So sorry to hear of your loss. Remembering is good for the heart and soul. My Mom always said as long as you have your memories they will always live...
I love mine, have had it nearly a year and sew on it a lot. It is easy to thread and my only issue is the needle threader when I can't get to thread...
My husband and I have just been bitten by the quilting bug (I think it was a bee). We love doing this together. He cuts WOF stuff and presses while I cut squares and triangles and do all the piecing (at least for the most part, that's how it goes).