Quilt #45 Donna Brown donated by Mary Duke

Beautiful Sisters, Mary and Donna

Quilt number 45 was presented to Donna Brown by Mary Duke. 

Mary writes:

Within an 18 month period Donna has experienced the loss of 5 close family members. Not to mention dear friends who are not mentioned among these 5. She lost her Father in law, then just a few months later she lost her adult daughter Desi, within 5 months she lost her mother. Shortly after that one of the family dogs died, Then just last month her father passed away. That is a lot of grieving for one person to handle in such a short span of time. And if grief isn't enough, there is all the care and dedication to them before their passing. I have wanted to do something special for Donna for a long time. Especially since the death of her daughter. Donna loves the U of U football team and has collected many T shirts over the years. She recently gave some of her old ones to me, her sister. I decided then that she needed a U of U T-shirt quilt . I hope that this quilt will bring some joy back into her life. I hope she takes it to every game and feels the love of so many who ache for her losses.

Coming from a family of rabid Utah fans, I know how this unique quilt will be treasured for years to come. There is sister love, which is really powerful, in the stitches...

#47 Megan Ostler donated by Mary Duke

Quilt #47 was presented to Megan Ostler as a wedding gift by Mary Duke. Marilyn Eyre, Megan's mother, passed away just weeks before Megan's wedding. It was Marilyn's goal to the end to see each of her children married. She was able to be there for her other 3 children's weddings, two of which took place this year. She deeply desired to attend Megan's and was able to meet (and approve) her future son-in-law  Rob Ostler before she left this earth.We are pretty sure she enjoyed the wedding from her current location (Spirit Paradise). Marilyn was such a loving person and always there to provide comfort to others. Mary hopes that when Megan wraps up in the quilt, she will feel her mother's love.

Marilyn at Christmas Bookclub approximately 10 years ago

Our dear friend, Marilyn passed this spring from Multiple System Atrophy, a progressive disease which took her life over a period of years. Even in the years when she could no longer make gifts for our Christmas Bookclub Dinner, from her wheelchair, she would enlist the helps of visitors and volunteers alike to help. She loved to give and did not want to miss out just because her body was cooperating.

It is interesting to note that the binding on Megan's quilt was completed last week at bookclub by various members. I'm sure that would make Marilyn smile.

Here in Hawaii we have a concept called hanai. In Hawaiian culture it refers to the loving, informal adoption of one person by another, regardless of age. Megan (and all Marilyn's children) are hanai children to our bookclub and especially Mary Duke.

There is sweetly, maternal love in the stitches for Marilyn's Megan.

All of us together to celebrate Marilyn's journey

Quilt #46 Sue Calvaresi donated by Rada Morton

Quilt #46 was given to Sue Calvaresi. Sue is the sister of a dear friend here in Hawaii. A year ago, Sue and her family experienced a devastating fire that burned not only their home but all their possessions and vehicles. A truck ran into their home and while trying to back out, the sparks ignited the the vehicle exploded in their home. The fire spread to their RV and vehicles. She and her husband and their pet narrowly escaped with their lives. My friend, Kristal shared this with me last summer and Sue's name was added to my list of possible quilt recipients. My Aunt Rada had volunteered to make a quilt at Christmas and I gave her some fabric to get started at that time on a quilt for Sue.

Sue's home after the fire

It took months to resettle in housing on their land in Arizona. Just as things were returning to a state of normalcy, Sue was diagnosed with liver cancer. She is currently on chemo trying to shrink the tumors as she waits for a liver transplant.

Kristal with Sue's quilt

It took a bit of time to get Sue's quilt done. When my mom delivered it to me on a recent visit to Utah, I was shocked to learn that it was hand pieced and hand quilted. I am so grateful to my sweet Aunt Rada for the many hours she put into this beautiful work of art. This quilt will likely be the last one that my aunt does all by hand. It is truly unique. It is fascinating to me to see this on Sue's bed. It looks like it was tailor made. It reminds me how the Lord works, all things in his timing and it is clear this quilt was meant for Sue.

Sue and I at breakfast

Sue came this week to visit Kristal here in Hawaii and we got to share a meal. I was absolutely blown away by her ability to stay positive in the midst of these hard things. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this but she told me that she would like to make a wooden sign with the following saying:

"I know that when God shuts one door, he opens another but sometimes the hallway is hell"

I'm sure these signs would sell like crazy. Thank you Sue for teaching me more about grace.  There is love in these hand sewn stitches for Sue as she continues to walk the hallway.

Sue wrapped in her quilt