G'ma and G'pa come to town!

My parents flew from Nova Scotia to visit with us for 10 days and it was a delightful time. Dad of course did much for me including staining a very large fence. And we all enjoyed our girl who sang and danced her way deeper into their hearts. For me it was wonderful to have them stay in our home and live our life with us.... and to share my girl with family that live afar. She thrived on so much attention and really is becoming more and more of a little comic goof. The mornings were early, the days hot and the love abundant. It makes a difference that my parents traveled with us to China as the connection includes her land and her history. They met her when I did and are integral in our relationship.

Thanks Mom and Dad.... we love you! So do Kirby and Lola (who were walked more often).

Mother's Day and Quilts with Meaning

You may remember an older post about all the fabrics collected from dear friends for what is called a " Hundred Good Wishes Quilt". Well here is our finished collection of so much love. It is for AnnaLeisa - for her to snuggle in, to lay on and to read like a book in terms of the many images and all the collections of stories of who contributed. It was orchestrated by my dear friend Rochelle who embodies listening to the mother. Who loves to wait for the flow to direct and who watched this quilt have it's own life and rhythm based on AnnaLeisa and my journey. Through the long wait to referral, to our meeting in China and to the pulse of our now evolving relationship. It was finished this week in time for Mother's Day.

There is a unique front and then a back that was needed to include the many fabrics that arrived.

AnnaLeisa immediately pulled the quilt to her and as you can see her and Kirby have made it home!

We love it! Thank you to all of our friends and family who stitched with us and who sent fabrics to weave into the total of our lives.

Now to snuggle!

Here is a lovely quote I just found about the quilt.....

"It is a tradition exists in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei (a.k.a. 100 Good Wishes Quilt). When a baby is born, family & friends donate to the child's mother fabric with a written wish for the new baby. It is said that the luck,energy and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed the fabric surrounds the child when she is wrapped in the quilt. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation."

The Noodle Noodle Again - visits with China Friends

Our travel group included four families from Alberta...we managed to coordinate ourselves and to traverse through a downtown marathon race to meet at the Noodle Noodle for a scrumptous Dim Sum. It was so great to see everyone and especially the 4 girls after 6 months living with their families. They had enough room to play with big sisters and brothers and to also be photographed with 2 of the dads.

AnnaLeisa in true form devoured much and immediately started to use the chopsticks on her noodles.

I feel it is important for AnnaLeisa to stay connected to her peer "sisters" and also to her homeland China. It may not always be easy but it is one of my priorities. And then one day she will have more to say for herself in this regard and I will honor her choices ......

A West Coast Outing!

AnnaLeisa and I just returned from a very special trip to Vancouver. We had been postponing our journey for ages but then took the leap west. I had lived in Vancouver for 17 years so it is a wonderful and familiar place for me to visit again. And I have deep friends eternal that had yet to meet AnnaLeisa....
It poured the day we arrived and then the sun appeared and the heavens opened and on many levels the doors continued to invite us to enjoy more.

Sean is an old friend whom I hold dearly in my heart for all that he offers me in terms of true friendship. Our love seems to be one that spans the stars
and then plunges deeply to other places that remain mysterious. I thank him for all .......and for meeting me there.
And to Sean's wife Sarah - I say thank you for being the aunt that teaches of earth and connecting .... and playing.
And Laurie..... Auntie... and friend of the songs kind. One who remains....and then some.....forever heart.













... a memorable time and as you can see AnnaLeisa met the sea and the sand and wind .....and the perennial mountain backdrop.....
and now she has inprinted the hearts of many friends.....
thanks....

Our Easter Bunnies

We have been gently reminded that we have not posted in awhile and so I take heed! I really do not know how many people read of our lives but I am touched by those who mention they follow our life and love.

We have been full on! And full in terms of life is so good!

Let us begin with Easter and then repost....We woke to dogs barking and then shadows hopping on our lawn. Dark coats with while pijamas underneath? They hopped about and planted eggs all over our snowy lawn. They then entered the house to AnnaLeisa's delight and gave her a basket with a stuffed bunny... then they hunted...... and hunted and they found treasures of only a bunny kind.....
such such fun! Thanks guys....!