My Graduation Quilt

My mom is an amazing seamstress and quilter. When Brittney, Jace, and I graduated from high school, it was tradition for my mom to make us a quilt to take to college. She would spend hours making something to help us remember her and our home in Spokane as we embarked on our new adventure with college.

When I was getting ready to go to college, I opened my quilt from mom. You know the first thing I said? "Thanks Mom, but these weren't the colors I wanted for my dorm room." Can we say BRAT?!? Thinking of how I responded to this gesture still makes me sick. My mom reacted with class and didn't make a big deal of the situation, and I went on my merry way. A few hours later I went out to the front porch and found my mom with tears streaming down her face. My heart broke. She had put so much time and love into that quilt, and I dismissed it without gratitude. How selfish I felt. We spent a few hours on that porch talking about life, growing up, leaving home, and more. My mom and I grew closer that evening on the porch. Even though I am still disgusted when I think of how I initially acted, I am grateful for this experience because I learned so much from my mom, how she handled the situation, what she taught me, and the mother-daughter/friend relationship I treasure.

I ended up using this quilt on my bed in college for many, many years. Every time I felt a twinge of homesickness, I would look at the quilt and remember my mom and her amazing love for me. This quilt is now one of my most prized possessions.

Why am I telling you this story? We are at my in-laws house where we still have some boxes we are keeping here for storage. I was digging through one box this evening, and found this quilt. Tears came to my eyes. I love this quilt. It is coming home with me to Texas.