My parents taught me early to share. I won't say I always liked it. My home was always full that's for sure. the funny thing is Mom never did her own kids scrapbooks. She told me we owned the originals, we didn't need the books. She is warped but I love her. Our house had 6 bedrooms. I shared a room with 3 other girls. It was like the Waltons meets the Adams family. My father was a lot like Fred Flintstone yelled and was always right. He is the best. My mom is great most of the time. She likes to see me as her baby still because I am the youngest. Normally I don't mind but at times it does get out of hand. but I love her. Rachel

911kitchen wrote: That's beautiful, thanks for sharing. Your folks were very special, I can see how they could make a difference in those kids' lives. And it sounds like they influenced you, as well!

Beautiful story, Rachel! The world could use a lot more people like your folks!

My parents were foster parents for over 40 years. When I turned 12 they started taking in the really hard kids. The ones who most likely would never go back to their parents. They were teenagers and basically no one wanted them. We did though (most still call or come back). Anyway my mom would insist that they bring photos and momentos. What ever they could get from their old homes. Some could get nothing. The first thing we did was take their photo. Next we would give them a journal. My mother was great at scrapbooking back then. When every child left our home they left with a book full of memories. Every movie, carnival, field trip, reportcard,ect... you name it. She always started the book with "Old News" ,"The New You", and when they left she would write "The next chapter is up to you...only you can choose." Many have gone on to be wonderful parents and credit my parents for it. I know has nothing to do with quilting but my mom didn't like to sew lol. If she did though they would have had memory quilts. Rachel

I saw a bit on my local news yesterday morning - I wish they would post a video link on their website but I couldn't find one. It was a lady in Columbus Oh who would work with children who had lost a parent. She would have them select articles of clothing, buttons, jewelry, etc, belonging to their parent and then assist them in designing their own memory quilts dedicated to their lost loved ones. The things the kids brought in - old ties, pajama pants, tee shirts - each thing was a memory for these children. It was wonderful to see them smile and even laugh as they talked about what each thing on their quilts meant to them. Very touching

Also, my dh still has his father's dress shoes, his keys, and a few of his ties - his father died in 1984 and I would never even THINK of getting rid of those. The shoes are on our shoe rack, the ties are on the tie rack, and the keys are in a drawer and that is where they will stay until he decides to part with them.

To true I found an old tattered quilt in the basement of my hubby's Gramma's basement. His aunt said that she was certain that Dad threw that out. Apparently Mom saved it. I am currently trying to fix it. No one knows I have it except hubby's aunt. She said if anyone would tressure it it would be me and smiled. I also found a whole bunch of various quilt blocks and boy are the peices in these blocks tiny. I am trying to decide the best way to preserve them. that would honor the Great grand mother that made them in 1901. I am definately open to suggestions Rachel

Rachel
My grandma made my Katie a quilt when she was born, the quilt is now 27yrs old and has see her 2 children and is now put away for theirs. So even if it is in bad shape you need to keep those things.....Jean

To true about honoring those who are alive and when they pass giving those who want some of the possesssions a time line as to when they will no longer be available. What sarrows me about that whole story is that the entire summer these people could not be bothered to see thier mothers pain. I as a hospice nurse would tell my patients families to at least take 6 months if not a year before making major decissions. Unless they are made out of financial necessity. But do not throw away anything or move unless absolutely necessary. If you can not stand to look at the loved ones belongings and if possible then place the possessions in a room and close the door, or box them up and put them in the basement until you can face the memories. I can not tell you how many people tell me that on the first anniversary of the death the family would open these boxes and then divide up the belongings and remember and smile cry and laugh. Usually I will get a call or I will run into one of the family members and be told it was the best advise anyone could have given them. If you would like a funny personal memory my MIL died when my oldest was not quite 2years old. She loves peanut butter cups and he always called them Gramma Brenda candies. Their night time routine was read the Cat In The Hat and eat a mini PB cup. To this day his favorite book is The Cat In The Hat and PB cups are still called Gramma Brenda candies. He is now 14 1/2 years old. Some memories will never die Rachel

Sometimes, it is important to honor the SURVIVING SPOUSES wishes. It cause pain and hardship to hold on to items that belong to the spouse that you have no use for. When my father in law died his kids wanted to save a lot of his belongings which I could respect but they wanted to save it at my mother in laws home. ( I made my husband take the things he wanted to our home. Tje belonging live in his den as a great memorial. He built a beautiful shadow box wall hanging of the " so called junk.) The other sibblings did not want to take the time to come and get the stuff they wanted. My mother in law needed to clean out his place so she could have her sister move in with her. ( A financial and emotional neccessity.) Ultimately she gave them over the summer to come and get the belongings. The remainder she sold in a garage sale then dontate to Goodwill or into the trash.

I know there were some hard feelings over the decision by the procrastanators but it was a necessary decision made by the woman who lived in the home, honored her husband while he was alive and needed to move on. It is one thing to want to honor a parent, a relative. As mush as I understand the need for family history. I always feel you should honor your loved ones while they are alive.

Maybe I will feel different about my own " TREASURES but I already made my quilters will out so it is ready to go. "

When my aunt was desperately trying to clean out her mother's house so she could move her into a senior apartment, she threw out a Victrola and a whole bunch of old Victrola records!

I have a problem with sentimental stuff, too. My daughter is now 21, and I still have a large basket sitting by my family room fireplace jammed to the gills with all her old stuffed animals that she played with as a child. I can still remember them all spread out over the floor, with her talking to each one (lecturing, really!).

I am trying to get my act together to make one Christmas ornament out of the fabric for each quilt I have made. My kids can split them up when I'm gone because they all have memories of all the decisionmaking and show-and-tells they endured while they were in progress!

BethMI

This topic reminds me of how my Mom acted when we cleaned out my Dad's closet after he died. My sister and I wanted to keep stuff and she kept saying "why would you want that junk, that's just silly". We wanted things that were his and parts of his life and she thought we were just being silly and sentamental. She couldn't see why certain things would mean something to us. It took a while and we had to fight her to stop throwing stuff out until we went through it, but she finally realized that he was OUR DAD and if it meant something to US then it wasn't her job to say we couldn't have it. She didn't need to understand why we wanted something, she just needed to allow us to want what we wanted for our own reasons!

That's why to some people, an old quilt is just a rag, but they need to respect that it might mean alot to someone else.

Sorry to ramble so, but it touched a nerve, I guess! Rain all day here in western NY. NA

I made one of my grandsons a couple of quilts when he was born. He really attached to his "cowboys" and has loved it to death. The other set of grandparents feel it should be disgarded because it can be replaced with something from Target. I feel this quilt is a very important bond between my grandson and I.

Mandy I can to have a special doll that I fixed my self. It is the only thing left from my childhood. My aunt sent all my posessions home in garbage bags after spending 3 weeks with her. It was the only time my brother took out the garbage without being asked. Every thing a little girl holds dear was in those bags. Then 5 years later same brother decided to gut my bedroom and fix it while I was on a trip. Needless to say that was disasterous. My hubby laughed when he seen my dolly setting at such an important place Then I reminded him of the stuff he kept in the garage, in the basement, in his top dresser drawer, and in our closet. Including alittle peice of silk that was part of his baby blanket. He firmly denies it but I have witnesses who can testify otherwise plus I have photos. I also have his Yankees jacket from when he was 2 hanging in the closet. Rachel

I am the recipient of the family heirlooms including the Civil War quilt and various other quilts from the family. I am trying to teach my own children not to throw away any of the family's heritage. I also have my teddy bear that I have of picture of with me holding it when I was 2 years old. At some point, one of my pets chewed the paws and I had to sew it back together, but I still love it. I have saved a lot of my own children's dolls and have them sitting on the bed when the grandchildren come to sleepover at Gramma's. Judy in AZ