Back in the Iraqi Saddle Again and a Contest!

Well girls (and you guys if you are reading) we are back to the year in Iraq - the year of 'Mom's going to bite off all her fingernails with worry ' time again...for those of you who don't know, my son, Sgt. W. Eric Rodman, is a soldier in the US Army. This is his third tour of duty over there...the first time was in 2003 when the war began - that's right, he saw the 'shock and awe' campaign take place...the second time was two years later and now he is back again in 2009...many people think they might know what the military families go through - you might empathize - but truthfully, it is all you think it might be and more - You anguish and worry and say many late night prayers to the Good Lord to send all his angels to your son (or daughter) each and every day so that they will come home with all his fingers and toes...Here is Eric and his gorgeous wifey, Nette..won't they make me the most beautiful grandchildren? If he could just stay home and focus on that - oh now that would make me a happy Momma! And no matter what, it is his wife who goes through the most pain during this time, although they live in Germany and love it - I know for her, it is just not the same when Eric is away even surrounded with all that beauty and Europe right at her front door...

So what do I do to comfort him and remind him I love him and am thinking of him while he is in harm's way? Well of course, I make him quilts! - for his unit and him and anybody else he asks me to make one for! Now, in the past I had ALOT of help because of my good buddies in Savannah, GA - but I am still kind of new to Fernandina Beach, FL and don't really know many quilters here - so I got to thinking about how I am going to make all these quilts this time... and how to make it fun and maybe get to know some more of you - and I got an idea! What we usually do is take their Platoon Emblem and incorporate it into their quilts - this time he has a REALLY cool one - and here it is...Isn't that so neat?


Well so now I am kinda of thinking of all of you out there and how you might want to help me out in designing a lap size quilt for his plattoon - I am thinking we will take the three best ideas and post them here for you to vote on and then whichever receives the most votes will win a great prize from Lollipops Designer Bindings website! Like a $100 gift certificate - how does that sound? so help me design it and then that will make this whole process a little less lonely for me and hopefully I get to meet more of you online - so come on girls, jump on in and give me your thoughts! I can't wait to see what you all come up with...and maybe a few of you might even want to help make them? if I supply all the fabric? let me know - many blessings and warmest stitches - Laurie M.