I think for certain this quilt has become 'magic covers'. Read on for the story of our own Magic Covers.
Magic Covers
I’m not sure where the idea of Magic Covers ever came from, but from an early age, for all our kids, we noticed that they LOVED being in our bed. As babies, maybe it’s because Mom’s warmth was very close, and that meant food was always nearby. But even when we weren’t in the bed with them, all our boys loved sleeping in our bed – and still do. But when Magic Covers really come to work is when the boys are sick. Somewhere along the line someone came up with the idea of ‘Magic Covers’. That when you are sick you always feel better in Mom and Dad’s bed because their covers are MAGIC.
When the boys asked me directly about the Magic Covers, I told them that once you have a baby, the Magic Covers Fairy comes down and sprinkles magic dust on your covers and they sink in and make the blankets inside (we have a duvet with cover) magic – and the magic can’t be washed away. I told the boys that parents were gifted the magic so they always had a way to make their kids feel better when they were sick, or sad or just needed to ‘feel better’.
Last year, I made Blaine his own quilt. He requested that HIS quilt be made with magic covers. I told him I wasn’t in charge of magic covers – and that they were supposed to be a secret! I wasn’t even supposed to tell him of the fairies or the Magic. But I made the quilt and we wrote a letter to the fairies asking if they could make this one exception and put even just a little Magic into the covers.
Well the fairies DID visit and left a note telling us that they would make this one exception, but only because the blanket was homemade and made with so much love. They said it was the LOVE that would make the magic come to life – not their special fairy dust.
I didn’t set out to make a quilt for you specifically. Mostly, I shop for fabric (because I love fabric shopping!!) and then the fabric usually tells me who it’s for. I found this fabric in the back of an old consignment shop in Buffalo. It was interesting – and was a great deal – and I almost felt sorry for this forgotten fabric in the back of the store. I’m not sure if it was a dress or shirt you were wearing one day that I saw on Facebook, but the next time I sat down to the quilt it almost YELLED out at me, “I’m for NICOLE”. Alright – I thought. That makes sense – why didn’t I think of that?
The boys are always VERY curious about what I’m working on, who it’s for and when I’ll be done. They love the whole process too. They asked me who this new quilt was for and so I told them; a longtime friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. It’s sad that I didn’t have to explain to my young boys what cancer was – it’s touched so many and our extended family hasn’t escaped it’s grasp either. Although our boys didn’t get a chance to meet him, a proud picture of Grandpa Jack is on our shelf and we often talk about the Grandpa they never met. As soon as I had uttered the words “a longtime friend who was diagnosed with cancer” Blaine JUMPED up and exclaimed, “MOM!! SHE NEEDS MAGIC COVERS!!! They make ANYONE better!!!”
“Well, it certainly is made with a lot of love,” I replied, “but how could we fill it even MORE with love – just to make sure the magic is activated?”
The boys came up with the idea of drawing pictures and messages on the batting inside the quilt. It wasn’t easy – batting doesn’t like to be written on! But they were diligent and kept at it with determination to make sure that this quilt would become ‘Magic Covers’ or as the boys started calling it, “Nicole’s Feel Better Blanket”.
Every time I would read that your counts are down, or you weren’t feeling well I would think of this Feel Better Blanket and blame myself – well of course she can’t have chemo this week…she doesn’t have her Feel Better Blanket!! The boys even asked me the other day – “Mom is she better yet?” When I said no, they gave me right crap for not having the blanket to you yet.
Since you can’t see the drawings or efforts, I’ve included pictures to go along with your new ‘Feel Better Blanket’ quilt. Whenever you need a pick me up or some ‘feel better’ vibes, all you have to do is snuggle with your magic covers. I’m sure the fairies will be happy to grant another exception – because trust me – there is A LOT of love sewn into this quilt. The boys have never even met you, but they have been raised with a sense of loyalty and love – the same sense of loyalty and love I was shown so many years ago by your family. It was, and always will be the best job I ever had at Highland Arms! We are always loyal to the ones we love, and the fact that I love you means automatically they love you. Aren’t kids GREAT?!
I know you had wanted to see us all in person but honestly I don’t think I can take the crap I keep getting from them anymore! I told them that you weren’t feeling well enough for visitors and they said, “MOM! You just need to get that blanket to her! Just tell her to send us a picture”. So when you’re feeling up to it, the only thing they ask is you show them that you are snuggling with your new “Feel Better Blanket”. And they also wanted me to tell you, you can take it anywhere you need to Feel Better.
We all hope that you are feeling much better soon. The Birkbecks (and the Parkers and Forrests!) are all rooting for you. And of course, your new “Feel Better Blanket”.
Lots of Love,
Derek, Parker, Blaine, and Kiefer
(And Paul and Krista too)
