Groovy...

The concert was AWESOME! Seriously, it was so casual you felt like you were on a cozy couch in a basement hanging out with your cool cousins groovy band and a 1,000 other strangers. All of the musicians were extremely talented and the music was uplifting, inspiring, and beautiful.

Claire and Jane were so adorable. My favorite was after one messed up they grabbed each other's hands and held on the rest of the song. The whole time waiting for their turn to perform I kept thinking about all the excitement dancing through their minds. What a big day it has been for them, flying on an airplane after what happened to their parents, seeing their dad with his new scars and after so long, not being able to visit their mom yet (I don't think anyway), the big concert with all their fans, so much for such little girls. They sang beautiful and were edibly cute!

The tribute video for Doug Kinneard was heart wrenching, his family is beautiful. I had so much hope during the tribute for Christian and Stephanie, they have so much life yet to live. AND the night ended with an oncore performance with Cjane singing Smile! She did note that nobody hates her singing more than Stephanie! My hubby even enjoyed the concert and our babysitter told us our kids were the best she has ever watched. What a wonderful night! Blurry pictures coming soon, for now I have to prepare a Relief Society lesson for church tomorrow...

Update on Threads of Love: I am trying to organize a sewing day, I'll keep you informed. I have also received a few more packages that I have not posted yet. Many have also offered to send more squares, I'm sorry I have not been able to reply to everyone individually. For now it appears that we will have plenty of squares for the projects we have planned. Thank you all for your love, prayers, faith, and generosity. I feel so blessed to be a part of this.

Yippeee Skipppee!

When Cjane first posted about the Mindy Gledhill concert I went to her site to buy tickets but didn't. I've been talking about it ever since. Last night my Mr. Nielson, better known as Bryce, called to tell me he had a sitter arranged and "Go buy those tickets!"

I didn't waste anytime and now I am driving him crazy counting down the hours...in 48 I'll be driving across Phoenix jittery in my seat with excitement! No mascara on the bottom lashes and tissues in my pocket, ready for the beautiful emotions of the night! Hope to see you there...

Refreshed

Sometimes a good hard cry leaves you feeling refreshed, tonight I had a refreshing cry. As I finished opening the packages for threads of love, I cried at the thoughts and sentiments from each of you. Some of you sent personal sentiments, some sent love and prayers, some sent piles of beautiful fabrics, but each of you sent a piece of you and I love it. I never could have anticipated the emotions this project would drum up! Much gratitude is sent your way for your generosity. I am certain the Nielsons will feel your love when they receive the quilts. Here are more photos of the beautiful fabrics, I am sorry I can't include all of your sweet messages:

Thank you Colleen Cannatelli in Howell New Jersey! Unless you are like me and love the color red, you might not know what is so special about this fabric so I thought I would share Colleen's sentiments. "For weeks I have been searching for a fabric or pattern that would move me to donate. Finally here are 4 squares....These squares are made from my 43 year old Christmas Stocking. It holds so many wonderful emotions/memories. I wanted to include them for NieNie's children. Belief, Hope, Love, Magic, Innocence, Faith"

Thank you Shelby Bingham in Beaumont Texas!

Thank you Brandy Doty (my friend from high school) and her friend Mandee in St George Utah! Brandy also has a fun crafting blog at http://www.mandeeandbrandy.blogspot.com/

Thank you Vickie Willis in Sumpter Oregon!

A large package...

...with loads of cuteness for everyone!

Thank you Glenda Isaacson in Haines Oregon!

Thank you Linda Watson in Everett Washington! (If you aren't LDS, this cute print depicts the Salt Lake City LDS Temple and other images pertinent to our religion.)

Thank you Margaret Kieffer in Ambler Pennsylvania! Margaret sent 2 packages just to be able to include the monkey yoga print, love it!



Thank you Sarah Foster in Oak Park Michigan! Sarah's sentiments contributed considerably to my refreshing cry. Her capacity for embracing sentimental value is very Nie worthy! She writes: "Dear Friends, Enclosed you'll find 2 squares for each child's quilt: one is of great sentimental value to me and given with deep prayer and faith for the road ahead; the other is from a brand new charm pack I recently aquired. About the sentimental ones-the boys each have a plaid square from a shirt of my father. He is the kindest, bravest, most generous man I know and has endured numerous hardships in his life. Always with a smile, never giving up. His pieces will bring the boys both strength and endurance. The girls have squares from a very old quilt made by my great aunt when I was a child. She was a woman of deep faith and although she never had children of her own she dearly loved her neices and nephews and their children and treated them as her own. She made all of my siblings a quilt for Christmas one year and I still use mine today. The girls' squares are from one she made for a baby and was used by all of us. Her pieces will bring the girls continued faith and undying love for all God's little ones. May God's strength and comfort continue to embrace the Nielson's, their family and friends, as they learn to make their way anew in a life they have not know. Blessings to all, Sarah"

Thank you Jean Thut in Escalon California! (Can you guess what breed of dog Jean loves most?)

Thank you Michele Raven in Spanish Fork Utah!

Check out this stack of fabric...

...I was sorting and drooling...

...what do you think of the bird print...

...seriously adorable...

Thank you Kristina Wilberg in Minnesota! (Her mother in law owns a quilting store, lucky girl!)

Thank you Sarah Briese and Marty Koehn in Lee's Summit Missouri!

Thank you Aubrei Norris in Ventura California!

Thank you Mary DelaMare-Schaefer (a friend of Nie's mother) in American Fork Utah!

Thank you Holly Broadland in Vancouver BC Canada! (You have perfect handwriting!)

Thank you Sarah Kotronis in Atlanta Georgia! The fabric reminded her of the Nielson Family Ranch and of JIMMY! I think it is only appropriate to include this important member of their family, thank you Sarah for thinking of Jimmy!

Thank you Eileen Wingfield in Seattle Washington.

Thank you Carrie Page in Murray Utah! Her fabric arrived from reprodepot.com, so cute!

Thank you Alexandra Pielech in Watertown Massachusetts!

Thank you Taraka Pyper in Spokane Washington!

Beauty

I love the idea of enjoying beauty while it graces you and we enjoyed every bit of beauty that graced us in Utah! We returned early morning Tuesday and we have been running to catch up ever since. I have received arm fulls of packages from you each day but I am scrambling to sew my daughters Halloween costume before her school party on Friday. I will be posting pictures of all the fabrics I have received from you by the end of the weekend. Thank you for your support, ideas, and comments! Stay tuned...beautiful fabric photos will be posted soon!

Surprise!

Guess what, I saw snow today! Sorry no new pictures of squares yet, I am still in Utah enjoying the lovely weather and family fun. I promise to post pictures upon my return next week!

Jumping for joy

Tonight I feel like jumping for joy, why?

1. My babies are sleeping.

2. My toilet is clean, dishes are done, and laundry baskets are empty.

3. In 48 hours I will be somewhere in Utah, family onboard, driving late into the night to enjoy a weekend of cool, crisp fall air and a date night with my Mr. Nielson. Our first night away from our children in 5 years!

(skipping, jumping, worrying...)

4. I just admired the fabrics and love notes you sent while photographing them to give you a small glimpse of the joy that will be sewn into the quilts.

Here they are...

Thank you Katie Schultz in Kansas City Missouri!

Thank you Natalie Hansen from Woodlands Texas!

(The picture doesn't show that there is several squares of each fabric!)

Thank you Lynne S. Oliver in Charleston Illinois!

(Several more squares!)

Thank you to the Browns in Indiana!

Thank you Laura Strickland in Louisville Kentucky!
(If you've never been to Phoenix, the sky feels huge here and this is what it looks like most days!)

Thank you to Stormy Peterson in Des Moines Washington!

Thank you to Christie Carter in Salt Lake City Utah!

(Oodles of cute fabric waiting for me to make into more piles of squares!)

Thank you Gail Ostrander from Colorado Springs Colorado!

Thank you to Carolyn Kunz in Milford New Hampshire!

Coming Soon...

...pictures of many more beautiful fabrics you have sent! I wish you all could be with me as I open the packages you send. I was overcome with emotion as I felt your love and prayers for the Nielsons. I am sure it is only a small dose of what they feel; you are truly amazing.

I spent the weekend "hanging out" with Nie's family and millions of others (probably some of you) watching LDS General Conference. I have been edified, uplifted, inspired, reminded, and loved. I know the Lord knows each of us and helps us hear the messages we need personally, even as He speaks through His servants to millions of His children. He knows us and He loves us. He is truly miraculous.
http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html

Ooooh! Aaaaah!

Seriously, I made these sounds at least 10 times while opening the box of fabric from Caroline in Texas. I have rarely seen so many cute prints and she literally sent stacks of them! Check out what she sent then visit her at http://www.pinklemonadebags.com/! Nie is going to love these...many many thanks Caroline!

Hugs & Kisses

My lifelong friend Natalie sent hugs and kisses from sunny California this week. She wrote to tell me the fabric was on its way and shared her shopping experience:

"...since you told me about Nie I have been so inspired. Today when I was in the fabric store the ladies in there started talking about C Jane's blog and how it has changed their lives. I piped in and told them that you were making quilts for the kids and that is what the fabric I was buying was for....One hour later, me and 4 other women were standing around the cutting table crying. I couldn't believe how much she has touched the lives of others. They were not LDS and I told them that I was. One of the ladies said, "Nie is such a great testiment to your faith. I really admire your commitment to your beliefs and the sacrifices you make." It is so great that this tragedy can have a silver lining. Nie is doing missionary work and she doesn't even know it. One lady said, "she has made me want to me a better mother and wife." Don't we all wish we could have that kind of effect on the people around us?"

The lady who owned the fabric store also gave her the fabric for free! Thank you miss Natalie, thank you fabric store owner, and most of all, thank you Nie for inspiring us to be better wives, mothers, and friends.

Email Angel

I received an email a couple of nights ago from Allyson in Alaska. She offered to machine quilt the quilts for free as well as donate the batting. I could not believe it!

Thank you Allyson!