Swatch # 86

This is from Lory, she has been with me since I started my business over two years ago. I am so glad that she participated in Mattine's quilt. The fabric is fun and bright. The wish is for a bright and beautiful future.

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine upon your face

The rain fall soft upon your fields

Until we meet again

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Swatch # 85

Orange is my color. I am always drawn to orange. It is a good grounding color. Well, this is from Tiffany who knows how I feel about the hue. It is very bright and cheery. The wish is .......... " I wish you blue birds in the spring that gives your heart a song to sing...... and then a kiss but more than this...... I wish you love!"

# 84

The lucky elephant trunk.... first of all I love the bright pink of the fabric and then the print is very cool. This is from Nancy, an ultra hip friend of mine. Her son just turned eighteen and she is looking forward to watching our little girl grow up surrounded by love and luck. I think we are the lucky ones!

Swatch # 83

Oh, if you have seen our little one it is evident that she likes to eat, quite a little chunker. I think she will love this fabric. The wish is to every bit of life, especially the "sweet things". I agree!

# 82

Let is Be- The Beatles

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom,let it be.

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom,

And all the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me.

Shine until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music

We are huge Beatles fans and I love that we got this fabric and message. There were many times in this process this message helped us through some tough times.

Swatch # 80 and # 81

This is from Lisa. She has a small farm of animals at her house, one dog and four cats. She always has such fantastically funny stories to share about her brood. She wishes for our daughter the love of animals. I think that will be easy considering the best two dogs in the world already live with us!

# 79

This fabric swatch is from Kathie. I have the pleasure of seeing Kathie three times a week and I really look forward to our time together. She has been there every step of this journey to Mattine. Kathie likes to travel and knows how much we love to travel. In her message she stressed that our daughter keep her eyes open to the wonders around her and to never stop discovering the beauty not only within her but also in the world in front of her. She encourages Mattine to stand in awe of the people she meets and the places she will go. She page she did for the wish book is amazing and pictures really do not do it justice!

Swatch # 78

This fabric is from Kathy, a good friend of my mom's. The fabric is a beautiful blue-ish green and is reminiscent of of the tropical Florida environment. The sentiments in the card are wonderful and reference Kathy dancing and singing with her own children. I remember those same times with my mom and dad. I recall dancing on my dad's feet to Bob Marley's Buffalo Soldier. Being huge music fans ourselves, I hope she has a little rhythm and if not she can always dance on our feet. We are looking forward to dancing and singing with Mattine.

Swatch # 77

So, in doing this project I have been touched by almost every fabric that we have received. Each one is special and unique and just as lovely as the next. This one made me cry- but in the best way possible. This fabric is from Laura, a friend of my mom's. She gave the wish and fabric to my mom just after we received the news of our referral, a very emotional day for all of us caught in the midst of Mattine's adoption journey. I don't normally copy down the entire wish but I think this one everyone following this should hear or read.

Dear Mattie,

Today is a beautiful and wonderful day. Today your mommy and daddy received the referral. You are but a step away from them. I received the joyous news today from your Grandma, my friend Sandy. The tears in her eyes were shared with me and I in turn wanted to take today and let you know how much a part of their lives you already are. Your journey to your family started in their hearts and that is the significance in this fabric that I found to add to your quilt. Always remember that you were i their hearts before you were in their arms. These hearts are but a symbol of the joy you have brought to so many. For one so little, you have brought happiness. You have touched so many hearts just by being you. Welcome Home!

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides!" - Daryn Biscotti

Thank you Laura! I am truly touched by your message and how eloquently you stated it on such a wonderful day for our family.

Swatch # 76

This fabric is from Liz and Garry. The super soft heart pattern echoes the message for our little girl which is one of love. Liz writes, "In all who are waiting for you we have kept Faith, Hope and Love in our hearts. A plaque your mother gave me that I cherish said....What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail? So, I say DO IT."

Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Swatch # 75

This swatch is from a fellow adoptive family who are with the same agency we are with and whose little girl waits for them in the same orphanage as Mattine. The wish is for health and happiness and the fabric matches the room of their first daughter's baby room. I hope our girls continue their friendship over the years.

# 74

This fabric is from Debbie. I feel so blessed that she has come into my life, such a strong woman with an amazing heart. She has been a very good friend throughout this process. Her swatch is from an the sofa arm chair her family has used for the last twenty years. It is the place her boys grew up reading, laughing, playing and becoming a family. She wrote in the card, "We believe there is "life" in the material and we wanted it to be a part of Mattine's life with you." We love this swatch!

Swatch # 72 and # 73

We received these fabrics from very dear friends of ours, Kristen and Steve. Although we are waiting on the wish attached to the fabrics I am confident that they will provide profound wisdom and humor. I love paisley patterns and the lady bugs are adorable. Enjoy the fabric until I update this post with "wishes".

Swatch # 68-71

These ultra cool fabrics are from a friend of my sister's. She picked fabulous quotes to accompany the swatches and we are so touched that they can be a part of Mattine's quilt. My favorite one which is actually a quote on my desk reads, "You must be the change you want to seein the world." - Gandhi

Thank you!

# 67

It all starts from the inside out.

Swatch # 66

My most wonderful daughter Mattine,

I selected this fabric for you because it represents the wonders of working with your hands. As your grandfather Marty worked with me when I was a child, he showed me how to use tools to make and fix things. All of our family has talent being creative, artistic and innovative using our hands and imagination. I will work with you to teach you all I know. Whether you find your talent in drawing, thinking, communicating, carving, shaping, cutting or pasting be happy and enjoy all of the wonders of the world in front of you. I will support what ever you decide to do. Love this life.

Dad

# 65

Mattie,

Never be afraid to try new things, especially when it comes to food and flavors. Cooking is a way of sharing yourself with others around you. Do things in moderation. Sometimes a little bit can go a long way. However, sometimes that little bit will make all the difference. Express yourself well. Share the love. Enjoy the food.

Love Dad

# 64

This is from me.

It is about growth. I want her to never stop growing.

• to grow in perspective, wisdom, tolerance, patience and charity
• to grow artistically so that she is free to be herself
• to grow in peace understanding that we are in the world, no one is alone
• to grow healthy knowing that your body is your temple, she will have it with her always and sometimes that will be all that you have
• to grow a sense of humor for laughter will get her through almost anything
• to grow a loving heart
• to grow a strong spirit

Swatch # 63

This fabric is from a dear

friend of mine who recently moved. I am really bummed to see her leave because she is pregnant and due in November and I had such high hopes that our little ones would be fast friends, not to mention that I will miss our friendship. I am sure they still will be good friends. The fabric is from Nairobi, Kenya where my friend visited a couple of years ago. I enclosed a map on the page for Mattine figuring that we can never start her too early reading maps. The wish is that she have an adventure some spirit like her parents and that she travels a lot. I think she will have a great head start, even on us, by traveling so far at such a young age.

Swatch # 62

This is from my brother-in-law's sister, Andrea. Very creative in her approach with the star......"Reach fro the stars in all that you do. Go above and beyond and all your dreams will come true!" Words to truly live by. Thank you so much.