Not knowing your husband or the relationship he had with his dad, it is difficult to come up with an appropriate way to say what you want. That, I think might have to come from your heart.
But as I am looking at this beautiful :thumbup: quilt you have made.... these words came to mind.
"You may have felt that you could never fill my shoes, but I want you to know I would gladly give you the shirt off my back"

thanks for the encouragement everyone..

YOU DID A NICE JOB

Nice