That was my 1st response last night.

The first 2 envelopes arrived for what I am now calling the "Tribute to Danny" Quilt, the one that will be raffled at the 8th and final softball tournament in July that benefits the scholarship fund set up in his name.

Edy (no blog) sent this beautiful block.

And Julie (no blog either) made these 2 terrific ones.

The tears came because of the outpouring of love and help you all have given me to make this project a reality. Tears because it still hurts so very much to think about my nephew, how much he is missed every single day and how raw the pain is still at times.

Tears of joy and happiness that I belong to such a wonderful community of people who genuinely care.

The memories will never be erased. That horrible phone call, the 3 hour drive to his hometown, the initial hours as the news spread, endless phone calls and the enormous task of making the arrangements that had to be made, choosing his final resting place, selecting his casket, ordering the flowers and all the while taking care of my sister and her family as best as I could. Having something important to do was the only way I made it through those days.

This quilt will be one very special way I will honor a terrific young man who had a promising future ahead of him and who's life was cut way too short.

When my sister decided that this needed to be the final year of the tournament, I suggested she find a way to more permanently pay tribute to him, his sportsmanship, his generosity and his team spirit. Something that will last a long time and would benefit many other students. I am happy to report that when she talked to the school and voiced my idea, it was agreed that the balance of the fund will go to replace the score boards at both the baseball and the football fields at his high school. I can't think of a better way for the community to remember him for years and years to come....at the two places he loved most of all.