Quilt #28 Mary Duke donated by Bookclub Members

Mary Duke received her quilt at our 21st annual Book Club Christmas Dinner. Mary front row, far left.
She is adored by all of us.

Mary and Marilyn

Quilt # 28 was presented to Mary Duke on December 15, 2016 by members of our book club.  To know Mary is to know love. Her life is a master class in friendship and service. 2016 has been particularly rich in trials and blessings for Mary. Her beautiful mother, Shirley Sawyer passed away in July. She continues to spend time with her best friend Marilyn Eyre who is on hospice as she struggles with a terminal disease. And this year Mary has endured multiple surgeries from a biking accident that shattered her jaw two years ago. Through it all Mary's positive attitude and love for others inspires us all bear our own burdens with hope.

This pattern is called The Friendship Star.
 The fabrics are
reproduction fabrics that Mary loves.

I could write many pages about Mary Duke but I think the best way to share her with those who read these posts is to share Mary's own words in a comment she posted on Facebook the day after she received her quilt:

Mary writes,

"Trying to put down in words the feelings in my heart is difficult because what I feel can't be expressed, but I will try.

This quilt is two sided.  They are both
so beautiful.

I received the most beautiful quilt last night. These quilts are given to people who have struggled over insurmountable challenges. I don't feel worthy of this beautiful quilt. And yet at the same time it represents so much to me. Love, comfort, strength, hope, testimony and Jesus Christ himself.
Stacey shared a quote last night. "God cares about my growth more than he cares about my comfort." How powerful is that. I have thought about that a lot in the last few hours. That is so true. When we are going through these trials that life throws our way we are being stretched and molded and it hurts so much. But as I thought more about this quote, he cares so much more about our comfort too. And that comfort comes through His gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why we have the atonement.

Joan and Barbara pieced the two sided quilt. Toni did the masterful binding.
Marilyn contributed a lovely saying for the custom quilt tag.  

This quilt represents to me the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ. He will not leave us comfortless. He has become my friend. Jesus Christ is my friend. He is so much better at being a friend to me than I am to him. But I am grateful to call him my friend. The greatest gift he has given me is of course, the atonement.  No gift can compare. But the next best gift he has given me is the gift of friends. He shows his love to me through so many friends.
In the trials that have come to me not just this year but throughout my life, it is He who has stood by me. He who has strengthened me, He who has loved me. And how has he done it? Through His gospel, and that gospel good news is the atonement  and friends.
The quote on the quilt tags says " A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Thank you my friends for singing to me. Again and again, you have filled me with hope, strength, love, testimony and comfort. I do not deserve you. I do not deserve the atonement. But I am so grateful for both.
My heart is full. I am so blessed by a Savior who loves me so much that he has given me the most beautiful friends in the world. Who joy in my joys, suffer in my sufferings, laugh at my silliness, and who show me over and over again who my Savior is through kind acts every day. I love you all so much!  Thank you! I sit here wrapped in such love, such strength, such hope, such goodness, such a beautiful quilt. Thank you! I love you all!
Your undeserving friend."

This is the woman that teaches us hope, joy and dignity. For her there is so much love in the stitches...