MIXED BLESSING
(This website is dedicated with love to Sugar!)
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One day, when I still lived in VT, (I think it was 2003) I was teaching a children's little quilting project class at my local church. I was handing out the class supplies when I came across an adorable, little, older lady sitting in one of the seats at the table. She looked up at me and said with the cutest little childlike smile on her face, "Can I do the class, too???". I thought to myself, haha...well that's kind of gutsy since I offered the class for free and it was advertised for "kids"!! But, how could I refuse her, especially when she told me she was still a kid! LOL So I went about teaching the class and I have to tell you, it was a total joy to see that this little lady meant it! She was having just as much FUN as the rest of the kids. She told me her name was Sugar, she had 4 grown children and was 79 years old but still felt like a kid.
Needless to say, I immediately fell in love with her!!!
At the end of the class, I mentioned that I was teaching private quilt lessons for kids. The mom's and kids gathered 'round me to get my number but right there Sugar came to the front and said, "Do you think you would be willing to teach a 79 year old kid?"...we laughed and I gave her a resounding "YES"! Secretly I could not wait to get to know this funny, sweet, character more. She called me right away to start our lessons. She became one of my sweetest friends ever. I "loved" listening to her life's stories. She had such wit!! Somehow she could even make the worst things that happened to her in here life into funny stories. And she had some HUGE things to endure, yet she was grateful for everything and turned everything into lightness. A loving, funny, VERY SPECIAL LADY indeed. And she LOVED learning to quilt. Once she got it, she right away began making things for every person in her family. She couldn't seem to just make one thing and be done. No, she had to make several for all. When my husband and I decided to move back to CT, she was probably the one I would miss seeing and spending quality time with the most. She brightened my whole week EVERY week. I could be happy listening to her stories forever so it was hard to leave that.
After we left VT, she started including me in her giving away her lovely quilt works. Every Christmas we would send each other handmade quilt gifts and stay in touch with phone calls. When I started my little business, SHE was the first one to insist on paying for my first pattern and supported me ever since. Sugar was one of my truest blessings in my life!!!
Sadly, on August 13th, my sweet, sweet, childlike friend lost her battle with cancer. Although I hadn't gotten to talk to her in a while, I feel a HUGE empty spot is left in my heavy heart but I know she looked up at Jesus in front of her and with that same innocent twinkle in her eyes said, "I know I'm 85, but I am still a kid. Can I sit in your lap??" and Jesus opened His loving arms immediately! I have decided to have my son include her name somewhere on my website in dedication to my favorite childlike quilt friend, Sugar. She will be sooooooo missed!! ; (
16 But Jesus called them
to him, saying, "Let the children
come to me, and do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the
kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Luke 18: 16,17
OBITUARY
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