Squares #77 &78 Show some serious sweetness on the part of our friend Emily in India-yes the country. Not only did we get a nice pink cotton fabric, but a gorgeous Varanasi silk piece to boot. I haven't cut it down yet, because I don't know if I need to do anything different for this type of fabric with all it's beautiful golden threading. I do plan to put a few people to shame with the effort she put forth to get these squares to us- check soon on my family blog.

#76 I love this fun summery red print it was sent to us by some friends we made during our time in Europe. We also fondly remember them as our occasional dog sitter! The Chris and Amy Mount now of Decatur, AL sent this along with a sweet gift - a book entitled "My Mei-mei" It's about a little girl wanting her Chinese adopted little sister. Alexia wants her little sister so bad it's a difficult thing for us to have to explain the wait all the time to her. Double thanks Mount's!


#75 Another sweet lady sent this square - Sheryl Schmatjen. She is also a friend of Nancy's and we enjoy seeing her and her husband on our trips to Orlando. Sheryl is a former flight attendant and chose this airplane print. "Psalm 139:9 If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me..."

#74 This fun lemon meringue recipe print was given by Betty Vallery one of Nancy's dear friend's. Her gifting is hospitality therefore she chose this square. She reminded us that when we serve others, we serve God. Betty is a sweet one, with adopted granddaughters of her own.

#73 This school-themed square was done in honor of Erik's grandmother Laura Johnson by Erik's mom Nancy. She was a school teacher and wrote extensive personal journals throughout her years. I am thankful that I was able to know this sweet, peaceful lady for some before her death in 2002.

#72 Is a great one that typifies Erik's step-dad (Papa Jacques) He loves cars and anything to do with cars. For this reason Alexia has dubbed him "car show boy".

#71 Yeah!!! A square from Mimi (Erik's mom) She gave this sunshiny print that included a wish with the verse Matt 5:16 "Let your light shine before men..." and the hope that "you will be a shining light"

#70 This pretty blue flannel print came from college friends of Erik Jeremy and April Drobnick of Charlotte, NC. Both of us couples were married young (I was the only one finished with college). I laugh at the memories of that first year! We have kept in touch and have enjoyed seeing their family continue to grow as they will be adding their fourth soon. This fabric was a scrap from their first (of 3) daughter's quilt that April made - thanks!

#69 is from our old friends the McPherson's from Kennesaw. They were in our Sunday school class years back when we lived in Woodstock. It is a cute little flower and butterfly print and the wish in part states how "God has chosen to create you and chose you mom and dad for you" What a wonderful thought.

#69 Is another little ladybug print that came from the Dempsey's who are in our same adoption agency. Their wish included parts of the lyrics to "When Love Takes You In" a song Steven Curtis Chapman wrote stemming from his experience with his 3 Chinese adopted girls.

#67 & 68 came from a fun mother/daughter team Eve and Abi Hall. We first met the Hall's at our old church and hit it off well the first day! Eve and I later worked together but since we have moved on to different branches of cardiac nursing. I do miss our fun days in the Cath Lab!

#66 Cool, another country being represented. This cool green fabric was from Erik's college friend Sal Musumeci and his wife Robin who are living in Sussex England. Thanks so much!!

#65 This cuddly flannel cloud print was from my cousin and her family in Charlotte, NC - yeah! Can it really be? Something from the family??? Thanks Taylor - very thoughtful!

#63 & 64 These little kitty cat squares are from two families special to me from our time in France. The three of us women were all pregnant together and we all had girls which furthered the fun. I got to see them and their girls when we went back to France last fall, It was a blast to get the girls together again. Thank you Andrea and Erica so much for a special square from Paris!

#62 Is a red butterfly square from the Shaws of Cumming, GA who are some college friends of mine. Their wish was very similar to another college friend (#54) who wished for our daughter to know the transforming love of God. We want lots of those prayers!

#61 This is from a fellow adopting family in Moorestown, NJ. I love the pretty purple. Thanks Darlington's

#60 Another sweet one from an anxiously awaiting sister. It's a watermelon print she picked out and the wish states "I hope you like watermelon so we can eat it together when you get here!"

#59 This one cracks me up. I wish you could hear the inflection in the voice of Alexia as she spouted out her wish to her fairy square she picked out.

"I hope you believe in fairies...they are real. The tooth fairy is real indeed!"

Alexia could care less about any fictitious character, but she KNOWS there is a tooth fairy.

#58 Was the first of several given by big sister. It beautifully colored by Alexia at school this year and we were able to order it as a quilt square so all we need was a wish. Together she and I decided on the lyrics to the children's song "Jesus Loves the Little Children" - All the children in the world, red and yellow black and white - they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

#57 This one was the first from a co-worker Carolyn Douthit and family. It included a thoughtful wish that had some really cute little Asian girls on it. Hope mine looks like one of them!


#56- Is a cute little flower print received from my mother -in-law's cousin and her husband (I swear we know them!!) Ruth and Howard have a great place on the river in Hersey, MI that we went to one October. It was beautiful and we even got to go up in "Uncle" Howard's small prop plane for a little tour. I did not receive a wish from them- maybe they are still miffed that we don't drive American cars! - haha



#55 This is a cool panda print from the DeVall family in PA. I love a piece of the wish that reads I wish for you "...laughter to kiss your lips..."
There is nothing like a good hearty laugh from a child - I love 'em!!

#54 - This is the first one I received that made me get a little misty eyed. It is from my long time friend Kelly Preston who I went through nursing school with and she was one of my dear bridesmaids. She wished that our daughter would know the transforming love of Christ. Kelly has been an awesome person to know in my life.

#53
#52 & #53 were bonus squares from my awesome April Winter Blossoms secret pal Kerrie! The first was a gorgeous design reminisent of Claude Monet's water lillies. "Live your life so that it is a materpiece" was part of her wish.

The other was a fun little tribute to our love of travel. It was a cute whimsical print with London scenes all over it. It included a quote from St. Augustine which said "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page" - Very cool, thanks again Kerrie - they were PERFECT!

#51 Another little Cinese girl print was sent by the Minton family of Jackson, MS. She included that the fabric was chosen "to remin you of all your "cousins" scattered around the world, and to help us remember that our families are connected by a red thread of good wishes" - Thanks!!




*****Half-way there!!!***** #50 was an appropriate one to receive. It is a nice little patriotic flag fabric from the Brown family in Crossville, AL. Can't wait to make our little one a US citizen!!



#49 Another cute square from the Dillons in FL. Same agency, same LID! "May love and laughter light your days"

#47 &48 Came from our long time ago neighbor I met over 20 years ago! The Froula's have sinced moved around and now live in Brentwood TN. Sometimes when we go up to Nashville we pay them a visit. It's fun to watch how our family's have grown!


#46 Came from one of our neighbors, the Hegarty's. They picked out a fabric that reminded them of our dog Tori! Their 2 boys are fun for Alexia to play with since they always give her a run for her money!!


#45 A sweet wish written out by some dear, long time family friends. In fact pretty much my whole family is friends with their whole family! Part of their wish was that she "will grow in grace and truth and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus" - Amen! Thanks Mack and Ann Riggs of Kennesaw GA.




#44 YEAH!! This one was a milestone! It's the first to come from someone outside our adoption community (translate-someone we REALLY know!) Now that I finally sent out our letters! It is from our family friend with a wish written by their daughter Alexa who is a good friend to our Alexia! Thanks Cosgrove's - you are always on the ball!!




#43 Another fun little ladybug print came from the Berryhill family in Lake Charles. LA. Their sweet wish was "that you always see God's plan for your life, beginning with bringing you to you forever family"

#42 Is a pretty blend of colors sent by the Wan family of Bangor, Maine. Their wish with a light house theme was "May the light of your family's love always lead you home!"

#41 Another cute little ladybug print! This one came from the Dangler family in NY

#40 Was a fun squish to receive. It is a whimsical animal and flower print with a beautifully done wish. Also included was a little magnet with a Chinese baby on it that said "waiting for her". It's a fun little reminder that is displayed proudly on our fridge. Thanks Fischer family in Frisco TX!

#39 Is a real feminine fabric that included an Irish prayer. This was sent from the Wells' a fellow adopting family here in GA

#38 Is a cool tapestry from the Webb family of NC

#37 is from a super mom and her girls. This ultra-cool asian lantern print came from the Kasper family in MN. This awesome lady is a single mom and is adopting her third little girl from China - whew! She does a lot of other stuff that would make anybody tired on a normal day. I am proud of her and don't even know her personally!! - Kuddos to you!



#36 Is a red and white rose vine print. Very simple but elegant. It is from the Jongsma family in AL



Squish #35 has some really neat Chinese characters which translate into the words like- "Hope, Courage and Harmony" It was sent by the Progelhof family of our CCAI group from Heath, TX



#34 Is a cool circle print theme given by the Eubank-Armstrong family in Richmond, VA. The quote is by Albert Einstein which ends by saying "Imagination encircles the world".



#33 I was very excited to get this print from the Powers' family right here in Kennesaw GA. I had taken my daughter to pick out fabric for her to contribute to the quilt. I was SO SURE she would pick this one, but she didn't. I still liked it so I was happy it ended up in our collection anyway!

#32 Is a cute little ladybug and daisy print from the Greenleaf family in Geneva, NY

#31 was the funniest sqaure I have received so far. It is full of botched sayings found in fortune cookies made by Chi-Zi cookie factory - get it? Chi-zi?? haha!! One was "You dance like you have never danced before". This one was provided by the Smith family in Bloomington, IL. This
awesome family is waiting for their 5th child!!! They will be bringing Shaylee home very soon we hope.

#30 Another one from the Hurtgen family. We are 2 different sqaure exchanges togther. She included a cute little saying from Winnie the Pooh which states "You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." That Winnie the Pooh sure was insightful!!

#29 The most beautiful fabric AND wish I have received so far came from the Burge's in Brandon MS. It says "Precious beloved child, May you know God's limitless love for you and relish His great plans for your life" They are waiting for their own beloved child Miah

Squish #28 from the Moss family in AL waitng for their Anna Jean