Winter is here. We have had snow this week. My crocus and daffadils that were coming up are now buried in snow. The good news is that the snowblower works and I have plenty of projects at home to take care of so I don't need to wander far from home. I have been working on a puzzle for a while now. Boo has decided to help out as you can see from the picture. The painting projects are done - except that I have found a couple places I need to touch up next weekend - so I put some pictures back on the walls and the house is starting to look pretty good. I also had a chance to clean this weekend. And the cat door has been installed in the basement door - so no little girls will be able to fall down the stairs when mom is not looking! Twinkle is demonstrating the door. Now I think I will start to think spring and get my seed catalogs out and plan the garden. And by harvest time I should have a daughter!!!

I have to share the wishes and fabric I have received so far for the Good Wishes Quilt. These are from some of the people I work with and Mom and Dad. I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends that have been so supportive during my long wait. I still need more squares and wishes before I can start the quilt.

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is tradition in some parts of northern China to make a Bai Jia Bei (Good Wishes Quilt). When a baby is born, family and friends donate fabric scraps to the child's mother and a written wish for the new child. A quilt for the baby would be made from the scraps. It is said that the luck, energy and good wishes from all of the families and friends who contributed the fabric surround the child when she is wrapped in the quilt. The quilt can then be passed down from generation to generation.

I am starting a Bai Jia Bei for my daughter. I would love for all of you to be a part of this. If you would like to contribute please send me a piece of cotton fabric at least 8 inches square. The wish can be your thoughts for my child, a prayer, a favorite Bible verse, or anything that is meaningful to you. Please put the wish on a piece of paper no bigger that 6x6 inches and put a little piece of the fabric on the paper with the wish. I will be putting the wishes in a scrapbook that my daughter can keep so she will always know what piece of the quilt represents each wish. Thank you so much for your help with this project. The picture is the wish that I made for her. (I had tears in my eyes when I signed it "Mom"). Tomorrow I will try to post some pictures of the wishes I have received so far.

Yes twice in one day. I just had to share this picture I took on Christmas of my wonderful nieces and nephew. We had so much fun together. And I had to share with them that their Aunt Rhonda has finally managed to download some music into her new MP3 player. It would have gone so much faster had they been here to help me do it. After much time and even more frustration I have some music to listen to. I was about ready to give up and smash the thing with my new rolling pin, put on my new boots, long underwear, and new green jacket and head out into the snow - of course taking my First Aid in a Bottle and my windup flashlight with me in case of an emergency. Then I could have come in and fixed some chocolate fondue using my new little bowls and fixed a cup of tea with my new teapot and then wrapped up in my cozy new blanket with my Cabbage Patch Baby. (I think I have included most of my Christmas gifts.) What a wonderful and generous family I have.

Happy New Year! I am going to get started on updating this site again. It has been months since I have posted anything - mostly because there has not been a whole lot to say. I realize every day I am getting closer to bringing my daughter home and although in many ways I am ready there is always more to do. I have been trying not to do much shopping until I find out her age and size but I could not resist buying a few books and then Julie - who I will be traveling with - shared a website with me that had these cute Asian baby dolls. Well I could not resist - after all she did need some Christmas presents, right?!!! Then I ran across this very cuddly panda bear. Well I could not resist that. Aren't they adorable?