Mia's 117th Quilt Square: Dayton, Ohio

This is from my partner at work, Rod. We've been partners for 2 years. We work on a squad of nine people but somehow we were perfectly matched. We're like peanut butter and jelly. We just go well together. He makes coming to work much easier. He's been on this journey with me from the beginning. Unfortunately, he's just as bad a procrastinator as I am. Which explains why his is one of the very last quilt squares I received for Mia. Even though he's known about the project from day one. But that's my partner for ya. LOL! I've been very blessed to have worked with him and hope to continue this partnership as long as he'll have me.

He wrote "Believe in rewards that await you, believe in the harvest in store. Believe that spring will awaken, believe you'll be sowing once more. Believe that there's a tomorrow, where no one cares if you can't dance. Believe in the future's promise, each new day brings a new chance. Believe you can make your goals happen, they're just dreams with a deadline attached. Believe that you have the power, believe that you're more than a match. Believe in a shared existence, you're not alone this is true. Believe that right now there is someone, who believes in the wonder that's you."

Awww thanks "Uncle" Rod!

Mia's 116th Quilt Square: West Jordan, Utah

This is from fellow blogging family Troy, Robin and Sarah of West Jordan, Utah. Their blog is Sarah's Adventures. They adopted Sarah from Jiangxi, China in November 2005. She's a cutie, too.

They included a quote from Lao Tzu which reads "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength. Loving someone deeply gives you courage." And their wish for Mia reads " May your life be full of love giving you great strength to move mountains and immense courage to live out your dreams." Very nice.

Thanks Troy, Robin and Sarah!

Mia's 115th Quilt Square: Newark, Delaware

This is from fellow blogger, Stephe, in Newark, Delaware. Her blog is Giorgia Danette, which is the name she has chosen for her future daughter. She's logged in a few months ahead of me so I'll be able to watch her journey as she travels to China.

Her wish is a poem called Dreams which reads "One last road to travel... one last way to go. One more day to forever...just to let you know. The wait will soon be over...the journey now is almost through. And now this comes to let you know...dreams really do come true."

Thanks Stephe!

Mia's 114th Quilt Square: Enon, Ohio

I'm a little late in getting these last few stragglers up but here they are. This one came from my blogger buddy, Sam, from Enon, Ohio. She gave it to me last month when we had dinner at her place. She hasn't finished her wish yet but sent the fabric along so I could get it to my grandmother.

Thanks Sam! I'll update when you send the wish. :)

Mia's 113th Quilt Square: Wilmington, Ohio

This is from my cousin Debbie, her husband Dennis, and their kids, Derek and Darcie, from Wilmington, Ohio. I love this fabric. You can never go wrong with pink when it comes to me. Debbie's letter to Mia reads "I saw this heart fabric and thought it would be perfect for your quilt. The hearts reminded me of your mom and how you have been in her heart since she began the adoption process. She loves you so much already and can't wait for you to get home. You are in all of our hearts and a part of our family already. When you look at the hearts on your quilt, remember how many hearts you are in and how many people love you and that you will always have a huge family to love you and take care of you." She also included a quote from Confucios that says " Where-so-ever you go, go with all your heart." I love it!

Thanks Debbie!

Mia's 112th Quilt Square: Centerville, Ohio

This is from my Aunt Norma and Uncle Howard of Centerville, Ohio. (Although I'd guess that Aunt Norma did all the work.... smile.) She included a cute Care Bear fabric. The scrapbook page is adorable. She cut out each of these little Care Bears from the fabric. That had to be tedious. She also included these cute little plaques to make it even prettier. They read "We hope that you are always Happy. Always look for an Adventure. We hope that there is always Hope in your life. Always Believe in yourself. We know that you will always be surrounded by a loving family." Very sweet.

Thanks Uncle Howard and Aunt Norma!

Mia's 111th Quilt Square: Lake Wylie, South Carolina

This is from Scott and Natalie Ward of Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Natalie contacted me after finding this quilt blog. She commented on how much she liked the way I documented all of these wonderful squares and wishes for Mia. They're adopting a daughter from China and were logged in 9-8-06. Natalie is just starting on the quilt square collecting. She asked if she could reference this blog as an example when she sent out her requests. Of course, I told her to go for it. I remember when I first started this and tried to explain it to others that had never heard of the idea before. It was so much easier to show them instead of explaining it. So I borrowed other blogs, too. She sent the sweetest letter thanking me. You're very welcome, Natalie.

Her card reads "Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential and fight for your dreams. You are the center of your universe and you can make anything happen." Their wish for Mia is to "reach her full potential in life. Have fun and enjoy even the smallest things."

Thanks Scott and Natalie!

Mia's 110th Quilt Square: Chula Vista, California

This came from fellow blogger, Leda, and her family in Chula Vista, California. She just left yesterday for China to finally meet her daughter, Kaylee! I'm so excited for her.

She sent along a beautiful princess fabric in my favorite colors... pink and green, of course. Included are the lyrics to the Lee Ann Womack song "I Hope You Dance". I love the message in that song. Her wish for Mia is "In your life, we hope you always choose to dance!" She even included a tiny photo of her sweet Kaylee on the card.

Thanks Leda! Congratulations on your new daughter!

Mia's 109th Quilt Square: Australia

This came from fellow blogger and China waiting mom, Lee-Anne, who is all the way over in Australia. She's waiting for her daughter-to-be who she'll be naming Bella. I love that she included a square of fabric with a penguin on it for me. And that she included the one with the koala for her. It'll always remind me of her since you can't think "koala" without thinking "Australia". She also sent along a cute little wish card that simply says "Destiny".

I love it. Thanks Lee-Anne!

Mia's 108th Quilt Square: Wautoma, Wisconsin

This came from my maternal grandparents, Myra and Don, in Wautoma, Wisconsin. My grandmother is a very talented quilter. She'll be making Mia's quilt. So not only did she give us fabric but she made a block for the quilt. This fabric was from matching dresses that she made for my sister and I. I can't believe that she still had the fabric more than 30 years later! My grandmother wrote that this picture was her favorite of the two of us. It had to be 1974. My sister was born in January of that year. We're 2 years apart so I'm probably almost 3 in this pic. I'll include it in Mia's scrapbook. I'll update this post later when I get their good wish for Mia.

Mia's 107th Quilt Square: West Milford, New Jersey

This is from another set of fellow adopters and bloggers, Heather and John, of West Milford, New Jersey. Their blog is Digging A Hole To China. They were LID 12-29-06 for their daughter, Gracie Mae.

Included on the card is a quote from Marianne Williamson which reads "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. "

Their wish for Mia is "Whenever you have doubts in yourself, at any time in your life, read the above quote! You are so very, very special and so very, very loved! Always remember that, and always remember to love your very special self just as much as everyone else does!"

That is beautiful! Heather actually cut out all of those little pieces that are on the card from the fabric. That must have been tedious! And we appreciate it.

Thanks Heather and John!

Mia's 106th Quilt Square: Ontario, Canada

This is from fellow bloggers and China adopters,Mark and Michelle, from Ontario, Canada. Their blog is called Waiting for Pumpkin. They sent a cute fabric with one of my favorite colors... hot pink. This is a color that'll be included in Mia's own nursery bedding. Their card reads "Sing like there's nobody listening. Dance like there's nobody watching. Live like there's Heaven on earth. Love like you'll never get hurt. We wish you a life filled with much joy, laughter, health and happiness."

Thanks Mark and Michelle!

Mia's 105th Quilt Square: Dayton, Ohio

This is from my brother, Travis, his girlfriend, Kristy and her son, Braeden. My mom tells me that my brother picked out the fabric himself and searched for it because he wanted something Asian. The card got to me. He gave it to me on Christmas when I was already feeling just a little bit sad about not having Mia home. So this quote got me all teary and emotional.

"My heart felt something missing. At the time, I didn't know that "something" would become my reason for living. I don't know why our life together began so far apart. How could I have known a faraway land held the missing beat of my heart? From distant places with stranger's faces, our hearts were destined to meet. Without you for me and me for you, our lives would not have been complete." ~ Crystal Dawn Perry

That is so true. Then he included one from Oprah Winfrey which reads "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother." And another from Richard Bach "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life." I absolutely believe both of these things. Couldn't have been more perfect. Their wish for Mia is health, happiness, love and laughter.

You done good! Thanks Travis, Kristy and Braeden. I love you.

Mia's 104th Quilt Square: A Special Place In Georgia

This is from my new bloggity buddy, Pug Mama, over at the Awaiting Ava blog. She and her husband, Big Daddy, their twins, J and J, and their daughter, A, are LID 3-8-06 for the future Ms Ava. She sent two different fabrics. The pugs are in celebration of her pug, Jeter. Her card quotes Swept Away by Geoff Moore. It reads "I would say your name a hundred times a day like speaking words of faith and with a mixture of hope and fear and trustI prayed for strength to wait and dreamed of how I'd feel the day you'd be in my arms. What once was just a dream is now reaching up to me and I hold her in my arms. Father, thank you for the way you held her all those days that we had to be apart." Her family's wish for Mia is "May all your dreams come true!"

Thanks Girl!