Square #43 from UT

We received this square today in the mail from another Utah family. They are waiting to go to China to adopt their daughter, Elainea. Thanks Rockwell's...I hope your travel approval comes quickly!

The wish says:

Dear Sarah,

Our wish for you in internal

beauty. Here is some helpful

beauty advice.

For attractive lips, speak words

of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek the good

in people.

For a slim figure, share your food

with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run

his or her fingers through it once

a day.

For poise, walk with the

knowledge that you never walk

alone.

People, even more than things,

have to be restored, renewed,

revived, reclaimed, and

redeemed: never throw out

anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a

helping hand, you will find one

at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will

discover that you have two

hands; one for helping yourself,

and the other for helping others.

- Audrey Hepburn

Always take comfort in knowing

that you were chosen!

Square #42 from Athens, AL

I received this square today from another family in the OHGWQ swap. It came from AL.

The wish says:

The most beautiful things in the world

cannot be seen, nor touched...

But they are felt in the heart.

-Helen Keller

Square #41 from Georgia

This square came from a family in GA that just recently came home from China with their adorable little daughter, Ava Mei. She sure is cute!

The wish says:

Benediction

by Enid A. Virago

Go in peace.

Hold in your heart the certainty

That the spirit of life is with you always.

When your heart is torn asunder

Or when you soar with sweet joy,

You are never alone, never apart,

From the spirit that resides within us, that

guides our lives and cherishes us always.

Take comfort.

Blessed be.

Always know how much you are loved and cherished!

Squares 39 & 40 from St. Peters, MO

These 2 squares are from the OHGWQ swap. This family is from Florida and are collecting squares for 2 quilts, so they sent 2.

The wish says:

Build a ladder to the stars and climb up

every rung and may you stay forever young.

-Joan Baez

This wish says:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder...

-Leeann Womack

Square #38 from Florida

Square 38 is from another family in my OHGWQ swap who lives in Florida. They are also waiting on a referral from China for their child.

The wish says:

Always maintain a kind of summer

Even in the middle of winter.

-Henry David Thoreau

Square #37 from Batavia, IL

This square came from another family in my OHGWQ swap. They are from IL and are waiting for the referral of their child from China.

The wish says:

May your heart always be filled with love.

We hope you will always feel the love of family,

friends and those who are special to you.

YUP, that's my doggie in the top corner. I felt bad moving him from his spot on the couch since he's 14 1/2 years old now. I figured I'd let him sleep.

Squares 31 (CA), 32 (FL), 33 (OH), 34 (MA), 35 (UT), 36 (UT)

Today was a big day for quilt squares! I got 4 in the mail and 2 at the Chinese New Year's Party we went to with our Families with Children from China group (lots o' fun...I will blog about it on the main blog).

#31 is from a family who are waiting for the referral of their daughter, Alicyn Shea, from China, they live in California! They are a part of a quilt swap that I found and joined on the OHGWQ Yahoo group.

The wish says:

"Be who you are and say what you feel because

those who mind don't matter and those that

matter don't mind."

-Dr. Seuss

We wish for you a life filled with love & happiness!

#32 is also from the OHGWQ swap and is from a family in Florida that is waiting for their referral from China.

The wish says:

Delight thyself also in the Lord; And He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4

#33 is from another family from the OHGWQ swap and is from Ohio. I love the cardinals as they're Ohio's state bird and I'm a born and bred Ohioan! They didn't know this, though! The wish says:

Wishing you great happiness, including a life full of great health, wealth and love.

#34 is from another OHGWQ swap family and is from Massachusetts. They are waiting for the referral of their daughter, Sofie, who is in China. Their log in date is 11/7/05 so they should be hearing from China in the next few months! Woo Hoo for them for getting close to seeing their daughter!

The wish says:

Where there is great love there are always miracles. -Willa Cather

Wishing you a life filled with love.

#35 is from a fellow Utahn that I met in person tonight at the Chinese New Year's party we attended. The wish says:

Dear Little One,

May this blanket give you warmth and comfort you. May it surround you and protect you. May it remind you that you have come a long way, and now you are home. Many others have made your journey, and they are your heritage and your friends.

Remember that each patch of cloth, considered and chosen, is also a child who is as fortunate as you. Laugh at the mixtures of colors and animals, flowers and ladybugs, solids and stripes. That is the way life is and what makes it beautiful and unique. Repair the tattered edges, bind what comes undone and overlook the simple flaws.

Know what a precious gift you are and what joy you have brought to your loved ones. May you create precious memories throughout your life.

-Art and Maridene

#36 is from my dear friend, Andrea and her husband, Devin. I met Andrea and Devin last year in January at the mall. I was shopping with Sarah in her stroller and they approached me in Naartjie and started asking me about my little one. They were at the very beginning of their paper chase to their daughter, Maya, who is in China. They hadn't even done their home study yet. Now they are waiting for their referral and were logged in last September. Thanks guys!

The wish says:

For Sarah

Families can be chosen, created, or given. However they come about, they are important.

-Unknown

We wish you the love of family and to know you will always belong.

Square #30 from Macomb, IL

We joined the One Hundred Good Wishes Quilt yahoo group that I found recently and I found a quilt swap they were doing and joined. Here is the first square from the swap from a couple in Macomb, IL, they are currently waiting for a referral for their child from China.

The wish says:

May your days be filled with the

warm sunshine of love and the

bright rainbow colors of laughter.

Square #29 from Chicago, IL

In yesterday's mail we received another square and wish for Sarah's quilt. This one came from another fellow blogger who is waiting for the referral of her daughter from China. They live in Chicago, IL.

The wish says:

Dear Sarah,

Our wish for you: The courage to take risks

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things

that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover

Mark Twain

\

Squares 26, 27 & 28 from Utah

I was excited to get the mail this afternoon. I received 3 squares from another Utah family that has also adopted from China.

This wish says:

"Bee" True

"Bee" Humble

"Bee" Positive

"Bee" Grateful

"Bee" Still

"Bee" Smart

"Bee" Prayerful

"Bee" Involved

I thought it was really cute and original. I wouldn't have thought of it, anyway!

How stinkin' cute. This one is from Whitney, age 5.

Her wish says:

I hope you will not be afraid.

This one is a little longer, but really nice. This wish says:

Give me a home to call my own

A humble home of wood or stone;

A place where ripples laugh all day

And songbirds sing and children play

A little home of love and cheer

Where seasons paint throughout the year,

And at last, when the day is through,

A place where I may talk with you.

Give me a home to call my own,

A friendly home to stand alone

And crown some earthly mound of clay

Or set before an ocean spray,

A simple home of faith and trust

Where I may toil in Heaven's dust

And when, anew, each day is through,

A place where I may be with you.

Give me a home to call my own,

A common home of tree or stone;

And flowers bloom and willows sway-

A home of love where hearts may kiss

Each tender joy of wedded bliss,

and in each hour of life to find,

A truer peace of heart and mind.

Square #25 from Germany

I got a pleasant surprise at the mail box this morning.

There was another quilt square in the mail today.

This wish came to us all the way from Germany!

It's from a family that is in the process of adopting from Taiwan.

This is really unique fabric!

The wish says:

My Wish for Sarah

My wish for you is to be happy

and healthy. You are a blessing

to your family and a joy to all

who meet you.

Square # 24 from West Valley City, UT

This is another really special square from another one of our friends from church. She wrote about Sarah worshipping because at church, at the beginning of the service during the music, Sarah LOVES to dance around and she truly looks like she is worshipping God. Who knows if she even knows what she's doing or is just dancing around, either way, it sure is cute.

The wish says:

Dear Sarah,

I pray you will always be as free and

childlike in worship are you are now in 2006.

Matthew 19:14 "Jesus said, 'Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom

of heaven belongs to such as these."

Square # 23 from UT friends

This square is special because it's from friends that go to our church. The dog on the square looks like their dog, Sadie. Sarah LOVES their dog! This wish really made me cry, it really touched my heart. The wish says:

"Our wish, our prayer, is that you will fully know

and understand the love that the Lord Jesus Christ has

for you. That you will see the blessings He has bestowed

on you personally and understand the blessing you are

and will be to the people you impact with your life.

You are a gift, not only to your parents, but to your

church family here at Oasis, and we value dearly

the fact that God, not man, has brought you into our

midst."

Squares 21 & 22 from Oregon

And our last set of Jiangxi families squares that we've received so far. The wish says:

Precious China Girl

Always know you are loved very deeply, that you life is precious, nothing has happened by chance. A new destiny was planned for you, a life with blessings and purpose awaits you. Walk proudly into your future. Knowing you carry with you the hearts of all who have ever known you.

Squares 19 & 20 from NH

And another set of squares from another family who's adopted from Jiangxi. The wish says:

"Our lives are to be used and thus to be lived as fully as possible,

and truly it seems that we are never so alive as when we concern

ourselves with other people."

-Harry Chapin-America Singer and Songwriter- 1942-1981

17 & 18

Here is the next set of squares that we received from another Jiangxi family. The wish says:

For I know the plans I have for you

declares the Lord, plans to prosper you

and not harm you. To give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

With much love and best wishes for a happy, healthy and loving family life.

Squares 15 & 16

And, more Jiangxi families sent squares 15 & 16. The wish says:

"Giving thanks to the Father, who has

qualified you to share in the inheritance of

the saints in the kingdom of light. For He

has rescued us from the dominion of

darkness and brought us into the kingdom of

the Son He loves, in Whom we have...the

forgiveness of sins. Col. 1:12-14"

# 13 & 14

And another set of beautiful squares from more Jiangxi families. The wish says:

"For I know the plans I have for

you, says the Lord, plans to

prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

Squares 11 & 12

Here are the next set of squares from those great other Jiangxi families. The wish says:

Not from your body

your heart gave birth

I was your child

you gave me worth

Not of your flesh

no less your own

You taught me love

see how its grown

by Scott D. Hughey

copyright 1998

Squares 9 & 10 from Jacksonville, FL

These are the next squares we received from the Jiangxi families.

The wish says:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

But by the moments that take our breath away.

We wish for you a life full of breath taking moments.

Squares 7 & 8 Cheyenne, WY

Here are the 4th set of squares from the Jiangxi Families group. The wish says:

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all"

-Mulan

#5 & 6

Here is the third pair of squares we got from the Jiangxi Families group. The wish says:

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

and find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

-Irish Blessing

Quilt Squares #3 & 4 from El Mirage, AZ

Here is the second set of squares we received from the Jiangxi Families. The wish has a poem:

P.S. I Love You

M. Robinson

The sun came up this morning

It's promise sweet and long.

A new child shares this day with me.

The birds begin their song.

A special gift of squares and strips

Was sewn for baby's cover.

The sparkling patches quite reflect

Our feelings for each other.

The beauty of the days ahead

Are sewn in every seam.

I'll wrap you up and hold you tight

And anticiapte the dream.

We wish you a life full of

unconditional love.

Quilt Squares #1 & 2 from IN

This was the first quilt square and wish that we received. Our Jiangxi Families yahoo group did an exchange and we did it for 2 squares. These were the ones that inspired me to get started!

The wish says:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -Ralph Waldo Emerson"

Coming Soon...

Okay, I'll be getting photos together in the next few days of the squares and wishes that we have so far. I think we have about 15 of them, so far. Our Jiangxi Families Yahoo Group got me started with a quilt square exchange, we exchanged 2 squares with each person. I'll get on the ball really soon and post them for all to see!