Good Wishes quilt!

After nearly 4 1/2 years, that is over 1,600 days in case you were wondering, we are finally within reach of our referral from China! We are anticipating a late November or early December referral. This is when we will receive our daughter’s basic information, photos and her location in China. While we are waiting, we are creating something called a "100 Good Wishes Quilt."

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or "100 Good Wishes Quilt." It is a custom to invite family and friends to contribute a square patch of cloth. The patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.

If you would like to contribute to this project, we would love it! Here is what we would like you to do:
1. Choose ANY 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can be from clothing or from a fabric store. It can be a design and color that you like. It could be a bit of fabric that you've used to create something else wonderful for your family.
2. Cut one 8X8 square from the fabric. Also, cut a scrap piece of that same fabric that you can attach to your wish card.
3. Include your "good wish note" and attach the scrap piece of fabric. Be as creative as you would like. It can be as simple as on a piece of paper, or you can make it like a scrap book card. We will place all your wishes in a scrapbook.

If you would like to participate email me at chinathistime@yahoo.com and I will send you our address. I am hoping to start this in November, so I would love to get them as soon as possible.

Again we are still in for November

Smallish chance (would take a God sized miracle) to be in for October. The last batch that made it into the Spring 08 column was in March. So it can happen, will it? I guess we will all have to stay tuned!!!

I am not going to get my hopes up, I think it is best we plan and prepare for a late Nov./early Dec. referral. Any earlier, will be gravy.

We also received our pre-placement packet via email yesterday. This is very exciting as it means your agency thinks you really are getting closer to a match. They send this out 2-3 months before match. So there you go!

Starting to really have the nesting urge, we are painting and cleaning and sewing and all sorts of things around here. I have too many projects in too short of time. Sometimes I wonder what I have doing for the last 4 1/2 years. Then I remember that I have 3 kids, a husband and two home business. I guess that has kept me busy. I am looking forward to pulling everything back and just enjoying the miracle of life, family and adoption.