Square & Wish #75 & #76 - Springdale, Arkansas

I have a beautiful forever family! My wish for you
is to be happy in your new family. Your parents
wanted you to be part of their family and that is
what God's plan was for you! "Trust in the Lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; acknowledge Him in all your ways
and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Cheyenne Grace Hawes; 10 yrs. old
Adopted 11-25-02 Hubei Province
Rick & Karen Hawes, parents


I want to wish for you to be happy
in your new family like I am! I have
3 brothers, 3 sisters and a mom and
Dad and lots of love. I go to a Christian
School and learn about Jesus.
"Be though faithful unto death
And I will give you the crown
of life." Rev. 2:10b

Abby Michelle Hawes 7 yrs. old
Adopted 11-25-02 Hubei Prov.
Rick & Karen Hawes, parents

Square & Wish #74 - Oro Valley, Arizona

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

Rose Connolly
02-10-07

Square & Wish #73 - Florissant, Missouri

The Love That is Forever
by Maxine Harris (I think - it's very small print.)

When a tree is struck by lightning,
if it survives,
its growth is altered.
A knot my form where the lightning hit,
The growth on one side of the tree may be more rigorous
than on the other side.
The shape of the tree may change.
An interesting twist or curious split has replaced what might
have otherwise been a straight line.
The tree flourishes;
it bears fruit,
provides shade,
becomes a home to birds and squirrels.
It is not the same tree it would have been had there not
been a lightning storm,
but some say it is more interesting this way.
Few can even remember the event
that changed its shame forever.

May your life always prove to be interesting!
Love from the McCool Family

Square & Wish #72 - Green, Ohio

Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;

I will say to the north, "Give them up,"
and to the south, "Do not withhold;

bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth."

Isaiah 43:5-6

The Pierce Family
Green, Ohio
LID 01-22-07

Square & Wish # 70 & #71 - Madison, Alabama

We're sending luck and wishes
all wrapped up in a hug.
Good things should come your way
with this little ladybug.

A rabbit's food or horseshoe
are said to bring good luck.
But ladybugs are special,
they also bring you love.

This ladybug of friendship,
we sent to you today,
comes with hope, joy & happiness,
to last throughout your day.

May you always receive much luck,
and many friendly hugs!

Lilly & Madilyn Wingenter
Madison, Alabama


Rainbow of Friends

We're a rainbow,
made of children.
We're an army,
singing our song.
There's no weapons,
that can stop us.
Rainbow love is much too strong!

May you always have true friends
that will love and protect you!

The Wingenter Family
Madison, Alabama

Square & Wish #69 - Ivins, Utah

Open your eyes to the beauty around you;
Open your mind to the wonders of life;
Open your heart to those who love you;
And always be true to yourself.
-Donna Davis

Susan and Emma Broberg
Ivins, UT
Peppermint Pearls
LID 12/13/06

Square & Wish #68 - St. Louis Park, Minnesota

A child's life is like a piece
of paper on which every
person leaves a mark.
-Chinese Proverb

Don't be afraid to leave your mark!
Laura, Jessica & Anna, LID 11/22/06
Minnesota

Square & Wish #67 - Joelton, Tennessee

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you wanna go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' til you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left.
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small.
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to.
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the samet hings too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

Excerpts from "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts

From Kevin, Maria and Joshua Latham - Joelton, TN
Peppermint Pearls DTC Group
Adopting Ellie from China LID 12/25/06

Square & Wish #66 - Dayton, Ohio

This is from my blogger buddy Special K in Ohio (I hope to meet her soon). She sent me a piece of fabric that is I think is quite special. This is the pattern that she is doing her daughter Mia's room in so I will always have a little piece of Mia in my life. So neat!! Thanks Krista!

Square & Wish #65 - Tokyo, Japan

May the love hidden deep inside your heart
Find the love waiting in your dreams.
May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow
Wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays.
- Author Unknown

Best Wishes,
Renee & Joe Caldarelli
LID 10 April 2006

Square & Wish #64 - Commerce, Georgia

Dear Child,
I hope that your life is full of wonderful
adventure and discovery. My no obstacle
stand in front of you that you cannot
overcome with the love of your Forever
Family and your own strength of
character. Live Boldly & Fully.

Love,
Brook Richards
Commerce, Georgia
LID 5-19-06

Square & Wish #63 - Louisa, Virginia

May you always have a recipient for your
butterfly kisses.
May you build a thousand blanket
forts and pillow mountains and be
someone's hero.
May your shelves be filled with good
books and may you always have someone to share your story with.
May you dream upon stars, rise with the sun and sing to the moon.
May you always know how much you are loved.

The Kelley-Wagner Family

Square & Wish #62 - Indianapolis, Indiana

This wish came from my dear cousin Anna and her husband, Stefano. Her parents are the senders of quilt square #62 and decided to send coordinating fabrics.

Emilija,

Wishing you a life
guided by God. That you
never lose faith in the
path He has created
for you, that has
brought you to us.

Love,

Stefano and Anna

Square & Wish #61 - Indianapolis, Indiana

This square and wish came from my Uncle Richard and Aunt Daina and they found the characters in Chinese for what they said in English. I thought that was pretty cool.

Emilija,

God Bless You!!!

Love,
Aunt Daina
Uncle Richard

Square & Wish #60 - Florissant, Missouri

The Best and Most
Beautiful Things
cannot be seen or even
Touched
They must be felt with the
Heart
- Helen Keller

The Owens Family

Square & Wish #59 - Victoria, Australia

Alison and her husband Doug are part of my Dec LID/DTC group and I was so excited to finally receive a square and a wish from outside of the US. I think it's really neat to receive them from far away lands.

Wheresoever you go: go with
all your heart
(Confucius)

May your life be filled with Joy, Happiness,
Strength, Patience & Wisdom

Doug & Alison Carter

Square & Wish #58 - Sandy Hook, Virginia

Live Well
Laugh Often
Laugh Much

Kevin, Sarah and Devyn Powers

Square & Wish #57 - Tillamook, Oregon

The wish from the Bower family is faith.

Square & Wish #56 - Monroe, New York

Cherish
yesterday
Live
today
Dream
for tomorrow

The Mills Family
LID 1/15/07

Square & Wish #55 - Rocky Point, New York

Dream
Your Parent's dreams
came true
because of you.
May your dreams always
come true.

Love,
The Anzaldi Family

Square & Wish #54 - Menlo, Iowa

Again another squish from a fellow Dec DTC/LID family (we did a swap).

Throughout your life
May you sow seeds of Peace
Be showered in Love
Grow in Joy
And reach for the very Stars

The Riordan Family

Square & Wish #53 - Granger, Indiana

Another quilt square and wish from my Dec DTC/LID group and also from my home state!

Our wish for You, Little One, Is:

BEAUTY

May you look for the beauty in all people and things,
And may that beauty always shine in your heart.

The Haghiri Family
Dave, Nikki, Nate, Chris and Gabe

Square & Wish #52 - Houston, Texas

This squish was received from a member of my Dec DTC/LID group.

We wish all your days be
as bright and as warm as
the sun.

The Worthington Family
Jessica, Todd, and
Madeleine

Square & Wish #51 - Titusville, Florida

This square and wish was sent to us from the Brown family. Their wish for Emilija:

Dear Baby Tuttle,
Our wish for you is a long, happy
And warm life!
Love,
Mike, Tina, Daniel
Alan and Mikey Brown

Square & Wish #50 - Sarasota, Florida

This squish came from a fellow blogger that emailed me and asked if would exchange squishes with her. I said sure! So Gina sent me this square and I will be sending her one shortly.

Her family's wish for Emilija:

Welcome to the world!

The best and most beautiful
Things in the world
Cannot be seen or even touched -
They must be felt with the heart.
- Helen Keller

From our hearts to yours,
Gina, Gordon & Mia Hadden

Square & Wish #49 - Waunakee, Wisconsin

The Clutter family is also a part of my Peppermint Pearls group. They sent this very bright fabric for Emilija's quilt.

Their wish is:

All children come from God, for some,
The journey home just takes longer.
-Author Unknown

May this quilt wrap around you and give you peace and happiness always.

Square & Wish #48 - Palo, Iowa

I received my 3rd squish from my Peppermint Pearls swap group. It is such an adorable piece of fabric.

Kathy's wish was also very touching because it came from my favorite childhood book.

Excerpt from Charlotte's Web
Written by E.B. White

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."
"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte.
"That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

I wish for you a friend in life as true and dear as Charlotte was to Wilbur. I also wish that you will enjoy reading many wonderful books including Charlotte's Web.

Square & Wish #44, #45, #46 & #47 - Mesquite, Texas

I love my SIL Marla very dearly but you know how all families kind of have the quirky Aunt someone? Well, Marla is it. And I say this with the utmost affection. And my explanation is this - Marla will always go above and beyond what you ask of her so I had to laugh when she called me and told me that she couldn't decide on just one fabric and instead picked 4. One from her, one from her husband, Corey, and 2 from her dogs Laila & Taylor. I will probably combine all 4 fabrics into one square and sew it into my quilt that way. Marla will do anything for her family, especially her nieces & nephews.

Marla, Corey, Taylor and Laila's wish is this:

Our wish to you
It to always know,
How deeply you're loved
By those who brought
you home,
And by those who
had to let you go.

Square & Wish # 43 - Carmel, Indiana

My aunt Lilija and my Godfather and uncle Martiņš sent us this fabric square with a wish. Their 3 kids and my cousins - 2 of whom are adopted are also included.

Their wish was partly in Latvian and partly in English.

Mīļā Emilija,

Vienmēr aceries šos Dieva vardus: Bet domā uz to Kungu visos savos ceļos, tad Viņš darīs līdzenas tavas tekas. - Salamana pamācības 3:6

Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present. Make the best each day!

Lilija, Martiņš, Kristaps, Aija & Tija

Square & Wish #42 - Janesville, Minnesota

The Peters famiy is part of my December DTC/LID yahoogroup and we are participating in a squish swap. They sent me this very colorful fabric for Emilija's quilt.

Their wish:

"Take time to laugh, it's the music of the soul."

Thank you Peters family!

Square & Wish #41 - Indianapolis, Indiana

My cousin Andy, his wife, Laura and 2 children, Olivia & Luke sent this squish to us for Emilija's quilt.

Their wish was long but very beautiful.

May you always be a dreamer,
And may all your dreams come true.
May all of them be sweet ones.
This is my wish for you.

May you always be confident,
In everything that you do.
May you be met with great success.
This is my wish for you.

May you always be supported,
In anything you decide to do.
May you always feel loved.
This is my wish for you.

May you know that God's love,
For you is everlasting and true.
May your faith always be strong.
This is my wish for you.

Square & Wish #40 - Fredricksburg, Virginia

This square was received from a fellow December LID family.

Their wish with their squish was:

May all your days be bright,
May those that are rainy always end
with a rainbow,
And may you always know how much
you are loved.

Thank you Jones family!!!!

Square & Wish #38 & #39 - Portland, Oregon

These 2 very adorable squares were received from a fellow CHI family. I sent Jodie two squares and she sent me 2 back even though she could've just sent one.

The wish that goes along with square #38:

"We're the same.
We're different.

This is what makes the world such fun.
Many kinds of people, not just one!
A rainbow would be boring
If it were only green or blue.
What makes a rainbow beautiful
Is that is has every hue.
So aren't you glad you look like you?"

"We're Different, We're the Same and We're all Wonderful" by Bobbi Jane Kates


The wish that goes along with square #39:

"A family is special and each one is
different. And some sisters and
brothers may not look like their
fathers and mothers.

But that doesn't matter, what does matter
is this: Families are forever. It's as simple as that!"

"Families are Forever" by Craig Shemin

Square & Wish #37 - Bellvue, Washington

This square and wish came from a family in my DTC/LID December 2006 Yahoogroup. It's the first one I've receive from anyone in this group.

Their wish:

"May the sun bring you new energy.
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May he breeze blow new strength
into your being.
May you walk through the world
and know its beauty all the days
of your life."
-- Apache Blessing

Carolyn, Tod and Vivian
Waiting for Audrey: LID 1/4/07
Bellvue, WA

Square & Wish #36 - Clive, Iowa

This square and wish came from my dad's sister, Anna and her husband, Peter (aka my aunt and uncle).

Their wish was written in a beautiful card and written in Latvian. Here's it in Latvian and then I will translate in English.

Mīļā maziņā,

"Daudz baltu dieniņu, Laimiņa lemi, Dizeņi raženi dzIvojoti!"

English translation:

Little Loved One,

Many white/happy days, luck be yours, great buxom living!

It's a little too literal above but pretty much wishing you much joy, much luck and a wonderful full life!

Unfortunately you can't directly translate Latvian to English, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you do.

Square & Wish #35 - Davie, Florida

This squish came from the Lyons family who like us are a CHI family. This very cute quilt square brightened my day.

Their wish is: Our wish for you is a life filled with love, happiness and joy.

Square & Wish #34 - Tulsa, Oklahoma

I received another square and wish from our agency's quilt square swap. This very cute square with the multicolored butterflies came from Kathryn Duval.

Her wish for Emilija was:

May your wold be full of hugs, giggles, the love of family and endless possibilities.

Thanks Kathryn!

Square & Wish #33 - Woodbridge, Virginia

Our dear friends Amy & Jim and their 2 little kiddos Hannah & Evan sent us this quilt square. Amy told me in a recent phone conversation after I called her to tell her I received it that Hannah picked it out all by herself. Hannah did a great job!

On the outside of their wish card it reads: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.

And on the inside was written: May there always be love: In your heart, your family and your life.

Amy, Jim, Hannah & Evan

Square & Wish #32 - Parma Heights, Ohio

This quilt square and wish came from my cousin Lisa, her husband, Brian and their daughter Anna. Lisa and I are both adoptive moms. Her daughter was adopted from Russia the same year Eriks was but she's 1 1/2 yrs older than he is. She's the spitting image of her parents.

Their wish:

Dear Emilija,

Our wish for you is a long life filled with much love,
happiness and all of God's blessings.
Welcome to the family!

Love,
Lisa, Brian & Anna Schmitt

Square & Wish #31 - San Antonio, Texas

This quilt square came from Lane's mom & dad. They forgot to enclose their wish and once I receive it I will update this post.

Square & Wish #30 - Indianapolis, Indiana

This is from my high school friend Jessica. Towards the end of senior year we went our separate ways due to a friend that tore us apart. About 3 years ago we reconnected wondering why we had let this former friend come between us and we picked up as though not much had changed - except we were both married now and I had a son.

Jessica's wish along with her husband Jeff were song lyrics from the Lee Ann Womack song "I Hope You Dance."

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God for bid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance."

She also says: Life is never easy. Stop every so often and smell the flowers.

Square & Wish #29 - Federal Way, Washington

The Aldrich Family sent me this really cool quilt square.

This is their wish:

To My Baby
by Karen Ledbetter

I knew of you before your birth,
I loved you before we ever met.
I prayed for you day and night,
Thankful your birth mother had chosen life.

The waiting was so anxious and hard,
you already held a place in my heart.
Weeks went by, and sometimes I cried.
Finally one day came a call with good news.

Tears of joy fell on my cheek
the first time I held you,
precious baby, so tiny and sweet.
I'm thankful your birth mother had chosen life.

Rocking and singing sweet lullabies,
you've brought much joy to so many lives.
I'll love you forever, sweet little one.
Memories to treasure, a new life begun.

Square & Wish #28 - Sherwood, Arkansas

This was a surprise quilt square from Kammy Krisell who is part of the Central Arkansas FCC. She read my blog and noticed I was doing a 100 Good Wishes Quilt and sent me this beautiful square.

Her wish:

"Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul."

Square & Wish #27 - El Dorado Hills, California

The Flath family sent this cute Winnie the Pooh quilt square.

Their wish is:
"For I know the plans I have for you"
declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plants to give you hope
and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Wishing you peace and joy with your Forever Family!

Square & Wish # 26 - Camdenton, Missouri

This square come from the Hendon family in our CHI quilt square swap.

Their wish for Emilija was:

Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Square & Wish #25 - Mogadore, Ohio

The LeMasters family sent us this beautiful piece of fabric for Emilija.

The wish is:
"A child's life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark." - Chinese Proverb

Square & Wish # 24 - Florence, Alabama

I really love this cheerful fabric. It reminds me a lot of fabric in clothing I wore in the 70's when I myself was a small child. This lovely piece of fabric came from the Hammond family.

Wish read:

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time and miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands. - Kristi Larson

Our Wish for you is a lifetime of happiness, love and peace.