There was a stack of quilts in that upstairs bedroom where we had our beauty pageants for boat trophies. Gam was making a quilt for each of her 12 children’s families. I am not sure when she started this venture but I knew she was making them- and I knew why. One day in the cold of winter (I presume) my brother Jody was over at Gam’s complaining about how cold he was in the two-story next door, and Gam told him to go up to that bedroom and get one of those quilts for his bed. I don’t know how old he was because I didn’t really find out about her telling him to go get one off the pile
until around 2001. Fast forward to when Gam’s house was being emptied and made ready to sell. Each family member got to go through and choose a special something from her house. I knew she had made 12 quilts, one for each family but somehow, I was hoping someone wouldn’t want their quilt and maybe I could get one of those, because I REALLY wanted one. 

Well, we all know how that went- of course each family took their quilt and treasures it! My brother Jody had a secret though…and he was grown and married at this point. The following year for my Christmas present from him was that quilt Gam had sent
him upstairs to get off the pile of 12 way back when…He had it repaired a bit because there were some worn areas on it because he truly had kept it on his bed to keep warm in the winter for several years. I never knew she had given one of those quilts to him and then made another to make the pile have 12 again…

My brother doesn’t say a whole lot about sentimental things, but I know he feels them, and aside from the beautiful nieces and nephews he’s given me- this quilt is my greatest gift from him.