Campfollower's Log cabin

There are so many other bloggers that inspire me. Some of them inspire me with their writing, and some inspire with their deeds. Campfollower or Tia as she is probably know to her RLF is one of those bloggers who inspires me with her deeds.

Tia is a military spouse whose husband is stationed in Australia, her pictures of that beautiful country are inspiration on their own.

But that is not what I am inspired by. I am inspired by Tia’s work. She creates bags out of military uniforms. On her website she writes..

    “So there is a bit of my background. I am an Army wife through and through. Born and bred . I understand the loneliness of being separated from your spouse so often. I understand the worry you carry around for your mate each time they leave. I have taught all three of my children to pray for the Lords Angels to surround and protect their father and his troops. I understand how nice it is to have a piece of your husband with you. This is where the bags come in.”

The bags are beautiful and she uses a lot of mouthwateringly fabulous Amy Butler fabric and the quilting. Oy! The machine quilting is AWESOME. I’m not a machine quilter but I’ve seen enough stippling to make my eyes cross and enough stars to bore me senseless….I love seeing Tia’s creative quilting and designs it is an artwork on to itself. (Check out her Etsy shop)

But all that, is still not what inspires me. Do you see that quilt there? The one at the top of the page? Tia made that for a three year old girl. The three year old’s father was a marine. He was a marine.

He won’t wear that uniform that forms the center block of that log cabin ever again. He won’t scoop up that little girl wrapped in the pink and camo quilt and carry her to bed. He won’t be coming home.

Tia makes these quilt for families who have lost their military men and women in the line of duty. She calls them Hero Quilts. And she donates her time and skill to making memories that last for families who are grieving.

I am inspired by her creations of love for those who have lost theirs. I’m inspired by the time she takes to think about others and their needs. And there are days where I want to be just like her and there are days I wonder if I would have the emotional stability to cut up uniform after uniform of Heros who weren’t coming home.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but I’m fairly sure that my husband won’t be shot by a sniper on his way to his office job at the local college. I’m overly confident that the college won’t be bombed and that tomorrow night we’ll sit together over dinner laughing at the antics of our young sons. I have the same confidence that the boys and I will survive our trip in and out of town in the ‘crunchy car’.

I am grateful to those who protect my lifestyle, and to those who welcome them home each night, or each month or every six to seven months. I am cognizant of their sacrifice for my freedom and as we approach the fourth of july weekend I remember the families that won’t celebrate together over barbecue and beer because they are otherwise employed or rather deployed.

I am grateful for Tia and inspired by her contribution to our world one bag or quilt at a time.