qa9AdIHBb2KkdMEGaQ1ypcxfGDfEV1PWe6JjTabvke/s1600/DSCN0530.JPG5228" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWb2KVmbL1_AmZapNNUOD2FpY7S6fstBRicJYOOoQeDkO1FQU47C5er2rUmmvgAGpLyw8-ilSg5lkjv9s6Eqfuh9ML73kEMC3o6Qa9AdIHBb2KkdMEGaQ1ypcxfGDfEV1PWe6JjTabvke/s400/DSCN0530.JPG5228" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498372275278962690" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 302px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Here they are being granted our quilt full of . . . well, full of us. In a way that quilt is our way of wrapping our arms around another human being who is suffering. May he and Lila feel comfort, and love, and peace, every time they look at it. I know it will bring them good luck<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DGCgCED_sGfFYNDIN9dUw19xEPnvPji4xomCnPAHaiXIWToKuxfQc-d58pP14GEwCjC6JyMgYwVsXIUKBysN3MndTW1UjV0KjgKDYvInbBxp8koTguxMgi5wKQ-pZeoj3Pmq16gypOJn/s1600/DSCN0527.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DGCgCED_sGfFYNDIN9dUw19xEPnvPji4xomCnPAHaiXIWToKuxfQc-d58pP14GEwCjC6JyMgYwVsXIUKBysN3MndTW1UjV0KjgKDYvInbBxp8koTguxMgi5wKQ-pZeoj3Pmq16gypOJn/s400/DSCN0527.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498372259014120546" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Here is a picture of Amanda with her sister-in-laws, Emily and Laura (my neighbor in Hawaii, who was visiting her home in Maryland).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's what Amanda wrote about the night she brought the quilt to Stan:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Stan had been briefed of the magic quilt she did not tell him we were coming over to deliver it today so he was surprised to see us coming through the door. I explained the premise of the magic quilt and your vision for spreading hope, love and inspiration. Stan, in his quiet, stoic manner just listened and smiled. I presented the quilt to him and he said, "thank you" with some slightly sweaty eyes. Lila and I were close to waterworks, sniffling and wiping away our tears. Lila hesitated to be in the picture but I explained that she was a part of this and without her the quilt would not be in Stan's hands. Brian Blum </span>(Swirl's hub)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> was able to impart some Bishopy comments about a talk President Monson gave at last conference on eternal families and encouraged them to read it. We had a lovely discussion about eternal families and the difficulty of hearing and accepting what comes along with the words "terminal cancer" but that there are blessings in everything and knowing that an earthly death does not separate us forever but brings such comfort during these times. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Stan has chosen to stop all treatment, at this time, due to the rare cancer he has there is little hope that he will benefit from further treatment. Stan and his lovely wife will spend the next three weeks driving cross-country to visit family and enjoying special moments with one another. These two have a magic of their own, but I am hopeful the magic quilt will add a little something extra.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this. I can't think of anything else that I could have done to help Stan and Lila, even though my heart ached for a chance to show them how much I love and care for them. This quilt has meaning beyond words and the magic is not limited to the person possessing it.<br /><br />Lots of love,<br />Amanda</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">Thank you Amanda. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-66537657997027131432010-07-18T17:29:00.000-07:002010-07-18T20:31:28.842-07:00Jack Johnson give-oh-give-awayLast month I took my Laurels to the singles ward. They didn't love looking that far forward, but I loved looking that far back. Young people are so darn fresh and optimistic. In sacrament meeting the speaker quoted from Elder Uchtdorf's last conference talk, <span style="font-style: italic;">You Are My Hands</span> where he referenced a statue of Christ which was severely damaged during a World War II bombing. Most of the statue has been restored, but the hands remain missing so the people of the city added on the base of the statue these words: “You are my hands.”<br /><br />The speaker quoted Uchtdorf saying, "When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched; reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love."<br /><br />In Relief Society the teacher drew a hand on the chalkboard and explained that the hand is only as good as it's working fingers, and then she said that <span style="font-style: italic;">we</span> are all the fingers on the hands of the Lord and as we work <span style="font-style: italic;">together</span> we can reach out to heal, comfort, bless and love.<br /><br />Ain't that just the truth. Especially when it comes to quilting. Many hands make many quilts.<br /><br />And many quilts make many magic.<br /><br />Or something like that.<br /><br />You get my drift.<br /><br /><br />Soooooo, the first magic quilt is on the road. WOOHOO!<br /><br />In other words, it's traveling, which is exactly what magic quilts do. The more they travel, the more magic they generate.<br /><br />First it went to April from <a href="http://springrosejournals.blogspot.com/">Springrose Journals</a>, who is making the next magic quilt, and now it's on it's way to our first official recipient, Stan in Washington D.C.<br /><br /><br />Photographic evidence coming soon.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://kritta22.blogspot.com/">Kritta</a>, who made the 1st quilt, has enough leftover fabric to make a 2nd magic quilt. Springrose will make a 3rd magic quilt and, I, the Crash Test Dummy, am making a magic t-shirt quilt.<br /><br /><br />But I need more fabric and t-shirts nd inspirational stories to keep healing the world, which is why I'm having a Jack Johnson give-away. (I'm not actually giving Jack Johnson away, just two tickets to his concert in Salt Lake City on August 13th.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbQu_KDi4Q4sHlbUfJP3NmeHYtvXVak-D9DGYM3OgRPH_fOYn_yZ-5HcW6MlYQoBcjffwxuWn2RPxPtR381lkqEMTb-cDhgvZkZq-wSTLIqgy-dIehZFpRDAOuIuiJycnhfHYM2emLD0W/s1600/magic+quilt+022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbQu_KDi4Q4sHlbUfJP3NmeHYtvXVak-D9DGYM3OgRPH_fOYn_yZ-5HcW6MlYQoBcjffwxuWn2RPxPtR381lkqEMTb-cDhgvZkZq-wSTLIqgy-dIehZFpRDAOuIuiJycnhfHYM2emLD0W/s400/magic+quilt+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494800914649534210" border="0" /></a><br />I chose Jack Johnson because everyone knows he's my favorite Hawaii surf-dude-turned-rock-star from Kahuku high school.<br /><br />Plus I have photographic evidence of him with his arm around me.<br /><br />Have I ever showed you that picture?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBHWHyxTcohIUwOwrs6sPhHlMZfNKkLaTbkGeWeMgjVyanMKXl5eZGbEOgHvZqZrX_l-IaV6eT9dIOgOKszmUTfBhBz6f2Ia0o5HbMTbh-ci3d5BtO4QAAilGpyFyK69760W8KytbxRfb/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBHWHyxTcohIUwOwrs6sPhHlMZfNKkLaTbkGeWeMgjVyanMKXl5eZGbEOgHvZqZrX_l-IaV6eT9dIOgOKszmUTfBhBz6f2Ia0o5HbMTbh-ci3d5BtO4QAAilGpyFyK69760W8KytbxRfb/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495446552450608706" border="0" /></a>Oh yeah, we're tight.<br /><br /><br />I also chose Jack Johnson because he is big on reducing, reusing and recycling. I'm not that good at reducing, but reusing and recycling fabric for healing quilts is right up my alley.<br /><br />So here's how to enter the give-away:<br /><br />Put the magic quilt button on your sidebar and you get <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">one</span> </span>entry.<br /><br />Mention the magic quilt project and Jack Johnson give-away in a post and you get <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">one</span></span> entry.<br /><br />Become a follower,<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> <span style="font-size:180%;">one</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span>entry.<br /><br />Contribute fabric or a signed t-shirt for the next quilts and get <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">three</span></span> entries.<br /><br />Contribute an inspirational story and get <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">three</span></span> entries.<br /><br />Make sure you post a comment letting me know which of these things you've done. I will check up on you. Don't think I won't.<br /><br />Deadline for the give-away is <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:180%;" >July 31st</span>. All entries will be placed in a hat and the winner will be drawn and announced on <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">August</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> 1st.</span></span></span><br /><br /><br />If you send a t-shirt, please sign your name in permanent marker somewhere near the middle. Also, please chose a t-shirt that you've worn and that represents you somehow.<br /><br /><br />All inspirational stories will be published here on The Magic Quilt blog and will also be eligible to be published in the first Sisterhood of the Magic Traveling Quilt book.<br /><br /><br />Fabric donations are more meaningful if they are meaningful. You get me? In other words, if the fabric somehow represents you or your story. For instance I recently bought swatches of bright Hawaiian fabric from Walmart and sent them to Springrose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwauF8Hr7nDa9HHqF2rU62reqd5TWmDoL7YqTi5a2btutqGlcnXEoPoeKLpIZGz-652pHSoNaVN_zB8zwn1Hzhy9iVnUMml3JfYwS-_0f-j7TUgaRQmgvV8klCHTK9gkTJV9UL6chd9fhF/s1600/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+013.JPG4644"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwauF8Hr7nDa9HHqF2rU62reqd5TWmDoL7YqTi5a2btutqGlcnXEoPoeKLpIZGz-652pHSoNaVN_zB8zwn1Hzhy9iVnUMml3JfYwS-_0f-j7TUgaRQmgvV8klCHTK9gkTJV9UL6chd9fhF/s400/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+013.JPG4644" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475286516315973330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtBXipeJW7h5hKjyKWGJI4D5fxTc9YfgfPL0tEEXPncyNMlU8lqqiRwgzMNF4KGQgpIHyKDzRepCiYs_hlTaF7KY_OBgbYY-DHNCySGMiN2prLxsOcclipmbgTK62qwu_6RlzkkxJ9Lte/s1600/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+007.JPG4644"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtBXipeJW7h5hKjyKWGJI4D5fxTc9YfgfPL0tEEXPncyNMlU8lqqiRwgzMNF4KGQgpIHyKDzRepCiYs_hlTaF7KY_OBgbYY-DHNCySGMiN2prLxsOcclipmbgTK62qwu_6RlzkkxJ9Lte/s400/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+007.JPG4644" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475286501637361282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVdpgWTqapJ0EwC_rkHpY1UCtjEF0Qoz7CKVGaPHx-sS1KESHReT_Bfn8JYcSL0ghNxWAJjRXoQj-gDz6TlPlq-Q3VxI1UmYyqU3w68NC2cmj1Uya2fdFl1OTvlBqQ5jFiwWE7_yQ2zKt/s1600/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+009.JPG4644"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVdpgWTqapJ0EwC_rkHpY1UCtjEF0Qoz7CKVGaPHx-sS1KESHReT_Bfn8JYcSL0ghNxWAJjRXoQj-gDz6TlPlq-Q3VxI1UmYyqU3w68NC2cmj1Uya2fdFl1OTvlBqQ5jFiwWE7_yQ2zKt/s400/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+009.JPG4644" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475281500288079474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWfmQqS7pWavuIZ7xsXh0i8_1E6wZpIbpVgXZbudbfjQac_txoYQ8yGEFA-o8h8wctVEX6RZe2-cZpW76f8sp77yPj4HWY51dqsJLA3e4UwEQBl66_5fFLUIgyaXgUuQJUtvwJH9RVRCe/s1600/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWfmQqS7pWavuIZ7xsXh0i8_1E6wZpIbpVgXZbudbfjQac_txoYQ8yGEFA-o8h8wctVEX6RZe2-cZpW76f8sp77yPj4HWY51dqsJLA3e4UwEQBl66_5fFLUIgyaXgUuQJUtvwJH9RVRCe/s400/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475281478997001938" border="0" /></a>They didn't cost much.<br /><br />The fabric can also be scraps of fabric you've had for years or fabric you wanted to make a quilt into a quilt someday. Tauna, from <a href="http://egangarden.blogspot.com/">The Egan Garden </a>donated this fabric and these quilt blocks she's been making (with love) over the years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_28MQb_8wPafYO-Qt4MtjDZUe8Ja3u5lT3qAms9ioD8K8mr5UvMdgkTPtmgSt16NSArjDeBDEI5M7dNh_6JOXvvmePBGieEcEyDx35Za3Uxg4ews0FTsWx-pQkyTurFKSuxjMsmnZK1OK/s1600/magic+quilt+016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_28MQb_8wPafYO-Qt4MtjDZUe8Ja3u5lT3qAms9ioD8K8mr5UvMdgkTPtmgSt16NSArjDeBDEI5M7dNh_6JOXvvmePBGieEcEyDx35Za3Uxg4ews0FTsWx-pQkyTurFKSuxjMsmnZK1OK/s400/magic+quilt+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494795398570602290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX5EJeXpkeamye2VHliHg7o_YcErIr58xGJ9d2GGLlEbo5v5gTBTOERn6rVnoHnj0O-TPt1qG2lGrsoIiwmzdZBn6fpuGr59hxHzICYHNwRDHbcfkaaFZZY08z1Giz269PzSeFK33Vveq/s1600/magic+quilt+012.JPG1592"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX5EJeXpkeamye2VHliHg7o_YcErIr58xGJ9d2GGLlEbo5v5gTBTOERn6rVnoHnj0O-TPt1qG2lGrsoIiwmzdZBn6fpuGr59hxHzICYHNwRDHbcfkaaFZZY08z1Giz269PzSeFK33Vveq/s400/magic+quilt+012.JPG1592" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494795391108951234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn_tTWe-iWuc6oemkKZvogZ2rvpQVZQkyk6pETnWXCEUmIGL189dW0tVa88O7ntr6pF3b9bHe0fL7eXhjtDcOsLCoQM8UHymWEIB6eRoTDuz00WyOBJNCh4McZZjHvICTmt9jCQkuxbZv/s1600/magic+quilt+013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn_tTWe-iWuc6oemkKZvogZ2rvpQVZQkyk6pETnWXCEUmIGL189dW0tVa88O7ntr6pF3b9bHe0fL7eXhjtDcOsLCoQM8UHymWEIB6eRoTDuz00WyOBJNCh4McZZjHvICTmt9jCQkuxbZv/s400/magic+quilt+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494795382629067570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7KQPV9wOXrRiOX6A3rkqKvFQNUVY84zte3iOhCqZFBMtU5l-rN84GFb2WV6RvI_4PM5Xc-RvLaz06D9hoIFjCe7rCL0R7d-m5xEwB8mxwdXd519Vn_vj08osmrXSFY5LXUBBMZlpUeSF/s1600/magic+quilt+011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7KQPV9wOXrRiOX6A3rkqKvFQNUVY84zte3iOhCqZFBMtU5l-rN84GFb2WV6RvI_4PM5Xc-RvLaz06D9hoIFjCe7rCL0R7d-m5xEwB8mxwdXd519Vn_vj08osmrXSFY5LXUBBMZlpUeSF/s400/magic+quilt+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494795372121460946" border="0" /></a>T-shirts would be great too. <a href="http://cubworldmusic.com/">Cubworld</a> already donated the shirt off his back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ_g7csNY27SpXYTqLTAPDrmlS5OROqdZs3G69c2nZOPpDKpmjliGm6wzAiRJa-ZHLQS45oXuXAolhGu3AxxNNFjwIhL9cSBmBGl0-cA1FW_dc47BnsOetj4w7UTWjpX7_S_Z7z1gPx6Q/s1600/cubworld+and+lulu+002.JPG5060"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ_g7csNY27SpXYTqLTAPDrmlS5OROqdZs3G69c2nZOPpDKpmjliGm6wzAiRJa-ZHLQS45oXuXAolhGu3AxxNNFjwIhL9cSBmBGl0-cA1FW_dc47BnsOetj4w7UTWjpX7_S_Z7z1gPx6Q/s400/cubworld+and+lulu+002.JPG5060" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475297328500483730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM66zpxLdLx30u5YY6RzhbPBedi_7Sz4tc59RaTjjJXSzbbamWJx59svlE-9MagRpBqIZWk_7SsLG7WgnwGbACnckXxSHpI0niOvYz3-WB0XncqmlaQQYN41y2K5xrk0c0mvFtigQ1Tv4I/s1600/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM66zpxLdLx30u5YY6RzhbPBedi_7Sz4tc59RaTjjJXSzbbamWJx59svlE-9MagRpBqIZWk_7SsLG7WgnwGbACnckXxSHpI0niOvYz3-WB0XncqmlaQQYN41y2K5xrk0c0mvFtigQ1Tv4I/s400/t-shirts+and+quilt+blocks+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475295291294569394" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, it's time to get started. Let's put our <span style="font-style: italic;">fingers</span> together. Get it? <span style="font-style: italic;">fingers</span>?<br /><br /><br />hee hee<br /><br /><br />But seriously, please help me (and Jack Johnson) spread the magic!<br /><br /><br /><br />Much Mahalo!The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-31647209828771460152010-05-10T23:37:00.000-07:002010-05-11T00:16:57.768-07:00We found our first recipient!When I asked if anyone knows someone who needs The Magic Quilt, Amanda from <a href="http://itswhats4dinner.blogspot.com/">What's For Dinner</a> sent me this email:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYYxdtmph0fCp6RDUpfnGnhJ96hMrLtYmXiWImp-rjeMxbVe2N7i1xuimQyO9tAl15S0PISP625YoIvpwb7NrG8UF1PE2sf5-XTtrcESCCywjJRuXfbw5hbe3VXy4WTaym1PD5-plPj5G/s1600/Stan+Tolman.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYYxdtmph0fCp6RDUpfnGnhJ96hMrLtYmXiWImp-rjeMxbVe2N7i1xuimQyO9tAl15S0PISP625YoIvpwb7NrG8UF1PE2sf5-XTtrcESCCywjJRuXfbw5hbe3VXy4WTaym1PD5-plPj5G/s400/Stan+Tolman.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469902367718690194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I know someone who needs it... I'm crying just thinking about him and this blanket.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> His name is Bro. Tolman.<br /><br />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.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />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.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />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.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />This man loves children! </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> 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.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> 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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">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.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> I could go on and on with stories about this man...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://setupdates.blogspot.com/">Here is the blog</a> his daughter-in-law set up to keep everyone informed...you can read about his journey since January.<br /><br /></span><br />After Amanda told his wife about The Magic Quilt here is what she said:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />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. </span><br /><br />Brother Tolman lives in Silver Springs, Maryland and I am sending the quilt to Amanda, who will present it to Bro. Tolman. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .<br /><br />Announcements:<br /><br />Kritta is making the Magic Quilt #2 out of the same fabric as quilt #1. <br /><br />We need to start gathering fabric and stories for The Magic Quilt #3, which is going to be made in Ideeho by <a href="http://springrosejournals.blogspot.com/">Springrose</a>. (<a href="http://wixomzoo.blogspot.com/">Wixom Zoo</a> 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.<br /><br />Please send stories and photos of your fabric to my email address: ctddiaries@gmail.com<br /><br />And I'm making the Magic Quilt #4, which will be a t-shirt quilt. (I'll explain details later) <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61206436160">Cubworld</a> 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).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-82763991214867919342010-05-06T08:35:00.000-07:002010-05-07T06:35:45.099-07:00Good News MinuteI hope you have some tissue close by because Kritta finished The Magic Quilt and it arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. <div><br /></div><div>My stone-cold heart was pounding and my eyeballs sprung a leak as I opened the package.<br /><div><div><br /><div>It is bee-U-tiful! Thank you Kritta. And thank you everyone who shared their stories and their fabric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLlfKIztwU4WQMFGK6clwoPLxBb2PsD8ncwjYjpTkN_5jnZXdtOEtmR46cnlNFaaY55dEnS1XuQVUh2EQukLT4U0Llnbtwqosaatfi32yMyPXqLe7JSVrP-P0h8fxU-htMljazisM80kA/s1600/More+magic+quilt+003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLlfKIztwU4WQMFGK6clwoPLxBb2PsD8ncwjYjpTkN_5jnZXdtOEtmR46cnlNFaaY55dEnS1XuQVUh2EQukLT4U0Llnbtwqosaatfi32yMyPXqLe7JSVrP-P0h8fxU-htMljazisM80kA/s400/More+magic+quilt+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467891479516618562" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />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.<br /><br />Like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOK8h44_8Z-XcJJSDzOmXtxM592D1YZ95mlTR9ehuQi2ZgxQ8LHZT6BERWUK19RBhIrJ7uPLqd2vsi5JQJhaHIMVXhhzRRcelhOyluHxhVWYy8MfJYF5qhOmY7J_1IfAYOO-RCSOPJkG-/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOK8h44_8Z-XcJJSDzOmXtxM592D1YZ95mlTR9ehuQi2ZgxQ8LHZT6BERWUK19RBhIrJ7uPLqd2vsi5JQJhaHIMVXhhzRRcelhOyluHxhVWYy8MfJYF5qhOmY7J_1IfAYOO-RCSOPJkG-/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467832215250114434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc720mrkHLUJtyPLMrOJU779AlwG-pJR0ajorApsF3O4CpkUol8v-XnFzg2S3H8nEfzrZQefEtHgKzwEKFBzQrt8hXyiOIXBdkd0FHfqh8mOXiKmw06_cDh9W0o0CIHXkSkdTHypqnZqV/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc720mrkHLUJtyPLMrOJU779AlwG-pJR0ajorApsF3O4CpkUol8v-XnFzg2S3H8nEfzrZQefEtHgKzwEKFBzQrt8hXyiOIXBdkd0FHfqh8mOXiKmw06_cDh9W0o0CIHXkSkdTHypqnZqV/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467832203543188818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ma-PoL5jCKNzCmULBMQGoyR1dtiXAapLBKzdwOwzpQuhldmi-6Nyy0KtCQN9tgA5AkFW5ytvBsIYZzw3pgwGSh87NvD1CSprJfQOd002hE41lGomWwZXUcjGm9hNNXkztqHOWl0yOOvc/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Ma-PoL5jCKNzCmULBMQGoyR1dtiXAapLBKzdwOwzpQuhldmi-6Nyy0KtCQN9tgA5AkFW5ytvBsIYZzw3pgwGSh87NvD1CSprJfQOd002hE41lGomWwZXUcjGm9hNNXkztqHOWl0yOOvc/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467832199323600082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEEmUqMYpnd_ycGqJTR45JN3zpKuimj0jr5n3nxN7_8rq8VHDGOgLQv351Jc85hhPBQ54QfOVogZ3buziDhzd0Lx9kPWAFZJ1mem4iejUZb78bxtW4A2pd1u4B8TIQ09bxqBtVLJjPUn7/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEEmUqMYpnd_ycGqJTR45JN3zpKuimj0jr5n3nxN7_8rq8VHDGOgLQv351Jc85hhPBQ54QfOVogZ3buziDhzd0Lx9kPWAFZJ1mem4iejUZb78bxtW4A2pd1u4B8TIQ09bxqBtVLJjPUn7/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467832184446133682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xOLoJDFLcofuwK7PdImZdANhpaFm13ocoxRioj3kiRSd6ZapgVPP06BD__5rChlBWIP_XLqmJQPNYJMQhJvPRRwno_Idekuo6Kf_KQnYUsWe-_VbOOyqJ3a4bXSAZ4eSBgMcTPVQPPRs/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xOLoJDFLcofuwK7PdImZdANhpaFm13ocoxRioj3kiRSd6ZapgVPP06BD__5rChlBWIP_XLqmJQPNYJMQhJvPRRwno_Idekuo6Kf_KQnYUsWe-_VbOOyqJ3a4bXSAZ4eSBgMcTPVQPPRs/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467896943859708738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJWH8KnD53_nd62-bw9RgTqSkr7P9WqkMvuYDvREhz_CBRIkbA4d8-jRMkw_L0ix2yE9SEEjteu3zK4x2K88mhfgbdb8rDRRjGTcO33MAvaMTB87qGnbFx-bK_xBWkivCECZjAFCeOYom/s1600/The+Magic+Quilt+017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJWH8KnD53_nd62-bw9RgTqSkr7P9WqkMvuYDvREhz_CBRIkbA4d8-jRMkw_L0ix2yE9SEEjteu3zK4x2K88mhfgbdb8rDRRjGTcO33MAvaMTB87qGnbFx-bK_xBWkivCECZjAFCeOYom/s400/The+Magic+Quilt+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467896936438518082" border="0" /></a><br />I ran my fingers over each block and thought of each corresponding story.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxF1FGbkjPT9IbCj1UCJbohsLmfkAoy6nuAl-IE3u1YQJhII7oPImtx3rk5aospYPL8Nmu4NpXINieMqac09Dp5J8BZ2PcqBl5WGxBDqGERkmnfpRoAK_X1DvLaaRO_QtuamFYOVdK2v7/s1600/More+magic+quilt+013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxF1FGbkjPT9IbCj1UCJbohsLmfkAoy6nuAl-IE3u1YQJhII7oPImtx3rk5aospYPL8Nmu4NpXINieMqac09Dp5J8BZ2PcqBl5WGxBDqGERkmnfpRoAK_X1DvLaaRO_QtuamFYOVdK2v7/s400/More+magic+quilt+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467898018904764962" border="0" /></a>Here is Andrea's blocks from her <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2009/03/surrounded-in-love.html">Surrounded in Love</a> entry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSXFGRvvbteraHaNFlumStPJ2-qPwTw1opmewlAXpyZDdpoyz_XNCOdybpz9W1Gvqjhzvc7NXR0g4HNSkTxxmcomJlMQ9Lwg7uqDFY9njHl69ArMECpxlUPPRA49HULpmFJOLzJUEoYGa/s1600/More+magic+quilt+012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSXFGRvvbteraHaNFlumStPJ2-qPwTw1opmewlAXpyZDdpoyz_XNCOdybpz9W1Gvqjhzvc7NXR0g4HNSkTxxmcomJlMQ9Lwg7uqDFY9njHl69ArMECpxlUPPRA49HULpmFJOLzJUEoYGa/s400/More+magic+quilt+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467898010997344450" border="0" /></a>And here is Springrose's block from her <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2009/02/she-loved-me-most.html">She loved Me Most</a> entry. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRswqEx4gp1REbsm3e4DWWxXPzM3X2eZojKPFXs32OVCw48tToe7_eLNmOsWjIDFR6ZKslnY-ijArRwWw2FP8l8ae1RfrLu3skbszEbteG6f2_4LR3J1i5mXydDYyDBk9ULpIJ2Sk2Kg87/s1600/More+magic+quilt+008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRswqEx4gp1REbsm3e4DWWxXPzM3X2eZojKPFXs32OVCw48tToe7_eLNmOsWjIDFR6ZKslnY-ijArRwWw2FP8l8ae1RfrLu3skbszEbteG6f2_4LR3J1i5mXydDYyDBk9ULpIJ2Sk2Kg87/s400/More+magic+quilt+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467898001950032306" border="0" /></a>It's right next to Sandi's block from her <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2009/02/safe-in-arms-of-loving-heavenly-father.html">Safe in His Arms</a> entry.<br /><br />The following block choked me up most. It's from Anjeny's entry <a href="http://themagicquilt.blogspot.com/2009/02/finding-comfort-through-article-of.html">Finding Comfort</a>. 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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw4GbLW55sXlorp4KLyCU_QAwvupnKf_63viTp-sFoo5Lh8Ro2eTLyTLfZAkabHw2GOGUQc_emeB0XY9w-qez5mYUxyZAMeworHzNQQQaQ06BJu6Lhdxp8MXj5swioYTiB5GawOMX1eEp/s1600/More+magic+quilt+007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw4GbLW55sXlorp4KLyCU_QAwvupnKf_63viTp-sFoo5Lh8Ro2eTLyTLfZAkabHw2GOGUQc_emeB0XY9w-qez5mYUxyZAMeworHzNQQQaQ06BJu6Lhdxp8MXj5swioYTiB5GawOMX1eEp/s400/More+magic+quilt+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467897986801485394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTw2ftFLFHQE2jpv0rilSliQEoQxPkvDWdeeWAFcRnC85lWWNa0kP9jeJyOqvevB4hd9HAVYbx1UvdfdckXN1dddA26LtecQ9uHlP7zEyQdvaTZntv6ppt9WqCmV14cwyZ-6O08Kf0-vl5/s1600/More+magic+quilt+006.JPG"><br /></a>There are so many inspiring stories.<br /><br />I want MORE! MORE! MORE! Please send more.<br /><br />Since our first recipient is now in remission (thank goodness), I will start taking nominations for our actual first recipient soon. </div><div><br />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.<br /><br /></div><div>Speaking of magic, I'm going to leave you with a video I saw posted on <a href="http://iamlow.com/">LoW's</a> 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.<br /><br /></div></div></div></div><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHDvxPjsm8E&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KHDvxPjsm8E&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-36159906452595493302010-04-12T19:36:00.000-07:002014-03-01T22:46:30.052-08:00I Know Where God Hangs Out<br />
<div>
<div>
I wonder if the secret to time travel is right under our nose.Think about it. Every memory locked up somewhere inside a bottle of Old Spice, or Rubber Cement, or cinnamon, or inside of our grandparent’s new Subaru. Every emotion is scented and, to me, kindness smells like industrial soap.<br />
<br />
Whenever I have occasion to visit someone in the hospital, I duck into the hospital bathroom, wash my hands with the industrial soap, then press my hands to my nose and inhale deeply. It brings tears to my eyes immediately, because that industrial soap lingered in the air for nine weeks while I had some of the most intense experiences of my life trying to bring my twins into this world.<br />
<br />
To me, industrial soap smells like the nurse who dropped by every day in bright yellow scrubs and told me dreamy stories about Seattle; and the nurse who told me I looked like a Victoria Secret model every time she came into my room. When you're flat on your back in a hospital gown something about those words gives you the strength to brush your teeth each morning. Industrial soap also smells like the nurse who held my hand while the phlebotomist drove a needle the size of Vermont into my neck; and the nurse who placed cold cloths on my forehead while the room did summersaults, and the nurse who rubbed my feet while I signed waivers that the doctors were not responsible if my babies came out blind, deaf, or dumb.<br />
<br />
I think i know where God hangs out. People say you'll find him in church or in temples or in nature, but I bet he's rolling up his sleeves with the nurses in the hallowed halls of the hospitals.<br />
<br />
Wouldn’t it be cool if the church started a pilot program, like instead of going to Sunday School you could go to the hospital to learn about God? Is it blasphemous to say I would be the first to sign up?<br />
<br />
And is it blasphemous to say I keep waiting for the Bishop to receive the right revelation and put me in as the compassionate service leader. Ever since I had my twins I've known it's the only thing I want to be when I grew up, but somehow he keeps getting his wires crossed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I lived in Hawaii I was called to be the Relief Society president, which is kind of like a bossy compassionate service leader, plus a whole lot of meetings.<br />
<br />
When I moved to Utah I was called to be the Young Womens president, which is kind of like a bossy, cranky compassionate service leader, plus a whole lot of meetings, activities, and personal progress.<br />
<br />
But guess what my young women just made? Guess, guess, guess!<br />
<br />
A magic quilt.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi10iknofZe46iRaA6DcjSAvCqlk1MZvkSZ5guwuuOE10_78OhOw6K5jMqWguTRip6pIamXobvPAxWoEDon4TkB3VqHIaj2_r1jwaT1tJ-G1tKG5yj8eTV6bAnPHlyXAJ9_FU7AtEsUA_I/s1600/IMG_5527.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi10iknofZe46iRaA6DcjSAvCqlk1MZvkSZ5guwuuOE10_78OhOw6K5jMqWguTRip6pIamXobvPAxWoEDon4TkB3VqHIaj2_r1jwaT1tJ-G1tKG5yj8eTV6bAnPHlyXAJ9_FU7AtEsUA_I/s400/IMG_5527.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459460337704174946" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHzAftbnp4EFgBAwGv4Um7KvYU9wMKIrr2o3fCjFdyLb_Sam8xNITsfZlXhWPWaMAAlUqsaWwYHkjB5vrr5ECNt0Pakbxhibo1iu7lNV1iiAZqAAscZX79fNzOG0-2YIAaGa2EuFYSJ0q/s1600/IMG_5530.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHzAftbnp4EFgBAwGv4Um7KvYU9wMKIrr2o3fCjFdyLb_Sam8xNITsfZlXhWPWaMAAlUqsaWwYHkjB5vrr5ECNt0Pakbxhibo1iu7lNV1iiAZqAAscZX79fNzOG0-2YIAaGa2EuFYSJ0q/s400/IMG_5530.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459460323641721778" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 372px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYcIoDZg7Hk-GHaM8zjtzZD_7svQttEPfCs5RDSp2v5uaPKbkuBm-MtT6dfliSc5dsrId34mbXseKHCuVXTuQcNpoWm8jv3uuXiivMvQjbxC5ri8Vwg05bG1kXN8e-icoWLJ_MnG6Qw__/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYcIoDZg7Hk-GHaM8zjtzZD_7svQttEPfCs5RDSp2v5uaPKbkuBm-MtT6dfliSc5dsrId34mbXseKHCuVXTuQcNpoWm8jv3uuXiivMvQjbxC5ri8Vwg05bG1kXN8e-icoWLJ_MnG6Qw__/s400/IMG_5539.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459460314447373794" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
Those of you who have been reading me for a while know that about a year ago I started this magic quilt project to heal the world one quilt at a time. But then Kritta (my magic quilter) and I both had major life changes this year, which put the Magic Quilt project on the back burner.<br />
<br />
Well, good news! Kritta is almost done with the quilt and we will soon be unveiling it and sending it to the first recipient. YAY!<br />
<br />
In the meantime my Young Women have pieced together their favorite t-shirts and made their own magic quilt, which they have been passing around to those in need of comfort in the ward. This past Sunday someone bore their testimony and mentioned their granddaughter who is struggling. After the meeting one of my young women rushed up and excitedly suggested we take the magic quilt to that struggling girl.<br />
<br />
Be still my heart.<br />
<br />
<br />
Wouldn't it be cool if God had his own set of quilting blocks?<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-74843741825601052632009-06-23T13:54:00.000-07:002009-06-23T14:04:16.683-07:00Photographic Evidence of The Magic QuiltHey everyone, look what Kritta did!<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw81ye7PJiJ_dAqOD4UbqeP8zhr49cZS6GGDHftWfmS1AqIaWM4rC80U4yv2jUsLkwiCt9Ut6FRcojO93XXv9DE3NLihvpfgHkczn8WOA8F3_sEt9XJLOnzLl7-J9rZfEy0xdiBwXfSuUK/s1600-h/magic+quilt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350629557110026514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw81ye7PJiJ_dAqOD4UbqeP8zhr49cZS6GGDHftWfmS1AqIaWM4rC80U4yv2jUsLkwiCt9Ut6FRcojO93XXv9DE3NLihvpfgHkczn8WOA8F3_sEt9XJLOnzLl7-J9rZfEy0xdiBwXfSuUK/s400/magic+quilt.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It's our Magic Quilt. Isn't it beeeUtiful! </p><p>Are you eyes sweating or what? </p><p>It's like little pieces of US, side by side, holding hands against pain and sorrow.</p><p>It's like magic. </p><p>It's like a magic quilt. </p><p>I can't wait to send it to Marjorie so we can help Kung Fu Panda kick her breast cancer with our love and faith. </p><p>Mahalo Kritta!<br /><br /></p>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-21168012719110030822009-03-24T13:56:00.000-07:002009-03-24T14:18:59.872-07:00Aunt Mary's Quilt<div>This entry comes to us from Rosemary @ <a href="http://nationalshare.org/">Nationalshare.org</a>, a Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support center. This entry make you wish you had an aunt Mary. Thank you so much for sharing your story, Rosemary! LY!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4sYeahO5SGl7cXglBIYDT7uqpUqYYVXLsIVj40AS4UmNIJJOxoH6_xjtbsCo9vWORERMf5tJ7wvev9FWa6_j_D_cF9VIPMdWJ7CHY-fo6JpLUklcapVDgh4OiN-A_9mGmlZARNX7dOTJ/s1600-h/Aunt+Mary+Quilt2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316866324954441858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4sYeahO5SGl7cXglBIYDT7uqpUqYYVXLsIVj40AS4UmNIJJOxoH6_xjtbsCo9vWORERMf5tJ7wvev9FWa6_j_D_cF9VIPMdWJ7CHY-fo6JpLUklcapVDgh4OiN-A_9mGmlZARNX7dOTJ/s400/Aunt+Mary+Quilt2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>When I first read about your quilting project on Emily’s blog (Stepping Stones), I knew I had to write about my Aunt Mary’s quilt. Well, technically, it’s MY quilt, but my dear Aunt Mary made it for me when I was 12, and I still think of it as “Aunt Mary’s Quilt,” and so do my kids.<br /><br />Before I tell you about the quilt, I really should tell you about my Aunt Mary. She was my Great Aunt, my Dad’s mother’s only sister. She was the sweetest, gentlest lady, and she was unable to have children. I don’t know why, but she did tell me once that there was a minor surgery that could have been done, but my uncle wouldn’t allow it. He told her that if God intended her to have children, He would have made her so she could have them. I often wonder what that must have been like for her, because she LOVED children. And they loved her. I loved her. Tremendously. I was the first grandchild for both of my parent’s families, and I have always been told that Aunt Mary spoiled me rotten. My mom used to tell me that when I was little, if I wanted something and she told me no, I would say, “Well, I’ll ask Aunt Mary. She’ll get it for me!” And Aunt Mary often did.<br /><br />As I grew up, Aunt Mary was one of my very favorite people. Yes, she spoiled me, but not only in material ways. She spoiled me with love. I don’t remember most of the things she bought me, but I will never forget her love. I will never forget how every letter and card she wrote to me began with the greeting, “Dear one,…” After I had my first daughter, she wrote me the sweetest letter and said that she hoped I enjoyed my daughter as much as she had always enjoyed her sweet Mama. Every child should be spoiled the way that she “spoiled” me, and I loved spending time with her.<br /><br />As I became an adult, married, moved away, and had children, Aunt Mary and I remained close. Ironically enough, she was usually the first person I called when I was having Mommy meltdown moments. There are some things I will forever remember about her…she loved Christmas, she prayed the rosary every day, she loved to get cards, she made the most delicious homemade noodles I’ve ever eaten, she always had M & Ms in a candy jar on her coffee table, she made beautiful quilts, she taught me to crochet…so many more memories I have…I couldn’t even begin to write them all.<br /><br />In October 2001, Aunt Mary turned 90. Just to give you an idea of how many people loved this woman…there were nearly 100 people at her birthday party. She had so many God children, I don’t even know the exact number. Sadly, three months after her 90th birthday, Aunt Mary suddenly died. She went into the hospital for something minor and died 2 days later.<br /><br />So now, I’ll tell you about “Aunt Mary’s Quilt.” When I was a kid, we moved around. A lot. The hardest move for me by far was the one my family made the summer between 6th and 7th grade. We moved into a brand new house, and my room was part of the finished basement. Aunt Mary made me a quilt to use for a bed spread. It was squares of pastel gingham…yellow, pink, orange, green, aqua, light blue…gingham of different sizes and colors they don’t make anymore. At each corner of each square of gingham was a fluffy little pom pom made of pale yellow yarn. (keep in mind, this was the 1970’s!) I loved that quilt and still do.<br /><br />In 1980, when I was a senior in high school, my parents moved again, and I stayed behind, living with a friend to finish high school. The day after graduation, I moved back in with my parents. What a comfort it was to see my quilt on the bed in my new room. I lived with my parents for 2 more years while I attended a local college. When I moved away to finish my degree at Eastern Illinois University, the quilt stayed behind. But once I was married and had a home of my own, the quilt was mine again.<br /><br />Over the years, this quilt has definitely become a comfort item for me as well as my kids. It mostly stays on the shelf in my bedroom closet, but if I am sick and lying around on the couch (which doesn’t happen often!), the quilt comes out. That quilt is the first thing my kids ask for when they are sick or just want some comfort. Actually, they don’t even ask for it now that they are older, they just go into my closet and get it. If I see one of them on the couch with Aunt Mary’s quilt, the first thing I ask is “what’s wrong?” If more than one child is sick at the same time, they fight over who gets to use it! If I am sick when any of them are, they know it’s mine. During the winter months when the kids have colds, etc, Aunt Mary’s quilt is out of the closet and on my couch often.<br /><br />The quilt is so soft and comfortable, but it is not in the best shape anymore. Some of the seams have come undone, and every time I was it, I’m afraid it will fall apart. I almost feel as if I should hide it. Yet I can’t. I love that my kids call it “Aunt Mary’s Quilt,” and that they want to pull it out and snuggle under it when they need comfort. A few years ago, I gave it to my sister’s mother in law to repair, but there are now more seams coming undone.<br /><br />I have a couple of other quilts that Aunt Mary made. They are all special to me, and I can close my eyes and see her stitching each piece and imagine the love that she put into making them. I love them all because they came from her hands and heart, but none of them have quite the importance to me that “Aunt Mary’s Quilt” has.<br /><br />Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share something so special to me. I love writing about things that are near and dear to my heart, and over the years, I have written other things about my Aunt Mary. But, I never even thought about writing about this quilt. I also realized that I didn’t have any photographs of this treasured part of my childhood, and now I do. So thank you again for inspiring me. I look forward to your book. I am not a quilter, but I come from a family of quilters, and I love quilts and hearing the stories behind them.</em>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430422977648303956.post-61498501373699994702009-03-20T18:43:00.000-07:002009-03-20T21:45:28.044-07:00Surrounded in LoveThis entry comes from Andrea @ <a href="http://bloggingmama-andrea.blogspot.com/">Blogging Mama.</a> I love the generous nature of this entry and the idea of being surrounded in love. Much Mahalo, Andrea. LY!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxlFw687OMZxy7fjBpv4XfkSkdioFAn8RBiWWnH4tpT_9SCsxJy3l4lbszQuFGzPXLni6ZVjGfWOCVOpIo1OX65y8pbsmdm0nfKWiNlGGk8LDzkbcak6vMu2DmDGv2G8PkTV8Dk3sjziV/s1600-h/Limerickey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxlFw687OMZxy7fjBpv4XfkSkdioFAn8RBiWWnH4tpT_9SCsxJy3l4lbszQuFGzPXLni6ZVjGfWOCVOpIo1OX65y8pbsmdm0nfKWiNlGGk8LDzkbcak6vMu2DmDGv2G8PkTV8Dk3sjziV/s400/Limerickey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314977901610443810" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I actually had a diaper bag in this fabric from a store. And one day I discovered you could buy the fabric so I did. When I was adopting my daughter (aka The Chick) I wanted to make her something but I'm not good at clothes or bibs as it turned out. But I kick butt at curtains and blankets! So I made her a blanket out of the fabric and 19 months later it's her favorite blanket. She must have this blanket first on top of her when she goes to bed then her other blankets. It's kind of special because first is the blanket I made her, then the blanket her Aunt Valerie (my sis) made for her and then the blanket my MIL made for her. She's basically all wrapped up in love. Ahh (I know that may have been over the top!)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXquIAAxSEWEa6ZWNEOC0DwUhDjVrTauAdGbsoJvt4IOdF7fkwkoy0YoE3oPiJPeTjHumeWynf2EiCgB2uabkSxqN3INRpTDEK63fWxBdqZ0-lsAUWL8Ae-mlYtVzddVtgcZtBeLaGm4od/s1600-h/Limericky+asianfabric.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXquIAAxSEWEa6ZWNEOC0DwUhDjVrTauAdGbsoJvt4IOdF7fkwkoy0YoE3oPiJPeTjHumeWynf2EiCgB2uabkSxqN3INRpTDEK63fWxBdqZ0-lsAUWL8Ae-mlYtVzddVtgcZtBeLaGm4od/s400/Limericky+asianfabric.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314978018364267618" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I bought this fabric to make a quilt square for Chick's 100 Good Wishes Quilt which is a Chinese tradition where you ask friends and family to send a quilt square and a note offering good wishes for a new baby. Well, technically (if you want to get political) she's Taiwanese. But her heritage is Han Chinese. We got so many quilt squares from people all over, people who we mostly only knew online through adoption groups, I never needed to have this filler fabric I bought. I haven't made the quilt yet but one day I will and I hope it will be a treasure for her as she grows older. Again, she was surrounded with love.<br /><br /></span>The Crash Test Dummyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893801583172018597noreply@blogger.com2