Rachel and Charlotte Motes

Hearts were broken at the unexpected death of Russ Rischard last year. He was much too young and his family misses him so.

To help that family feel their Dad and husband's arms around them again, two family friends have taken on quite an extraordinary feat. Charlotte and Rachel Motes, mother and daughter, are working on quilts for each one of the Rischard children and their mom Kim. The quilts are being made from many of Russ' dress shirts.

Rachel Motes and Rachael Rischard are hard and fast friends. The two share many things in common and consider themselves "soul sisters."

Motes was so distressed to see her friend missing her father, and this became a way to help.

"When I learned that Rachael's dad had died, I was so sad for her," Motes said. "This was something we could do to help."

Wanting to help out comes very naturally in the Motes household. It is just the way they do things. Mom Charlotte has served as the volunteer fundraising coordinator for businesses where she worked in the past.

Charlotte Motes' dolls were her first love in sewing. These were made for her daughters with their interests in mind. The pattern for her dolls is even patented.

"It's just what I do," Charlotte said. "It's the way we believe and the way we have raised our children, to give back to the people and community around us. It is the part we should play."

A craftsman at the sewing machine, Charlotte has been designing for quite some time. She began sewing when she was 16. She makes dolls as well as quilts and actually copyrighted her doll design several years ago.

"I've never made one to sell," Char- lotte said. "I always have someone in mind when I make them. They are made to reflect that person and things they are interested in."

Jennifer, Charlotte's oldest daughter, is the artist in the family while Rachel is taking after her mother in learning to sew and now really learning to enjoy it.

Rachel's first real project was done as an English class project although her mother started teaching her to sew at about age seven. She now works at Hancock's and sewing is a big part of her life and so is sharing it with others.

The Motes went to visit with the Rischard family and determined which of Russ' shirts would be used and which shir ts went with which child.

"They picked the ones that they thought were most special to them," Charlotte said. "We talked to each one and determined their favorite color and interests they have."

The Motes asked that we not give away the secret of the designs as the quilts are not completely finished. But it is absolutely amazing at how many pieces of these shirts have been used in the quilts' construction. Buttons, fabric, labels, pockets, nothing has gone to waste.

Their construction is a little unique in that they were all individually designed and are not what you might call a typical quilt pattern. That, along with the love that is in every stitch, will make these quilts priceless to this family.

"It's that kind of love and compassion that has kept us here in Whitehouse," Kim Rischard said. "The community is our family and they have loved us like family."

Yes Kim, Suzanne, Rachael, Matthew and William, you are loved.