A year has past. . .

A year ago today, Travis Kent Hunsberger paid the ultimate price for our freedom...he gave his life. In some ways this past year has flown by, in other ways, it has seemed eternally endless. It's been a year of grieving, fond memories, great hope of a heavenly reunion, memorial services, tributes, sharing, and caring. I've met people I probably might never have met had it not been for Travis' death, special people from all walks of life. The common bond is his life, and his love of life, and family, and friends, and his God, and his country. We all wish he were still with us, no doubt, but Travis is OK because he rests in the arms of his heavenly Father. And something else has happened to me too...I stand a little straighter when I see the flag, I pray more fervently for our servicemen, I take life one day at a time now, I love more deeply, and I understand more clearly that freedom is not free. To Steve, Ronda, Kyle, Sam, & Kelsey...thank-you for allowing me to be a part of so much of your lives this past year, I love you all so much! To Luis, Tony, Ramone & Emmy, Ron & Sylvia, Brian S., Brian D., Mike & LeAnna, Patrick, David, & Chris...thank-you for sharing the Travis you knew and for allowing me to be a part of your lives as well. It's been an honor and a privilege and I love you all! May God keep you safe as you continue to serve Him and our country, and may He grant you peace as well...To the many of you who have contributed in some way over the past year, a huge thank-you! You'll never know what your efforts have meant to so many. Please help me keep this project going...I will be revamping it and changing a few things in the new future, but am still taking all forms of donations. There is the possibility of another quilt delivery in the fall, I will let you all know soon...And as always, may the Lord bless you all and may He continue to bless America!

Remembering the fallen and those left behind. . .

I don't even know where to begin this entry. I've tried to keep this about the quilts and not get too personal, but after the week I've experienced, it's hard not to be personal. First, I need to once again offer a HUGE THANK-YOU to everyone who played a part in this project! Some donated finances, some donated quilt tops, whole quilts, free quilting, quilt blocks, and the finishing of the quilts by binding. And my understanding boss, Jeanette Prenkert, donated my work time to allow me to finish in the final days before I left.
I wish every one of you could have made the trip...I will carry with me the personal satisfaction of what we have done, for a lifetime. Unfortunately, we could do more. I saw several people who looked longingly at the quilts and I wished with all my heart I had more to give out. I would like to keep making and "stockpiling" so we don't get caught in a rush again, so if you're willing, keep 'em coming! They are most definitely appreciated! It has spoken volumes to many to know that we care enough to share our time, talents, and resources with those who are serving or have served us.
I was privileged to attend the Gold Star luncheon with Steve and Ronda, in which the families of fallen soldiers were recognized. I was overwhelmed, and not for the only time, at the realization that every table, and there were many, represented a family who had lost a loved one. At the Memorial Service, each name was read and a bell sounded for the names added to the wall...I cannot even put those feelings at that moment into words...sadness, pride, gratitude...don't even touch it. I met wives, mothers, fathers, and children of those men. Faces I'll never forget, I don't WANT to forget. The death of Travis brought the war home...meeting his team put another face on the war...this past week added another whole dimension for me. I have been changed since June 27th, 2008...I see life differently then ever before, I want to laugh more, live better, and love more freely. I have a new family and they reside in North Carolina...I miss them already. I've already received two emails from a sweet lady who tended to us at our get together Thursday night. Her husband is currently deployed, she calls me her new sister. I love it! But there is also alot of hurt and anger out there...pray for my friends to find peace. Some of them have seen and experienced more then you or I could begin to imagine.
The biggest lesson I've learned in the last year is this, we do not know what tomorrow holds...live with no regrets, be sure your loved ones know you love them, and be ready to meet your Savior. I'm not perfect in any way, but I'm doing my best to make my world better...God bless you all!
God Bless our soldiers and their families...

Names of Soldiers honored at the Memorial Service:
Fallen, but not forgotten. . .

SSG Jeremy E Bessa
SSG John C Brite
SSG Jason L Brown
SGT Nicholas A Casey
CPT Richard G Cliff, Jr.
SSG Josepg F Curreri
SSG Anthony D Davis
CPR Benjamin C Dillon
SPC Christopher Gathercole
SSG Travis K Hunsberger
SPC Thomas Duncan III
SSG Frank J Gasper
MSG David L Hurt
MAJ Robert D Lindendau
CPT Shane R Mahaffee
SSG Ryan D Maseth
CW3 Hershel D McCants, Jr.
SFC David L McDowell
SFC Jamie S Nicholas
SFC David Nunez
SGT Timothy P Padgett
SSG Robert J Paul
SSG Robert R Pirelli
CW3 John A Quinlan
SFC Jeffrey M Radamorales
SGT Nicholas A Robertson
SGT William P Rudd
MSG Shawn E Simmons
SSG David W Textor
SGT James E Treber
SFC Michael J Tully
SFC Gary J Vasquez
SPC Travis R Vaughn
CW5 Jamie D Weeks
SSG Joshua R Whitaker
MSG Mitchell W Young

Pictures of Quilts and North Carolina!!

Be patient as you watch the slide show, I had a hard time deciding what to post and what to leave out! Believe me, this is only about half of what I could've shown you! I will post details in another entry, this one is dedicated to pictures. Enjoy. . .

Memorial Day. . .

Memorial Day. . .what does that mean? This year it means something a little different to me, or maybe I just have looked at it a little differently. I spent today finishing up the quilts for our second phase of this project, adding labels, printing the information flyers, stitching the names of the soldiers receiving the quilts onto pillowcases. As I did so something was different, I was stitching names of several who have given their lives for me...and for you...the first time I did this project, it was for the men who served with Travis, all still with us, thank the Lord. Six of these quilts will go to family of men who didn't come home...I don't ever want to take for granted the sacrifices made by the men and women and their families who serve and protect us on a daily basis. I found myself thinking of the men I met in February, and thanking God again for their lives, and their willingness to go where I won't. I thought of Travis, so young, so full of life, and he gave it all, willingly. Today his mother buried her father...so much sadness in a year's time. And I will unashamedly admit, I wept...tears of sorrow for the losses we have faced, and tears of thankfulness for those who have served in the past and who do so now. Saying "Thank-you" just doesn't seem like enough. I did something else today I don't normally do, I put flowers on my daddy's grave...he's been gone for 35 years now but he proudly served his country during WWII. I honored his service and his memory today. Whatever your beliefs, there is one thing nobody can deny, without the soldiers of the past and present, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. So, the next time you see a man (or woman) in uniform, take time to shake their hand and say thank-you. For me personally, I want to say "Thank-you" to Kyle, Patrick, Ron, Mike, Brian S., Brian D., Chris, Tony, Ramone, David, & Luis for allowing me to put a face to those who serve, you are all special and unique and I am honored to know you!
I will be leaving tomorrow evening for North Carolina to deliver quilts, 31 total. So many people have pitched in and helped make this possible, it is incredible the way it came together!! I am excited to be able to visit Ft. Bragg and honored to be attending a memorial service while there. I will also, along with the Hunsberger's, get a chance to spend some time with Travis' unit again. Can't wait to meet their families!! I will post pictures of quilts and the trip when I get back.
God bless you all, and God bless America!

Quilt countdown

Donations of money, quilt tops, quilt blocks, and completed quilts have been coming in faithfully! Thank-you, thank-you! The number needed is 25, and if I've counted right, we are at 22. That is awesome!!! Tentative plans are to leave for North Carolina Tuesday May 26th. I will take all that are finished with me, hopefully that will be the whole 25. If you are working on a quilt and it won't be done on or before the day I leave, that's OK, it can still be used! I will try and post some pictures of the completed quilts so far, next week. Again, God bless you for giving to those who serve our country!

NEW PROJECT!!!

We have a new project!!!
I have been corresponding with LeAnna the wife of one of the men in Travis unit who helped arrange our first quilt project. When the men were here in February, we talked about the quilts and what it meant to them, and several expressed the need for others to receive the show of support and encouragement such as they did. I have learned of two units who have each suffered three losses. One of those lost 3 men the day after Travis died back in June. The other also lost 3 men this past October. One of those men was the father of a newborn. LeAnna and I talked and tried to decide which unit to bless with quilts...how do you choose? I feel God tugging at my heart telling me to take on both. That would mean around 25 more quilts. Right now I have 4 complete, 2 in the process of being made. That leaves 19. Obviously, I cannot sew them all myself. Lord knows I want to...I'm asking once again for your generosity of time, talent, and finances to see this next project to completion. I mentioned it a month or so ago and had no real idea where the next batch would go. Now that I know, I feel more compelled to get moving. What's my time frame?...well...I REALLY would like them finished as soon as we possibly can. Originally I was hoping for mid-April, that isn't feasible anymore, so I'm going to say end of May. I'm flexible, but that's my goal. We made the last goal in 2 1/2 months, surely we can do it again :) You may ask what's the rush...Travis' unit is deploying again and I'd like them to be in on the quilt-giving before they go. (They don't know I want them to do that yet.) So...will you once again partner with me to show honor and respect to the men and their families who give so much for each of us every day? Thank-you in advance, and God bless you. And as always...God bless America!

More pictures from our first Quilt Project. . .

I apologize for my picture postings being out of order, but I have put them on here at the time I receive them. I've had these for awhile, just haven't had a chance to do anything with them. I figure most of you don't care, you just enjoy looking at them :) These pictures are from Steve, Ronda, and Kelsey's visit to Ft. Bragg in January when the men returned to the States. It was great for me to see some of them with their quilts. Hope you think so too.