Breaking the News. . .

I tried to put it off as long as I could, just in case Tim's blanket turned up in the laundry or stuffed in a pillow case or jammed between the seats in the van, but the time finally came. Once again he asked for his blanket. The one I am sure is now in some vast lost and found pile in the hotel we stayed at, or on the ground, blackened by asphalt after falling unnoticed out of the van at a rest stop. The one that I lovingly patched up for him just a few days before our trip. I had to confess that it had been left behind, and we were not likely to get it back. His chin wrinkled as his mouth pulled into a little frown and I could see a hint of tears in his eyes as he looked up at me. He looked thoughtful and remembered that he has another blanket that he doesn't use as much and said, "But I still have my car blanket, right?" What a little trooper.

The older kids felt his pain and pulled fabric out of the scrap box and began to sew him a new blanket. They each started working on a separate square to sew together into one quilt. They thought it would be a good idea for them to make felt people that looked like them on their squares so Tim would know who made each one. I'll be surprised if it ever gets fully finished, but I think it is such a sweet thing they are doing for him!