For those who didn't know him personally, Chip was a huge part of the life behind Fox Country Quilts and, more importantly, he was a huge part of mine.

He was my husband, my partner, my person.

These last weeks have been incredibly difficult, but I am grateful that Chip was able to come home and that I was able to be beside him.

During his final days, I talked to him about all the ordinary things that made up our life. I told him what was happening at the shop, who had come in, what I was working on, and the little things I knew he would want to hear. I held his hand and talked to him even when he could no longer answer me because I wanted him to know that I was there.

And when the time came, I told him it was okay to go.

I told him to find his mom and dad, his sister Lyn, his nephew Chad, and all the people he loved who had gone before him.

For all the years we had together, it still doesn't feel like enough.

I don't really know what life without Chip looks like yet. Right now, I am simply taking things one day at a time and learning how to navigate a world that suddenly feels very different.

I also want you to know how grateful I am for this community.

So many of you have prayed for us, checked on us, brought food, sent messages, stopped by, offered help, or simply wrapped your arms around us in whatever way you could. I may not be able to answer every message or thank each of you individually right now, but please know that your kindness has mattered more than I can tell you.

Fox Country Quilts will continue. It is part of the life Chip and I built together, and I know he would expect me to keep dreaming up projects, teaching classes, rearranging things, starting something new, and probably finding at least one thing every day that I wish he were here to help me figure out.

There will be an empty place here without him.

There will be an even bigger one beside me.

Thank you for loving Chip.

Thank you for loving me.

And thank you for being part of our Fox Country Quilts family.

With love,

Donna

I love you, Chip. Until we find each other again.