I have a husband who refuses to use Facebook.  He prefers to live off the grid and he feels if you are his friend, you will either email him or call him.  I allow our children to get a page when they turn 13, though their mother monitors their usage and will tell them who they can friend or not friend based on how that person behaves on Facebook.

I have a lot of family on Facebook, too.  Some care about me, some love me and some just want to monitor my activities.  I know that those in my extended family who were a part of my life before Facebook will always be a part of my life, and will always be there for me should I need it.  There are a few connections with other family members who may or may not be there for me, I do not know because I have not had the desire to ask them for much beyond prayers.  There are some I have renewed relationships with because of Facebook, and those I *know* will stand by me through thick and thin, and that new love and our relationships have only gotten better over the years.  Prayers are a part of my daily existance, so they are very much appreciated from whomever wants to send them up – and I pray for my family more than most of them know.

But, I have to tell you – it is one of the best ways to capture the quilt love and passion that only those of us who are truly addicted inspired to share friendships, talents, inspriation and a common ground with people from all over the world.  It is a place I can go to when I am looking for a shoulder to lean on or to help lift others up.  We have prayer warriors, daily prayer time and many live the same type of God-loving life that my own family lives.  We send cards to each other when they are sick.  We wish each other Happy Birthday.  We share photos of our families and milestones.  I have never had a quilt friend on Facebook that isn’t willing to jump in and help me if I need it, and visa versa.  Quilting binds our love and passion for the art together, much as the stitches of our seams bind a quilt together.

I just wanted to take this chance to thank those who are truly friends with me on Facebook (that encompasses family and friends – because you do have to be a friend to truly get the benefits of being a family when you were raised as I was in so many foster homes.  To me, holding or lifting others up is a way of life – and when I am in need, I know I can count on many in my Facebook friendship circle to do the same.  It’s important for any soul to have love – I have that with my own husband, children and our respective close family members.  But, it’s an unexpected joy to find so much virtual love – especially for me since we have no landline and our cell phones do not work in the hills we live in.  Quilt friends make me want to be a better person, a better friend and a better quilter.  They inspire me to want to leave a legacy of my life behind through the quilting that I do.  They love and are loved….one quilted heart at a time.