December Referrals

Referrals for December came out today!  China has matched families with LID's through August 10th.  Not as many days off the calendar as we would like, but we must look at the bright side.  China has sent out 12 batches of referrals this year.  That is HUGE!  On average they have only sent out 10 batches a year for the last few years.  The progress may be slow, but it is still progress!  We are still thinking that we will receive our referral late winter/early spring.  Right on time for tax season! 

Congratulations to those seeing their babies faces!

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 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth.  The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric.  The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.  So we thought this was such a wonderful tradition that we decided to welcome our little one with a "100 Good Wishes Quilt".  We feel so blessed by all the family and friends that have participated.  They really have made this extraordinary for her.   Here are some pictures to see the progress:

These are just some of the wonderful fabrics that we received.

These are some initial squares.

A few rows on second half of the quilt.

This is the first half of the quilt.

I am very excited to see it all coming together!  I look forward to coming home most nights and working on it.  What am going to do when I finish it!?!  I guess I will finally have to clean out those closets!

I love that some people have posted comments, but please leave your name so we know who has commented.  In the future we will be printing this for Tia and it will be so nice to know who has commented.  If you want to leave just your first name that would be great!.