Little Miracles
Little miracles happen when we least expect them…
Let me tell you about my new friend Jeaneane. I met her just after the Joplin tornado hit when a friend of Jeaneane’s emailed me to ask for a favor; Jeaneane lost almost everything in the tornado, including her computer with all the Snowbound and Tisket A Tasket blocks she had saved. Her friend asked if I could email her the blocks again so she could give them to Jeaneane. I sent them off and soon Jeaneane herself emailed me a big thank you and our friendship began.
Jeaneane is a quilter just like you and me. She and her husband lost their home, barns, fences, and even cows when the tornado hit. 4 of her cows were blown away and they had to sell the rest because the fences and barns were destroyed. I couldn’t imagine the devastation until Jeaneane sent me these photos of what was left of her house…
Throughout our emails Jeaneane has always had such a positive attitude. She is just amazing! She and her husband are ready to start rebuilding and will build again in the same location. Just think what she’s gone through! I’ve asked her to keep me updated on how she’s doing.
Several days ago I got the most amazing email from Jeaneane. I just have to share it with you. It’s the story of one of those little miracles…
“Hi Anne, just got a call from a woman that lives in Riceville, Tenn—( about 50 miles from here) she found one of my quilts in her pasture after the tornado had hit here. The quilt was one that my mother in law had pieced the blocks and after she died in 2009, I put the blocks together and gave it to my husband for Christmas with her name on it and the dates she was born and died. The lady’s sister that lives in Florida, looked thru the obits and found my MIL name and then found my husband’s name and gave us a call. How wonderful is that!!!??? I really hated that that quilt was the one to get blown away. Tomorrow I am driving up there to get it. What a great story!!! I just had to share—Jeaneane”
Miracles do happen and sometimes the small ones mean the most. Bless the people who found that quilt and took the time to find her! Just warms my heart. Hope it does yours too.
Hugs,
Anne
Update:
A follow up to this story…I just heard from Jeaneane. She picked up the quilt and the lady who found it (Marsha) told her it had been covered in red mud and just filthy when she found it so Marsha washed it. Jeaneane can’t tell there was every anything wrong with it. It’s in perfect condition and she says her husband is thrilled to have it back!
60 Comments
Kelly P
What an amazing story! I am all choked up! Thank you both for sharing. I have never put a label on my quilts, but I promise I’m going to start doing it now.
Drenda Trembly
Like so many others I loved this story. It is so heart warming. If it is in the plans to make a quilt for Jeaneane, I would love to make a block for it. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story.
Drenda
Ruby
The article and all the comments are so very heartwarming and renewing of the true meaning of life. I participated in Project First Day for the Joplin children. I like the idea of doing something “special” for Jeaneane.
Ruby in wet MS
Chris
I live in Alabama. After the April 26 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, there was an article in the Birmingham newspaper about a quilt that had been found in the Pleasant Grove area. The persons who found it believed it was from the Tuscaloosa area but there was no label on the quilt. I still don’t know if the owners were found but I sure have changed my mind about labels and how important they can be.
Laurel
How heartwarming….renews your faith in the human spirit, doesn’t it??!
Penny Bailey
Anne –
Loved this story and love you for sharing it. We need more positive news; I swear I think sometimes the newspeople don’t like to report good news because they don’t think it’s as exciting as the bad. I also think Marsha deserves a quilt for her heroic efforts. We (your followers) should make a set of blocks and assemble them into a quilt for her. Just an idea…
Pat Robinson
This is a wonderful example of the human spirit! It gave me goosebumps! Thank you for sharing and bless this family.
Anna
What a truly amazing story! Quilters are truly the best friends to have!
aline socha
I’m from Belgium; I have read the story it’s wonderful.
I can’t speak English fluently.
Merci de partager cette anecdote , il y a encore des gens sympathiques.
Aline
Mary Freeman
gave me some goosebumps this morning as I read the story..and the others before it! Wow! That quilt is meant to be in their home..where ever that home is!
Sylvie BG
Wonderful story, Anne. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us ! :-)
Hugs from France,
Sylvie
Wanda
Marsha is one of God’s Angels here on Earth. Bless her for her for taking the time to track down Jeaneane.
Miracles do happen, we just do not always recognize them. Thank you for sharing.
Linda P.
This was one of the best stories told. I do still believe in people, and miracles! So glad you shared this!
ina
Yes, it touched my heart but also got me thinking…..what could your readers do to make Jeaneane’s life, at this very moment, more joyful?
I would like to make a block (same size as the Tisket a Tasket blocks) and mail to Jeaneane. Mine will be embroidery because I’m lousy at applique! ;0
Ask Jeaneane if I can have her address. ;0
hugs to Anne for sharing the story with us!
Anne
Ina what a great idea! Email me at info@bunnyhilldesigns.com. Maybe we can get others to join in!
Amy, a redeemed sheep
What a beautiful picture of God’s goodness. =)
Wanetha
Not only a story of a miracle…..but a story of the goodness that is in people.
We need to recognize that more often. Thanks for sharing Jeanne’s story with us.
i
mimi'sdarlins
Anne, truly an amazing and heartwarming story! Almost hard to believe, but it seems that this cherished quilt landed in the right person’s yard, someone who would take the time (and effort) to find the owner. This surely must have been the one bright spot in the midst of all this devastation. Thanks so much for sharing this. Seeing these photos reminds us of how blessed we are every day.
Pauline
Thank you Anne for sharing this ‘little miracle’ story. It made my heart sing. It is not easy to rebuild. About 13 years ago my sister, her husband, and my 2 nieces spent 8+ months rebuilding after their home was broken into…..it was bad enough that the thieves invaded their privacy and helped themselves to what ever they wanted but then they set the house on fire before they fled and pretty much everything else was gone……there will be no complaining from me when I think I am having a ‘bad’ day. Luv this heart touching story and wish Jeaneane all the best as they rebuild…..may the angels continue to watch over her and her family…..one of her angels is you Anne…..a caring and wonderful friend. Have a wonderful weekend!!
Jocelyn
What a beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Rennie de Jonge-Bestman
What a amazing story I’ve got goosebumps on my arms. Overhere in the Netherlands we heard and read about the tragic stories. Wish her all the best from me.
Diane
I copied this touching story and emailed it to my 15 quilting buddies. One suggested we donate some cash for her to resupply her stash. Anne, can you suggest a way to get the money to her?
Anne
Hi Diane,
Email me at info@bunnyhilldesigns.com
Mary T. Salmon
Anne:
When things seem like they cannot get any worse, the human spirit shines through. That one little act of kindness is worth more than can be measured! Bless the woman who found that quilt and went to all the trouble of tracking down Jeaneane. If each of us would “pay it forward” like this, our world would be a better place. Thanks so much for sharing this story. It also shows that we must label each and every quilt we make with our full name and city/state.
Thanks to you Anne too for being a good friend to one in need.
Love,
Mary
ellen
This has been a year of turmoil with the tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, and not to forget, world’s economic crisis. Then along comes Jeaneane’s real-life story that brings the “sunshine” we all needed. Thank you so much for sharing your Jeaneane connection with us. With your permission, I’d like to share this with my quilting group. THIS is the kind of movies we should be seeing in theaters and tv.
Anne
Hi Ellen,
Yes, of course you can share this story with your group. I hope it brings a smile to everyone’s heart when they hear it.
Peggy Mead
What a truly wonderful and amazing story. A fabulous happy ending and new beginning. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.
kate spain
i meant heart! but hearth too! :)
kate spain
Anne, that is such a remarkable and amazing story! How wonderful that you and Jeaneane have forged a connection in the wake of such devastation. To read about this fills my hearth with the warmth and kindness of the human spirit. Thank you for sharing. xo
Lynette
My habitual “Holy Smokes!” is double appropriate here – this is absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing the story,
LoriD
That is a story to warm the heart. And another good reason to label our quilts:)
Jeanie
Really amazing!
Joy :o)
What a lovely story – I’m thrilled for Jeaneane that the lady who found her quilt went to so much trouble to find her and return it. I wonder if she had any idea how much it meant to Jeaneane and her family?
What an angel she is :o).
Thanks for sharing Anne…….
Hugs,
Joy :o)
Martha B
Wow, what a story! Thank you for sharing it. I am so glad she got her quilt back. It is amazing how life works sometimes and the wonderful people that make things happen.
Tammy W.
Amazing story…makes my heart warm. Thank you for sharing!
Sandra
How wonderful, thanks for sharing that story Ann . It is hard to imagine losing everything you have, especially the the little things that mean something to you. God does give us little miracles and sometimes big ones to keep us going and believing . Blessings to Jeaneane and family. There are so many good people in this world and we mostly just here about the bad ones. Blessings Sandra
Heather
What a great story! Thanks for sharing, it does a soul good to hear such good news once in awhile.
Vickie
What a wonderful story! Thank good for modern technology so that the finder could find the owner.
Nancy C. in Utah
Anne, thank you so much for sharing this story. My day couldn’t be anything but wonderful after reading that. Hugs…
Kathy G (Uma Kathy)
Your kindness of sending your BOMs touched my heart. I have mine saved, but have yet to make them. But the heirloom quilt traveling 50 unplanned miles and landing all dirty and sad, being rescued by an angel, washed clean, and reunited with those who loved it most is a true metaphor for life. Your new friend is in my prayers ~ to lose all and rebuild is not easy, but so remindful of what is really important in life.
Anne, your designs and fabrics bring me inspiration and joy. Thank you.
Sharon S
Thanks so much Anne for sharing this story. Human kindness & compassion often get overlooked in this crazy world of ours.
Donna Liljegren
What a wonderful blessing amid all the devastation and pain. I’m so glad that Marsha was able to track down the owners. Just another reason why it’s so important to label your quilts. Not only will they matter to your descendants, but in this case, it enabled someone to find the rightful owner again. Thank you for sharing this happy story.
xoxo
Donna
Dya
That is fantastic, I’m so happy for her. It’s great these ladies took that extra step to try and find the owner of the quilt. It makes this quilt even more special. I wish Jeaneane lots of strength and help rebinding her home.
Susie
I’m with Amy up there^^. With all of the “bad” news that gets broadcast any more, it’s great to read something like this for a change! It’s good to know that there IS a little kindness left in the world after all. Stories like this need to be aired now and then on the news. Yeah, yeah, I know. Bad things DO happen in the world. I’m a realist. The world isn’t all rainbows and fluffy bunnies (no pun intended! LOL) no matter how much we’d like for it to be. But, by golly, a nice heartwarming story like this told between the stories of devastation and despair will give us all a little piece of something to hold on to; something that let’s us know that all isn’t lost. It’s a little something that grows and it’s called HOPE.
Thank you for sharing. This actually made my day better. I needed a “feel good” story today. :-)
Anne
So well said Susie…I agree we need more stories like this told on the news.
Sherri
I’m so glad you shared this…what a wonderful piece of good news! So amazing not only that the quilt was found, but also that it was found by someone willing to do the research to return it to it’s owner….also shows the importance of having labels and names on quilts!
Amy Rochelle
Anne,
Thanks so much for sharing this story. With the newscasts as they are, I look to blogland for “news”. . . and, this is the best kind of news~ These simple stories of people caring about people and the simplicity of returning a loved quilt to its owner. Thanks again!
Lemon Tree Tami
That truly is a heart-warming story. I’m glad that such an important sentimental quilt was found and returned to Jeaneane and her husband. Good wishes for her on their rebuilding!
Leslie in Maine
That os a wonderful story with a great ending. And, it’s a big reminder of why we should always label our quilts!
Anne
I never thought about that Leslie. Yes we should always label our quilts!
Susan Henningsen
Oh goodness does still exist! Thanks for sharing that story. All quilters understand the love that is layered in all our quilts.
Jean
What a wonderful story!!!
diane stanley
that is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
Thanking God for little miracles and angels like Marsha!! What a wonderful story…it put tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
hugs,
cindy
Jan
Oh, my goodness. This story is so heartwarming. The effort to get that quilt back home took a whole lot of perseverance! It says so much about the human spirit!