Eighteen years of memories. Every year since he was born. Scraps of love--pajamas, shorts, quilts.
Can you find the
red and white stripe from his and Heidi's first matching Christmas pajamas?
light blue silky robe that was dragged through the SLC airport while he was being dragged bawling by Grandma Janie?
dinosaurs, Batman, geckos, African animals, even a skater pig?
blue-on-blue floral that was his bow tie at Aunt Karen's wedding when he was two?
red and blue print from a bandanna brought home from his trip to Mozambique with his dad?
twin elephants in red plaid pjs with entwined trunks--just like Heidi and Tucker when they wore these pajamas?
many Christmas plaids and even more bright stripes?
I've saved every piece for eighteen years, waiting for this moment. Heidi's wedding put me way behind on this project, but it was finished with one day to spare before he graduated from high school. I can't believe that he will be taking all those memories with him to BYU in sixteen days. How can I let him go? I just lost one child to adulthood. I can't let him go, too.
Two quilts in two years. (To see Heidi's quilt, click here.) These things are hard for moms. But this is what we want, right? Beautiful, brilliant, obedient kids that grow up to be productive, independent, fantastic adults? Adults that leave home . . . . and us.
I don't remember signing up for this. These next two weeks are going to be wonderfully hard. But I wouldn't trade with anyone for anything.
Linking up to Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.
This is beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI have 2 toddlers and I have a huge box of clothes i can't part with... this would be a beautiful project to make for them one day when they're off to college! Thank you for the beautiful inspiration!
Wow that is so amazing. How do you decide which pieces to include and save for the quilt? There would be so many options for us moms to choose from over the course of 18 years, how do you decide?! What does the back look like? I really think this is one of the most touching gifts I've seen :) Wishing you luck in the next two weeks...I've been ridiculously weepy ever since Taylor finished preschool on Friday!
ReplyDeleteMy mom made blankets like that for all of us. Such a neat keepsake...with memories in every look and touch.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great mom, and he is ready! But you're right, it will be a couple of wonderful, poignant weeks...
=)
what a labor of love (and storage space). That is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what to write to you about having a child go off to college. It feels so very far away for me, but heart-wrenching, just the same. And BYU is hardly college--it's an early adult playground. EFY for a few years! ;)
Those quilts are beautiful treasures! You are an inspiring do-er. Your great ideas are always taking shape. I could really use lessons in that :)
ReplyDeleteOk you have totally inspired me to make one of these for Griffin. I so wish I had done this for the others...Jen I have goosebumps!! LOVE this so much!!! And thinking of you during this time..I have 3 years until my oldest goes off to college. I'm trying so hard to savor every day before our family as I know it now changes. Beautiful post Jen.
ReplyDeleteJen , how special!!! I wish I would have done this!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment this morning! Well... V and I were high school sweethearts and we "decided" emm hmm to start our family in highschool. I had our first son while I was a senior. Then we had the next two boys right after we got married , so I had all 3 boys by the time I was 23. Our "baby" graduates this week. It seems like it can't be true.
There is nothing better than pur children thats for sure!
Have a pretty day,
Kristin
I have been saving t-shirts for a t-shirt quilt for each child....but sometimes I fear they won't care as much about it as I would. I love the idea of adding pj's to it. Great job!
ReplyDeletemy heart just melted into a million pieces! what a treasure item that they will love for ever!
ReplyDeleteWow! I wish I had thought of that when my kids were little and started saving. I guess I could start from now, but it wouldn't be as cool.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. What an absolutely amazing gift to give him... both the quilt and his new found independance.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most amazing thing EVER! Do you just save a piece of everything? How do you decide?
ReplyDeleteI s'pose I'd blocked it out that Tuck is leaving THAT soon. It makes me get a little teary, and I'm not even his Mom. I hate change, i really do.
Anyway, love the quilt, love you, love tucker, love it all!
What a great idea- I must start saving special things now, and then learn how to sew. You are such a great mom.
ReplyDeletep.s. We'll take care of him out here BYU will be great- as will the BYU creamery mmm
Ok...give me a sec...I'm a little teary. Such an amazing gift. I have a hard time getting rid of some of my son's clothing. It's not actually the clothes...but the memory of where we were or what we were doing at the time it was worn. It can just take you right back to that moment. My husband always tells me to get rid of the clothes because we have pictures. Is age 7 too late to start saving pieces?!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, the very thought of all those years, memories, moments...wrapped up in such a thing of love...it's too much to bear at times I bet. But good for you mom. You raised him well and off he goes to a good school with a wonderful reminder of all those years of love. Best wishes to you both!
ReplyDeleteSentimental to the max...and perfect for leaving the Nest. This must be an inspired idea, for sure. loving and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea!!!! I wish I would've seen this sooner!! I've always donated to either charities or less fortunate friends all of my sons clothes. I did keep a couple special things but nothing I could whip into a quilt!! Thanks so much for stopping by! Wouldn't it be nice if we ALL lived closer so we could help out with projects!? ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you got it done. It looks great. Wish I could have been there to help with it like Heidi's. Was he surprised?
ReplyDeleteAwwww... you just made me cry a little bit... I'm not so far past that feeling, and it's wonderful and incredibly sad all at the same time. My husband has learned to just let me cry it out. Of course we want them to grow up good and strong and independent. But would it be so bad to need mom just a little bit? (I'll tell you a secret - they still will!) Give it a little time, but with the first child, buying that first house, anything that's a little big and scarey - they come back and want your advice. It's great. They'll look at you like you're a genius. And you are.
ReplyDeleteLove the quilts. Those are not my talents, but you make me wish they were. Lovely tradition.
What a beautiful thing for both you and your son. I love this idea. I don't have any kids, but I do have a lot of clothes I have had a hard time parting with. This is a great solution!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt, it is such a great idea. I wish I had kept more now. I have a lot of their baby stuff, but not much else. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, even made me teary.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of you, hoping things go as smoothly and happily as possible!
Oh Jen it's beautiful! It things like this that possibly mean more to us than the kids...for now anyways. I'm going to do a similiar project, my kids think I'm crazy for saving their old clothes. (I haven't decided what size I need so I have a tote with ALL of it.)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the next few weeks!
Awwww...nothing sweeter (and more poignant) than a memory quilt!
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing and incredibly beautiful quilt! Wow, I can't imagine you've complete 2 of these! It's really amazing how you've collected so many memories and pieced them together to create such an incredible gift for your kids. That is really an amazing way to show you kids how much you love and treasure every little bit of them. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say that I understand how you're feeling right now but I don't have the slightest clue. E is still a baby (to me at least) so I can't even imagine what it will be like 18 years from now when she leaves our little nest.
I hope you enjoy these next 2 weeks with Tucker!
I absolutely LOVE this idea. Really, I teared up when I looked at it.
ReplyDeleteIf I start saving now, I can have 18 years worth for the twins, but my son is almost 3 and I didn't save any. I will begin to do so immediately!
And this gives me at least 15 years to learn how to sew/quilt/put it all together ;)
Thank you for sharing - it's absolutely inspiring.
What a beautiful tradition!
ReplyDeleteI remember how hard this time was - when our first left home for the first time I thought I was doing well, until I walked past his empty bedroom - then came the waterworks.
what a neat, neat thing. you are quite the mom, i am so inspired every time i visit you! Thanks for linking up to "AP Tuesdays!"
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing momma! What a great idea to use all those scraps from pj's, etc. Just went to a grad party today & saw a quilt that incorporated favorite t shirts from cross country & other sports. So if you haven't saved pieces from long ago, you could do it of their favorite high school t's! I will pray for you missing your 2 oldest kiddos~gonna be hard but I bet the other 4 monkeys will keep you busy!
ReplyDeletejust wanted to let you know i featured this post today. thanks again for linking up to "AP Tuesdays"
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing... if you have the time someday please post about how you made your love quilt! i have saved some baby clothes for my two with the same intention...but you've inspired me to keep saving!
ReplyDelete