Quilts for the Kims

Quilts for the Kims
Originally uploaded by mama's doodles.

This is my quilt square done for Sabine Kim, 7 mo.

I've probably mentioned a time or two that I have a Masters in Counseling and my professional life has been devoted to working with kids. This is one of many short stories I have in a resource cabinet - designed to open discussion about grief and loss. I've always thought it a touching point of view.

My quilt square depicts this short story and I will send the story along with it:

"In the bottom of an old pond lived some grubs who could not understand why none of their group ever came back after crawling up the lily stems to the top of the water. They promised each other that the next one who was called to make the upward climb would return and tell what had happened to him. Soon one of them felt an urgent impulse to seek the surface; he rested himself on the top of a lily pad and went through a glorious transformation which made him a dragonfly with beautiful wings. In vain he tried to keep his promise. Flying back and forth over the pond, he peered down at his friends below. Then he realized that even if they could see him they would not recognize such a radiant creature as one of their number.

The fact that we cannot see our friends or communicate with them after the transformation which we call death is no proof that they cease to exist."

by Walter Dudley Cavert
Remember Now
© 1944, 1971

Excuse my poor photo. It's night-time, I had to use the flash, and this is too big to fit on my scanner. The block is mostly pink, but I used blue and green for the Lily stems and pond. I included round flowers in the background - to represent the circle of life & there is one flower to represent each family member.

Quilts for the Kims

The tragedy faced by the Kim family was especially touching on so many levels. The loss of life, a father, a friend, a husband. He was so young. Bad things aren't supposed to happen to good people that are that young. Or, at least I liked to think that they didn't. My husband and I have been fond of driving our little family into unknown depths just for the sake of private camping. Through snow and mud, & sometimes alone. The dangers seemed benign at the time, but the passing of James Kim has given that a different perspective for me. Suddenly, I realized more profoundly that although we are young, we are not immune to simple life altering mistakes and even tragedy.

I know that I was -only one- of the millions who envisioned themselves doing what James Kim did. Not only did he lose his life so that his family might live...but he did bring so many in the world a tiny bit closer. I imagine that through this family's suffering... we were all drawn a bit closer to our spouses. I imagine we all hugged our children especially snug. I imagine there are more, than just I, who felt something in common with the Kim family. Those few days after Thanksgiving are ones that still weigh heavily on my mind. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of loss, as it is faced in totality by the Kim family.

There is an auction of handmade artisan goods being conducted to benefit the family. I was still pondering what I could make, when it was announced that the auction was full!! I noticed this quilt effort building some time ago and I have decided to join it - in the event the finished memento might bring some solace to the family.



22 people have been assigned to create one, 12x12 inch, quilt block that coordinates with a border/backing fabric.
• 2 crib size quilts will be created. I've been assigned to building a block for Sabine's quilt.
• The Quilt blocks are due by January 19th.
• We're also to send a short note along with the block to place in a little album which will be sent along with the quilts.