Sunday, August 24, 2014

God's Timing, Always Perfect

I am always surprised when God shows me exactly who a quilt goes to. Why, I am surprised I do not know because it has happened over and over again since I began this ministry.

When my mom passed, I was working on a Redwork hand embroidered lap quilt, I thought it would be so neat over the back of the sofa, then I met one of her amazing Hospice nurses and found out this lovely woman was even coming by on her days off and I knew, her name was on that quilt.

I was working on a baby quilt and getting ready to sell it, when someone told me about a little baby who was very ill in the hospital and God led me to give this quilt to the baby and his family. He is thriving now!

There were the 2 identical quilts I received after the OSO landslide, identical with the exception one was blue and one was green and one came from WA and the other from CA. I had unpacked them, inventoried then and didn't give it a thought until one night I saw two young sisters who had lost their home and their parents, and I knew, God wanted these quilts to go to them.

As you know, I have struggled recently to finish a quilt for a male, my hands aren't doing as well as they used to, I can't sit as long as I used to, my quilting space is extremely hard to work on and yet, I continued working on it.

I also knew in this ministry that I do for 911 operators and first responders that sooner or later I would be making or asking for a quilt for someone from my old department. They say 'it's a small world,' however the world of 911 emergency dispatchers and law enforcement is even smaller.

Last week I was on Facebook when an old trainee/supervisor I had posted about a police officer who lost a kidney to cancer about 1`0 years ago and is now on the transplant list for another kidney and is set to start dialysis.

This officer was the one, I enjoyed taking ride alongs with, who once made me laugh so hard about a women in the lobby who wanted to report IBM Selectric typewriters were in a warehouse somewhere stealing every word she said...I had to walk away or wet my pants.

This officer was the go to officer I could count on when I had a trainee and needed to have a mentally unstable call come in for training because he could pull the entire call off without cracking his voice or laughing and he did a great job.

This officer and I used to spend the very quiet week-ends pulling warrants and doing warrant arrests and we did so quietly and easily and as a team. He has such a great sense of humor that no one got angry and many times they just said, 'you got me.'

I haven't talked to him since long before I left the department, I broke my leg and was taken out of dispatch and worked records at night. When I retired his girlfriend (one of my trainee's and later promoted to supervisor) is the one who set up a cake to say good-bye. They are still together and I haven't talked to either of them.

Yet, I feel this quilt has taken so long because God wanted it to make the trip to Goodyear and warm this officer while he endures dialysis and hopefully brings him comfort knowing God chose his quilt, I am just the delivery person!

If I get the binding done tomorrow, I will post the completed picture!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

If You Choose To Be A No-Reply...I Can't Answer Your Questions

I hope this helps all of you to mail your quilts off a bit quicker.

I have added an icon on the right side of this blog that will take you to the mailing address for your quilts.

With that said HOWEVER...I cannot respond to your questions if you chose to be a 'NO REPLY,' blogger and do NOT leave me with a way to contact you.  This not only causes my heart to break, but at times it causes hard feelings because quilters feel I am ignoring them when I am not, I just cannot respond back to your questions.

If you are not aware you are a 'NO REPLY, ' blogger, please go to this link and follow the instructions to check and see: http://www.sweetsimplicityblog.com/2009/08/noreplyblogger.html.

If you are worried I will spam you, I promise I will not. You can leave your email in your question as an example:
  1. jane dot doe @yahoo dot com
  2. janedoe at yahoo.com
  3. janedoe at yahoo dot com
 Just please give me some way to reach you.  If you need to respond, you can directly email me on the link on the right side of this page.

When we were collecting quilts for Oso, I had an instance of someone being a no reply, I left them a message on the post comment they left, I answered in a separate post and on my Facebook page. What I got in return was hostility for not responding, however I had responded the only way I could.

So please, if you need the address, it is all over this blog, you can check us out on Facebook as well. However if you choose to respond anonymously with just a name and no way for me to reply back to you, I will not this waste precious time to contact you as it takes up so much time and in the end many times we are both still left frustrated!

My email is compassionatequilter@rocketmail.com 

Address For Layers of Hope

The address to send quilts to is as follows:

Layers of Hope - Quilting 911/Jean Kester
18740 Ivan Street SW
Rochester, WA  98579

If you prefer to donate money there is a donate icon on the right side of the blog. We are still diligently working on our non-profit status so any checks or money orders must be made out to me or they cannot be cashed.
 

Another Thank You

I always want to share with you the thanks I receive for all you do to support this ministry.  This note came into our Facebook page and is from Lisa Smith one of the hard working daily dedicated volunteers who worked the HUB when the Oso slide hit.

'I want all of the quilters to know how much you are appreciated, even more than words can express. You greatly helped with the healing process post Oso Mudslide, and you continue to help with the Carlton fire survivors. I have family in the Methow Valley. They do not have the access or facilities we were privileged to have on this side of the mountains. I can tell you that every quilt you make is very much needed and greatly appreciated. Thank you for all you do.'

Lisa has family in the Methow Valley area of Washington where some of the worst wildfires hit in our state. But how awesome she took time to tell all of you thank you!
 

Friday, August 22, 2014

First Came the Fires, Now the Rain Brings Flooding and Mud Slides...Please Help!

First came the horrible wildfires in the eastern part of Washington recently especially bad was the Carlton fire. Now, as our state is beginning to turn the corner from summer to fall, as predicted the rain is falling and falling hard in this area and with the rain after the fires has come flooding and now mudslides.

http://q13fox.com/2014/08/22/from-fires-to-floods-a-wall-of-water-burst-into-the-house-started-floating-the-furniture/ 

Our governor has had to file an appeal with FEMA and President Obama because they so far are refusing any aide to this area that has been so devastated and the quilt shelves here at Layers of Hope Quilting 911 sadly have few quilts left.

We have 133 quilts and of those 70 are infant sized leaving us with 63 quilts of which are adult and lap sized, we are in desperate need for adult sized quilts in unisex colors and we need them ASAP.

We were blessed to have someone volunteer to deliver this coming week, however, how can we send just a few? Who would we chose to receiving them and how would those feel who get left out?

So many of you were amazing and reached out  during the Oso landslide and we gathered 500 quilts of which over 300 were delivered to the areas of Arlington, Oso and Darrington.  

The 133 we have on hand were those left over when we were told our commitment to this area was completed. So back into the closets and we wait to pass them out to those in need in other areas.

Today, I have completed 10 handwritten notes to quilters who have supported us in the past. I am asking all of you, please, if you cannot send a quilt at this time, just grab our button on the sidebar and pass it around to quilters, knitters and crocheters that you know, help me get the word out.

I am one person, together, we are many!! 

Address is:
Jean Kester 18740 Ivan Street SW Rochester, WA  98579 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Washington Quilt Needs

Today I was doing inventory of the quilts I have on hand for the Washington Wildfire families and I was so disappointed in the numbers, I wanted to sit down and cry!

We have exactly 133 quilts on hand, out of those 70 are baby quilts, 23 are lap sized quilts (22 female and 1 male). We have 12 large twin or larger for men and 28 same size for women.

In the Carlton Complex fire alone from last count I have is that 325 homes were completely gone. That is 325 families without homes, FEMA had turned them down for assistance so they are not only without homes, our government has told them they aren't going to help them.

Governor Jay Inslee is appealing the decision made by FEMA/President Obama, these missing homes do not include the many storage buildings, barns, businesses that make up a community.

Winters are cold in Eastern Washington and I have already sent one quilt out to a 911 dispatcher and her husband who lost their home in Okanogan.

Please, we must get word out, we need at least double the number of large quilts, we do not need baby quilts at this time and we need to get them here by October before the passes get to the point, I can no longer drive over them.

Remember, the address to send them to is:
Jean Kester
18740 Ivan Street SW
Rochester, WA  98579

Please help me fill a cargo van full of quilts to take in October!

Todays Quilt Inventory

Today I was doing inventory of the quilts I have on hand for the Washington Wildfire families and I was so disappointed in the numbers, I wanted to sit down and cry!

We have exactly 133 quilts on hand, out of those 70 are baby quilts, 23 are lap sized quilts (22 female and 1 male). We have 12 large twin or larger for men and 28 same size for women.

In the Carlton Complex fire alone from last count I have is that 325 homes were completely gone. That is 325 families without homes, FEMA had turned them down for assistance so they are not only without homes, our government has told them they aren't going to help them.

Governor Jay Inslee is appealing the decision made by FEMA/President Obama, these missing homes do not include the many storage buildings, barns, businesses that make up a community.

Winters are cold in Eastern Washington and I have already sent one quilt out to a 911 dispatcher and her husband who lost their home in Okanogan.

Please, we must get word out, we need at least double the number of large quilts, we do not need baby quilts at this time and we need to get them here by October before the passes get to the point, I can no longer drive over them.

Remember, the address to send them to is:
Jean Kester
18740 Ivan Street SW
Rochester, WA  98579

Please help me fill a cargo van full of quilts to take in October!



Monday, August 11, 2014

The Faces Don't Lie

It has been a long journey for those who lost their homes, all their possessions, their animals, family and friends in the horrific landslide that occurred in Oso, WA this year.

Sad to say until then, I don't ever recall hearing about Oso, after all it is such a tiny little place where neighbors help neighbors, everyone knows everyone and they help each other out.  If you blinked, you would miss it driving through the beautiful country side.

My first visit up there, I met three incredible women...Joy, Irma and Pastor Sandy who are just the most amazingly loving people and so full of joy and compassion. 

I met Joy first, looking for someone to help me out with a quilt contact in Oso, Joy's son in Texas was raising money for a family, I contacted him and within minutes Joy and I were on the phone talking and making plans.

The first trip up there, we met at the local Dairy Queen parking lot and with Joy was Irma, a spunky woman who lights up when she is talking to you like you are family and with these three women, you feel like family.

Joy and Irma were our guides that day (myself and Tomboy granddaughter). Our first stop was at the local funeral home who were part of burying those gone. The look on the funeral director's face was of shock and surprise as I don't think anyone had ever thought of what they go through during these times, burying so many.

The Marysville fire department was next and a few tears from those men when they realized the quilts were for them and their brothers and sisters that were first on scene.  Without knowing it I was told my hands formed a heart. Maybe it because as a retired dispatcher I have so much love in my heart for first responders.
We then drove to Oso and dropped off quilts for survivors and fire personnel. Joy had been there the week prior and dropped off a bunch at that time as well as dropping off enough quilts for every chaplain that got on scene and remained.  We need to always remember those first responders whether they be volunteers or not.

We then continued our drive up through the devastation and to say I cried most of the way, while granddaughter took photos is an understatement, my heart was torn up.
 Unless you were there driving through the area, smelling the nauseating smells, seeing the horrible carnage, watching it on the television trust me when I say, you will never understand.  We didn't get up there for at least a month, but you could still feel the heaviness and there were still bodies buried that I am now able to say have all been recovered.

These people will never rebuild, they will never get their lives back the way they were a week, day or even minutes before the mountain came sliding down.  Many I am told, have left the area for lack of housing availability or pain.

We were able to have lunch this first day with Pastor Sandy at the Darrington UMC, a tiny church consisting of mainly older parishoners, but with a small package of joyful dynamite as a pastor, she told us about the loss, how hard it was to have to drive all the way around for jobs (employers didn't cut people any slack), and how much she was working with families and volunteers.

The granddaughter walked away that day with an understanding of how lives can be changed in a blink of an eye and she wrote a paper about it.

The quilts kept arriving, we kept rearranging the house to make more room. Tons of infant and baby quilts arrived and we delivered those that were requested, but the population up in Oso didn't have that many little ones, so we donated a box full to Quilts of Compassion right after the tornadoes hit this year. We knew they would have a huge need and we wanted to bless others as well.

When we were leaving the church, Pastor Sandy and Irma began talking chickens. Seems that these two ladies raise chickens and when they get together, well, lets just say Joy calls them the crazy chicken ladies!

The next trip up two weeks later, I took Diva girl and we delivered to the Arlington PD who were also on scene and lost family friends. Remember, Oso is the mid-point between Arlington and Darrington and it cut many people off!
These men and women were very excited when the quilts came in and thank you to the officers and my diva girl for carrying them in for me.  The quilt they chose to hold up reminds me that this tragedy will never dim their resolve to move forward!

We delivered more to the Arlington Fire Department:
These men were so amazed that we were bringing them gifts, but they were so happy to stop for a few minutes and talk to us about Oso.

We also delivered more to the funeral home in Arlington that took care of family and friends they grew up  with and came to love and even for them who deals with death, this was different.

Another amazing women I met was Jana Hecla who had been reaching out and helping since day one and if you have never met the Ever Ready Bunny, let me tell you this it she! From dawn to deep into the night, Jana drove her and her granddaughter non-stop to pick up supplies, food, over the mountain into Seattle, it didn't matter if they had a need Jana was there! On this day, she received a quilt for herself and her granddaughter. She cried, only this time, I told her...'no tears, I didn't want my mascara to run!'

By this time, I knew the routine to get over the mountain to Darrington and we arrived in line just in time to go with the caravan. We met up with a couple from Pastor Sandy's church to drop off more quilts and then to the community center to drop off 65 handmade fleece blankets.

We were starving and were told Burger Barn made the best burgers and shakes in Darrington. We found out later they are the O N L Y burger place in Darrington so they would make the best. They were fantastic and got us food in time to get us back over the mountain.

We knew we were going to make another trip to volunteer at the Oso Caring fund raiser, but this time we were not only giving quilts but our time.
 The picture above is myself with one of the volunteers that showed up to help at The Hub and was there everyday, she gave us a tour, talked about reaching out and helping others, it was an amazing thing to know so many people care! Of course the oldest grand wanted in on it as well!
Our delivery this day was for a specific number of quilts that were going directly to survivors! I didn't want to leave. During times like these I always want to be involved and help where I can!


This lady is a local fire volunteer and came up to thank me for the quilts and all we did to let everyone know they were loved! I explained this is NOT me, this is God's ministry and I have a quilting army that went beyond my wildest dreams!

The area has changed. There will be no more homes built, the mountain I am hearing will probably slide again one day and when it does, my prayer is no one will be in the area.

Saturday, once again we made the trip back up to Darrington, this time for a picnic we had been invited to and for a surprise for Pastor Sandy who in spite of what people believe about the area...is still working to help families and friends, still counseling the survivors and volunteers, still daily driving for miles to reach people.

This time, thanks to Sue of The Magpie's Nest in Mt. Vernon, Pastor Sandy was getting her own quilt, one with chickens on it and this time, she wasn't going to be able to say no...




I couldn't show these before because I was concerned somehow someone would find them and show Pastor Sandy, but Sue did an amazing job and you can find out more about Sue at:
Sewing Magpie blog, so stop by and tell her Jean from Layers of Hope sent you over to say hello!

On our way up, we stopped in Marysville, at the DQ again only we were picking up quilts from a lady whose cousin lives in Texas, but brought her out the quilts on a visit to be picked up by myself.

These beautiful quilts or handsome since they are all for males were made by the San Antonio Modern Quilt Guild and the one I am holding was made by Sarah Jimenez, who contacted me to let me know where I could pick them up!

Karen and her dog lucky are just another two wonderful and amazing people/animals I can add to this journey of those I would love to sit and visit with for hours!


Oh how I wish this picture really captured the sheer joy and squeals that came out of this amazing lady of God when she turned this quilt over and realized it was full of chickens. I thought she was going to hug all the air out of me, she was so happy.

This is what this ministry is about, this is what all of you are about, bringing joy and warmth to people during their darkest hours, in the midst of pain and shock and confusion, you are reaching out and bringing a piece of home to them, you are giving them something they can start a new chapter of their life with and it matters!

I cannot possibly hug all of you, but if I could, I would and someday I want to take a journey to meet some of you and share an hour of your life to let you know that:

You Matter!  You Make a Difference! You Touch Lives and Hearts!
Through all their loss and pain, you let them know people care, strangers care and the world is not all full of the bad news we see everyday.

These are the faces of tragedy, but they are also the faces of resolve and hope.  The yellow ribbons no longer line the bridge to Oso, the fire department is no longer full of people, but the people are moving forward.

Please, we have a great need for quilts for the Washington Wildfire families, look at these faces and know you do make a difference and reach out.

Quilts can be sent to me:
Jean Kester 18740 Ivan Street SW Rochester, WA  98579






Friday, August 8, 2014

Where Is Everyone?

I was absolutely shocked last evening when I noticed in my blogging stats that Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 has had over 126,000 blog views! You read that right, 126,000. 

With that many views we are doing something right and I need to ask if you are a quilter who pops in to see what we are doing, please please grab our button on the side bar and add it to your blog. 

Please take a moment to link a post back to us about our quilting and gathering of quilts and let everyone you know, be aware we are gathering quilts for the Washington Wildfire families.

I know, trust me, I know there are thousands of charities out there wanting quilts and we are always being asked for one more, but perhaps you can do as several of our followers are doing and commit to 1, 2, 4 or more quilts per year.

You don't have to send them during crisis, but it would be nice to do so, what we need to do is start building up the surplus so we can have then ready to go when the need arises. So, if you send them during the year we will keep our shelves stocked.

Help us continue to help our amazing 'unseen 911 heroes and first responders' during times of crisis and others during times of disaster, please help me continue to reach out to those that are so touched when we bless them for the jobs they do!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Pick Up Your Copy

I just received this notice from Women's Day magazine regarding Layers of Hope - Quilting 911. I sure hope it helps us get more quilts for those in need!

Just a note to let you know that your item about quilting for 911 dispatchers will be in the Kindness Project column for our October issue, on newsstands Sept. 19. Thank you for being one of our active readers and have a great rest of summer!
-- 
Lauren Spencer
COPY EDITOR
Woman’s Day