Several months back, we received from Children's Mercy Hospital an invitation to create a quilt square for a memorial quilt that will be dedicated at their 2011 Memorial Service. The invitation was set aside for many weeks. It laid on my desk for a while. Then I moved it to Kristen's room. Occasionally, I would get it out to check again on the specifications as I contemplated what to do for Kristen's square.
I really hadn't come up with any ideas that I liked. Then, earlier this month, one of my very dearest friends in this entire world presented me with such a precious gift...and the inspiration I needed. She used photos of Kristen to create the most beautiful little quilt. I know she spent hours and hours working on it, and each stitch was made with love. The moment I saw it, the tears came. Tears of gratitude, tears of remembrance, tears of joy.
This same friend dropped everything to bring Emily and Grace to Kansas City in May 2009 to meet their new baby sister. She took the only photo we have of all five of us together. She was the first person I called when we got the news that Kristen had coded during surgery. She dropped everything again to drive 4 hours to KC just because I
It seems only fitting that this dear friend would be the one who inspired me to create this quilt square for Kristen.
The inspiration gift quilt is pictured below. We've always (lovingly) referred to all our girls as "monkeys" and joked that Kristen had monkey toes because they were so long. The monkey print material was a perfect choice. Thank you, my dear, sweet friend for a gift that does more than provide a physical warmth. It touches the depths of my heart. ♥