A Bai Jia Bei for Kai

I came across this sweet idea from another blog of an adopted son from China. Kai's is beautiful and I can't wait to share all the stories of her quilt coming together. A picture just doesn't do it justice. It is only fitting that we make the same quilt for Joli that she will also come to treasure. If you have the same material that's great too, that part is totally your choice. My mom and her friends couldn't believe I didn't have a color scheme...that's the beauty in all the parts coming together. 

What is a Bai Jia Bei/ 100 Good wishes Quilt? 

To welcome and celebrate 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 friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby and the other part of the cloth goes into a book with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the blessings from all the families and friends who contribute a piece of fabric. 

Would you like to participate?? This is what you can do:

1. Select a fabric that you like, or that is meaningful to you. It can be new or used. I'm going to use swatches from the kids blankets that my mom made for them, for their contributions. 

2. Cut one 8" x 8" square & also a scrap piece from the fabric to attach to the Blessing/Verse/ Card...whatever you decide on. Feel free to contribute more than one square. 

The Wish/or Blessing for our Purposes

1. This is your choice, something meaningful to you & your family. It could be a special verse, quote, prayer, card, poem & will be included in the scrapbook with the swatch of fabric to identify your square on the quilt. Remember to sign your blessing. 

2. If you would like you could include why you chose the fabric, so later Kai can read the story of all the love that went into make this Blessing Quilt. 

We'd love to have many different squares so if you'd like to help you can comment or message me & you can mail it on to us! 

Here's an example of a swatch! 

8" Square 

Scrap can be any size; we just want to see which fabric & it can be attached to a plain piece of paper handwritten, or typed, or a card, or whatever you think up-it's up to you! 

I'm thrilled & can't wait to see the final product!! 

Love One Another....

and when they do...it warms my heart! 

a little movie watching under the breakfast table...

& my favorite! 

the kids having dessert outside and giggling and loving on one another...they didn't know anyone was watching, we captured some pics from inside while being delighted by their sweetness!! 

..."the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 

sweet summertime....

Snow cones!

Cute Color Runners!

A little tent fun...

hot & windy tee ball! 

Father's Day-so blessed!!

Father's Day gets kind of overlooked around here...I'll just be honest. Mother's Day is a big deal & well Dad misses out on the spoiling. I want my children to know...He's fabulous. They may not always think he is, but they have no idea how spoiled they are. Derek gets more than an A+ for the time he spends with his family. He takes part in all we do. Cooking, cleaning, carpooling, reading, coaching, parties at school, Sundays at church, he is my grocery man ;). If we are there, most every time he is too! I also am one of those spoiled kids. My dad was picked for me. My biological dad who's in heaven I am told adored me! And I'm so thankful for his opportunity to give me life. My earthly Dad watched my every move growing up. He was at every competition, every life event & was always my biggest fan! He has stood by me when when I had to make hard decisions. And has been a wise counsel on more than one occasion. God knew my expectations for what I wanted/needed in a spouse & delivered in a big way with Derek. He is mine & I am so very grateful for that. Love you more than words can express!

Psalm 127:4 "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." 

what's better than a race with dad?

Father's Day cheeses with our Papa JD

My cup overflows!! 

Sweetest Lemonade Stand

We just recently had a garage sale & the most exciting part of a garage sale is the chance to have a lemonade stand. Our sweet friends joined us so we could have a HUGE selection and they just happen to be adopting too. So our girls had a lemonade/cookie stand to raise money for others. Tinlee used her money to pay for her sister Kai's sponsorship for the room she is currently in at her orphanage. They were so excited by the people giving & buying that didn't buy from the garage sale. I don't know who they will be when they are grown, but I know they will blow us away! God has special plans for these Jesus loving girls!! 

....

I ran across this...I think it speaks for itself...sometimes we need some perspective! 

Class of 2025

Hard to believe in 12 years this handsome boy will walk across the stage again!! But it is these years when he is absorbing and deciding who he is going to be...that's hard to believe. But so much of this early influence shapes who Gunnar Reid will be in his adulthood. Scary! Sometimes, but also a task I am so thankful to have. New mercies every morning! Thank goodness. Gunnar is our "negotiator", and he is always two steps ahead of us. He is funny & loving. He is an excellent Big brother, even if he wouldn't want anyone knowing. He's learning what he believes and why & that's exciting. He is our favorite son ;) And we can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the future.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6