More than twenty years ago, my Mom and I tried our hand at quilting. We searched aisle after aisle of fabric stores looking for matching cotton prints and solids. The options were endless. Because I have red-green color deficiency, I always deferred to Mom’s sharp eye for the final decision of each purchase. I still have a few of our initial attempts.

It wasn’t long before we decided to advance our efforts. For weeks, we sewed eight-pointed star patchwork blocks and connected them into a full-size bedspread top. We hadn’t measured the top, didn’t know how to attach the backing, and had no way to quilt such a monstrosity. We folded the half-finished quilt and unused fabric, stashed it in a drawer, and forgot about it when Mom entered the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Efforts to have the top quilted faded along with her memory. After eight years of struggling, Mom passed in 2010.

My sister-in-law, Lana, who lived in Dahlonega, Georgia, with my brother, Rob, also fell in love with quilting. I’d seen many of the quilts she created for family and friends. Four years ago, my husband and I were honored when she surprised us with a beautiful tapestry for our 50th anniversary.

Each time I looked at it, I’m reminded of the unfinished project my Mom and I worked on. The memory was bittersweet. I loved all the laughter and joy Mom and I had experienced sewing it, but I was sad that we never finished what we started.

I asked Lana if she knew of a quilting club or church group that might want to complete it for a social event. During one of their visits to Missouri, she took the material with her. As often happens when things are out of sight, the quilt top seldom entered my mind over the following years. I was too busy writing novels and weaving baskets to ask what happened to the top.

Meanwhile, we were thrilled when Lana and Rob decided to move back to Missouri. Instead of quarterly visits, rushing around trying to see all the relatives in a few days, we have weekly visits playing Euchre, sharing meals, and laughing at family anecdotes.

Recently, I had a tough week. A dear friend passed, my bestie experienced a painful tragedy, the transmission went out in one car, the other car had brake issues, the garage door broke, and so on.

Knowing we lacked transportation to come see them, Lana called to see if we’d be home for a visit. Of course, we were happy for a distraction from our woes. Just knowing they were coming over brightened our day.

Imagine my surprise when Lana arrived with a bundle in her arms. I recognized the fabric and fought back tears when I saw the finished quilt. She’d been working on it for weeks. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. It was the silver lining to a very cloudy week.

What silver lining have you seen lately? I’d love to hear about it.