ABBEY AND JESSIE

Well I guess I had better order a king size bed before Ava arrives....as you can see I already have two "Fur Daughters" taking up space in my bed! I'm sure Ava will want to crawl in and join the rest of us....so maybe it's time for a bigger bed! That's Jessie(10 years old) giving Abbey(3 years old) a big sisterly hug.

"I Love You So...."

There are different vendors in the main entrance of the hospital that sell their products during the day. I went shopping on my lunch break and found these two books for Ava.....one is from her "book wish list", "It's Okay to be Different" and the other not on her list but a very sweet book about how much her mommy loves her...just had to get it too!

"It's Okay to be Different"

"Ladybug Floating Candles"

"Ladybug Sneakers"

I'm not the only "STAUKER" of Ladybug apparel!! Cathy, a friend at works daughter,Emily has been keeping her eyes open for anything Ladybug....and she's been doing a good job...finding me several different Ladybug items including these ladybug sneakers and the floating ladybug candles. Thanks so much Cathy and Emily. Ava will love them.

MORE QUILT PATCHES FOR AVA

Quilt Patch #18

This bright and colourful ladybug fabric was sent by my cousin Anita. Anita wrote:

Why God Made Little Girls

God made the world with its towering trees,

majestic mountains and restless seas

then paused and said, "It needs one more thing."

Someone to laugh and dance and sing,

to walk in the woods and gather flowers,

to commune with nature in quiet hours.

So God made little girls

with laughing eyes and bouncing curls,

with joyful hearts, and beautiful smiles,

enchanting ways and feminine wiles.

And when He'd completed the task He'd begun,

He was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.

For the world when seen through a little girl's eyes

greatly resembles paradise.

Ava Grace, welcome to the family. Love Anita

Quilt Patch #17

This very colourful fabric patch was sent by Bradley, my cousin Anita's son. Brad wrote:Ava Grace,

VISION

Some men see things as they are and ask, "why?" I dream things that never were and ask "why not?"
Love, Bradley

Quilt Patch # 16

This patch of football fabric was sent by Chris, my cousin Anita's daughter's fiance. Chris wrote: Ava Grace: "Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit." Ava, you are a winner.

Chris

MORE QUILT PATCHES

Quilt Patch #15

This beautiful Cottage/Seaside scene fabric was sent by Kevin, my cousin Anita's husband. Kevin wrote: Ava, Your long journey is over, welcome to Canada. Your birth country Mongolia, has a great valley called The Selenge River Valley. Your new home in Canada has many valleys, but one that is very special, The Ottawa Valley with the great Ottawa River running through it.
I can hardly wait to spend time with you and your Mom, SeaDooing on the Ottawa River and playing on the beach at the cottage.
Ava, you will love being at the cottage because it is special and beautiful, jus like you.
Love Kevin


Quilt Patch # 14

This" proud Canadian" fabric patch was sent by Ryan my cousin Anita's eldest son. Ryan wrote: For Ava, We travel the world over to find the beautiful.

Quilt patch # 13

This bright green quilt patch was sent by Jen, my cousin Anita's daughter in law. She wrote "Ava Grace~shoot for the stars".....When you wish upon a star...makes no difference who you are...anything your heart desires...will come to you...like a bolt out of the blue...hope steps in and sees you through...when you wish upon a star...your dreams come true!!
Love Jen

100 GOOD WISHES QUILT PARTY FOR AVA!!!

Last weekend my cousin Anita, her husband Kevin, their three kids, Ryan, Bradley and Terri along with their spouses, Jen, Ashley and Chris as well as their granddaughter Hayley got together to spend the day picking out fabric and working on Ava's "100 Good Wishes Quilt" blessing pages. Here are some pictures of them putting those creative talents to work. It is so nice to see how much my family is thinking of Ava and cares for her already. I love you all so much. Can't wait to see the finished masterpieces!

COMMENTS,COMMENTS,COMMENTS.....PLEASE!

OK EVERYONE....I KNOW PEOPLE ARE STOPPING BY TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG....CAN TELL BECAUSE THE COUNTERS ARE GOING UP!....BUT VERY FEW ARE LEAVING A COMMENT! AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY BLOG ENTRY THERE IS A SPOT CALLED COMMENTS....JUST CLICK ON IT AND A NEW WINDOW OPENS WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT OR JUST SAY HELLO AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BLOGGER ACCOUNT THEN JUST CLICK ON ANONYMOUS, WRITE A LITTLE NOTE, SIGN YOUR NAME AND CLICK ON THE PUBLISH TAB....I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU....AND I'M SURE AVA WILL ENJOY READING THE COMMENTS ONCE SHE IS OLDER....DON'T BE SHY....GIVE IT A TRY!! THANKS, LIZ

MORE QUILT PATCHES FOR 100 GOOD WISHES QUILT

QUILT PATCH #12

This patch was sent by Katie, Janet's daughter, soon to be Ava's cousin. Her message says: I hope you have lots of fun!

QUILT PATCH # 11

This patch was sent by Beth, Janet's daughter and her boyfriend Brandon. Her message says: Welcome Ava!




QUILT PATCH # 10

This patch was sent by Brenda, Janet's daughter, also soon to be Ava's cousin.

QUILT PATCH # 9

This patch was sent by Megan, Janet's daughter,soon to be Ava's cousin. Her message says: Dear Ava... Hope you have a great time! From Megan.

QUILT PATCH # 8

This patch was sent by Janet's daughter Rachael...soon to be Ava's cousin. Her message says: Welcom to Canada and the family Ava! We can't wait to meet you! Rachael.

QUILT PATCH # 6 & 7

These two purple patches of material were sent by by sister Cathy and her partner Janet. There message says: Welcome Ava! We can't wait to meet you-Have a great trip home with mommy. Love Aunts Cathy and Janet

GIFTS FOR AVA

Ava received her first book from her "Book Wish List". It was given to me for Ava from Joanne a girl I work with. It came wrapped in several strands of red thread...how thoughtful! She also gave me this little Ty bunny....the story behind that is kinda cool....I work at the hospital and we just moved to the new Recovery Room and yesterday was the day we needed to have our lockers cleared out so they could move them to the new area this weekend...well after Jo finished cleaning out her locker she came back to the Recovery Room with this little bunny for me to give to Ava....she had forgotten she even had it in her locker....been there for about 6 years....quess what the name on the tag was....Grace(Ava's middle name)....and the birth date on the tag if Feb 10....so Jo says it's a sign that I will get my Travel Announcement to come to China on the 10nth of February!! I guess we'll have to wait and see.
There is a little prayer on the tag that goes like this:

Please watch over me night and day
When I sleep and when I pray
Keep me safe from up above
With special blessings of your love!

WE WAIT

We wait
while the snow clings
and the seeds sleep
and the earth turns
*
We wait
while the heart sings
and the eyes weep
and the mind churns
*
We wait
while the soul learns
that the love's deep.
*
So the hope springs,
as the dream burns
and the days creep
till the phone rings-
*
And she waits-

~Author Unknown

INSIDE MY HEART

"Inside my Heart"

Somewhere far across the sea

Waits a little heart for me

Amazing though how it may seem

We both are sharing the same dream

I long to tuck you in at night

And hold your tiny hand so tight

To kiss your tears and keep you near

To chase away your every fear

No one knows the tears I've cried

The emptiness I've felt inside

Only God knew what to do

A red thread tied from me to you

And now my love it's almost time

When I'll be yours and you'll be mine

Soon forever-never to part

My child I bore inside my heart

~Author Unknown

"TODAYS FUNNIES"

"MY WORD CLOUD"

"WORD CLOUDS" are making the rounds on Blogs. You enter your blog name into this site and it pulls words from your blog to create the word cloud.

"LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDRIES FOUNDATION"

# 5 QUILT PATCH

Ava's 5th quilt patch was contributed by her soon to be "Fur Sisters".

Dear Ava Grace,

My Wish for you is that
you will always know the
unconditional love and
companionship of a "Fur
Friend"

Love your fur sisters,
Jessie & Abbey
XOXOX

# 4 QUILT PATCH AND GOOD WISH

Ava's 4th Quilt patch came from my brother, her Uncle Dave. He wrote:

"Ones Life is not Measured by the
Number of Breaths one takes, but by
the Moments that Take Your Breath
Away!"

Love Uncle Dave
XOXO

# 3 FABRIC PATCH FOR AVA'S QUILT

This patch was given by my Father(Ava's Papa). It is a vibrant red Canadian Maple Leaf pattern. He wrote:

Dear Ava Grace my love.
May God grant you always,
a sunbeam to warm you,
a moonbeam to charm you,
a sheltering angel, so nothing
can harm you.

Love Papa
XOXO

# 2 PATCH FOR 100 GOOD WISHES QUILT

My Mom...Ava's Nanna contributed this 2nd patch. It is a beautiful bright floral print very similar to the colours in her crib bedding. She wrote:

My dearest Ava Grace
May God hold you in the
Palm of his hands, shower
you with his grace and always
have a special place in your
heart as you have in mine.

Love Nanna
XOXO

MORE GIFTS FROM NANNA

Nanna gave me these outfits today for Ava to wear in China....she will be a "PROUD CANADIAN SOON"

MORE STUFF FOR AVA

My mom's friend Claude gave me this change table for Ava and mom made the purple skirt to hide all the supplies underneath. Claude also gave me some clothes, a high chair, baby gate and potty that I will keep at mom's place for when Ava stays there. Thanks so much Mrs.C for all the gifts....Ava will put them to good use.

"TAG BLANKET FOR AVA"

To help with the wait I've pulled out my sewing machine and made Ava one of these "TAG BLANKETS". I got the idea from one of the blogs I've been following (Catherine is her name). You know how if you give a baby a new stuffed toy and all they are interested in is the tag on it....well hence the "TAG BLANKET" .I tryed to use alot of different textures and patterns of ribbon to really stimulate her interest. It is about 12 inches square before the ribbons are added...so small enough to stuff in your coat pocket or diaper bag. Ava has two "foster sisters" living in the same foster family as her...I think I will make them one each and hopefully if I get to meet the foster family I can give them to them then or have the orphanage director pass them along with the foster families gift.

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS....RETAIL THERAPY!!

To help pass the "waiting time" I have purchased a couple of items for Ava, one being an Asian doll...had to order it online...very hard to find anything other than caucasian dolls here! Was at the post office picking up a package and this package of stamps for "2005 The Year of the Rooster" caught my eye....since Ava was born in the 2005, the year of the rooster I just had to get them. I will put them away for her when she is older.

FIRST DREAM ABOUT AVA

Well I had my first dream about Ava last night. She was back in the orphanage, had her lip already repaired and was much bigger than in her pictures....quite the "chunky monkey". I don't know if this is a good sign that maybe I will hear about a travel date soon?? Anyway, that red thread connects me to you Ava, no matter where you are! Love you. xoxo