Quilt #100 Soliven Family

Quilt #100 was gifted so the Soliven Family. 

Last fall I received a message from Alisa Beach, Duncan's mother.. She had heard that the Soliven family from her former Wapiolani Ward has lost their little boy named Dan. She asked me to create a quilt for them. Alisa knew the painful road they would travel and wanted a quilt to show her love and support.

I had a quilt top with Hawaiian fabrics that I had started years before and decided this might be the right quilt to finish and gift.

I had a couple of spiritual experiences with this quilt that continue to remind me that we are all connected

The first has to do with the quilting on the quilt. After putting together the quilt top and bottom, I sent the quilt off to a woman named Donna who does longarm machine quilting (the sewing that holds the layers together). Donna is a true artist . She adds so much detail to each quilt.

I was puzzled when I picked up the quilt. She had added little fish between the squares, something I hadn't intended. I wondered if this was the right quilt for this family. After praying about it, I decided to let go and just trust that it would work out. I have had a number of these experiences where I thought I knew what to do only to be guided in a different direction.

A few days later I received a text from Dani Soliven thanking me for the gift, part of it read::

This is Dani Soliven, Baby Dan's mother. The quilt you made is beautiful. When I opened it up, it immediately made me think of my little local boy. How he loved the beach, looking for fish and just being outside in general. 

One of the patches on the quilt is the same fabric as a pair of shorts he had as well.

I had tears running down my face as I texted back about the addition of the fish. It almost felt like a little heavenly wink.

The second has to do with the timing of the quilt. When I received the request, I was working on Quilt #97. This should have been finished as #98. I completed the quilt and had it sitting ready to be gifted. One night as I walked across my room, the quilt was in my sight and the words came so clearly to my mind, "It all begins and ends with a little boy." This project, that has spanned nearly 5 years and has been source of healing and connection for me and so many others, would be book ended by these two amazing Spirits, Duncan and Dan. I know that these two boys are busily engaged in God's work on the other side of the veil and will be reunited with their earthly families in the future.

It is my testimony as the official project has reached the goal of 100  that God is in the details of our lives. He knows us, loves us and looks to comfort and bless us with comfort often accomplished by the hands of his children here on the earth.

This quilt in honor of Baby Dan has so much love in the stitches from all those who have experienced loss and come to understand the eternal nature of families.