"Hi!" to Ty: November 2008

When we lived in Oklahoma, we spent a "dream assignment" with several folks while stationed at Tinker AFB with the 3rd Herd. There were several of us doing the same job, raising kids and loving life. It was fun, fun, fun and what we all dream that a military assignment should be. Dennis and Ann Lisherness were a big part of how much fun the 3rd Herd was. Dennis is currently serving our country overseas and separated from his family - so if you could throw a prayer his way - I know that it would be welcome! The Lisherness family selected a vivid jungle green print with colorful lizards all over it! As lovers of the outdoors and nature, this is the best selection!! We love it! Ann wrote:

To: Ty Anthony Zucco

We first met your parents and sister in the state of Oklahoma. They have and always will remain good friends to us no matter where in the world we all live. We look forward to meeting you and know you are a much cherished addition to the Zucco family.

Best wishes, Dennis, Anne, Jarred and Luke Lisherness

I loved receiving this fun squish from some very dear, dear friends of our family. The Hunters have been such an important part of our lives for almost as long as I can remember. Richard and my Dad were the best of friends and now that Dad passed away, being with Richard is something I cherish very much. It is a comfort and he and June are the source of many good times, a lot of wonderful advice, and the people that I always want on my side! We love them dearly!

The fabric and card were PERFECT choices because June works at the Louisiana Welcome Center on I-20. You should stop in and tell her "hello" and she loves it when people ask either how to get to the casinos, or how to get to New Orleans! Ha! The Louisiana cotton hankie was accompanied by a beautiful Louisiana postcard that reads:

Ty Anthony Zucco

Hello Ty,

Welcome to the USA and best wishes as you begin your new life!

Love,
June and Richard

Ok - this is a pretty special wish that I know Sammy worked on for quite some time - and it ended up to be so appropriate! She wrote the most beautiful letter and wish to us and Ty before her family had to move to Germany. The letter is a bit long - but so lovely that I am going to share it. We really miss the Mead family!

Dear Honour, Tony & Caitlin,

As you will know, an ancient Chinese proverb speaks of a silken red thread of destiny which connects one person to another. It is said that this magical cord may tangle or stretch but never break. I read the book "The Lost Daughters of China" in Feb '07, which was the first time I had heard of the concept of the "red thread." It touched my heart when Honour told me that Caitlin, at the age of 5, said that she had a sibling in China. Clearly, Caitlin and Ty have been connected by this red thread all along!

Since learning of Ty's quilt last fall and the story of Caitlin and Ty's destiny to be siblings, I have been on a search to find the perfect piece of fabric to add to his quilt. I immediately knew exactly what I wanted and hoped I could find it. After a failed search of every fabric store in Montgomery, I explained to my Mom what I was looking for and had her search fabric stores at home in Bismarck, ND. I even searched the internet. When I couldn't find what I was looking for, I decided to make it myself. With a white piece of fabric, I tried to replicate what I envisioned with my sewing machine. That was a disaster. Then I tried a permanent marker, which turned out to be even worse. At that point, I gave up and decided I was never going to find the "perfect" piece of fabric. But then, as I was Christmas shopping, I spotted the exact design i had been searching for the whole time. Unfortunately, it wasn't a piece of fabric. I had found the perfect piece of...wrapping paper!

It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago, that I found a piece of fabric for the quilt. Camdan's Montessori school had taken pieces of the children's artwork and turned them into magnets for the parents. We were also given a form to order additional items with out child's artwork design on it. I was ecstatic to discover that one of the items offered was a quilt square! I instantly knew this was the "perfect" square for Ty's quilt that had eluded me for so long.

We've prayed that Ty would come home as soon as possible and that we'd be able to meet him before we moved. We'll continue to pray for safe travels for the union of your family and hope that our paths may cross again in the future. You're a wonderful family (Ty couldn't ask for any better) and you've been great friends and neighbors. Know that we'll be thinking of you every January 5th and July 4th as we celebrate our birthdays and anniversaries!

Love, Sammy, Brian & Camdan Mead
Kilburn Cul-de-Sac, July '07-June '08

And if that just doesn't have you in tears- their wish goes like this:

Only as high as I reach can I grow.
Only as far as I seek can I go.
Only as deep as I look can I see.
Only as much as I dream can I be.
~Karen Ravn

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. ~ Helen Keller

To Ty and the Zucco Family,
May your dreams always be big and your hearts always be filled with joy!
Love, Sammy Brian & Camdan Mead

The wrapping paper is beautiful Sammy - but you are so very, very right...Camdan did the absolute best job imaginable! Miss you guys!

This wish was placed into my hands by such a sweet, sweet friend. Connie is another lifelong friend of my Mom's from her hometown. This lady has one of the most loving personalities and is always so "at peace." And she is funny and creative on top of that. Connie selected a bold, red fabric with white curly-cues all over it. She explains carefully why she chose the fabric, but I had a different take on it. The curly-cues reminded me of sheep...that we are all sheep...and that Jesus is our shepherd. Little did I know that this is an image my son already knew when we met him and that he treasures this dearly! Connie wrote:

In the Bible, Nehemiah 8:10 states "...the joy of the Lord is your strength." My wish is actually a prayer for you, Ty. I pray that you will be filled with the joy of the Lord and therefore draw strength from Him and give Him praise for all He is doing in your life as well as your new family's.

I chose this fabric because of the color red. It symbolizes strength and boldness. The white squiggles remind me of joy such as streamers in a celebration or parade.

In Nehemiah the people were told to celebrate what God was doing for them. It also inspired them to give. I pray you will be inspired to be a "giver" as your new family lives out that example before you.

May God bless you always. i am excited to watch and listen as He unfolds His special plans for your life.

Big hus and love,
Connie Byers (Psalm 37:4)

This wish is from a wonderful gal that is a needlework buddy of my Mom's. She is so creative and does beautiful work - with a beautiful and creative spirit to match. And always so very thoughtful! The black fabric with the batik print is such a great choice, considering Ty's home province of Guizhou is known for their batiks! Barbi wrote:

Dear Ty,

We were asked to send our thoughts/words to you along with the fabric. There are no more perfect words to send you, Ty, our new American, than those that start with -
"We the people of the United
States, or order to form
a more perfect union..."

Welcome,
Barbi McPhee

Yes - we are back home with the amazing Ty! Our lives have changed so much and I just can't tell you all the smiles and laughs we share. We are overwhelmed when we think of how God worked such miracles in Ty's life and ours to bring us all together.

I have not been feeling very well since August and am quite behind. Thankfully my Mom is here helping me, Tony and the kids until the doctors get a handle on the best way to help me out. And on the good days, Mom and I are beginning to work on Ty's quilt. So - in order to do that I will finish blogging our last entries. And then -fill you in on the rest of our trip in China and catch you up on this amazing life we are living! Until then....enjoy these!

When we were stationed in California, I met another southern belle named Valorie. Actually, that statement implies that I am a southern belle...and Valorie way out-classes me! She hails from Alabama - home of Dixie, home of Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird - the greatest Southern novel of all time)...and Valorie even worked for Southern Living magazine! She is herself a talented writer, very witty and such a beautiful person. Valorie selected a black fabric with bright smiley faces all over it - and she wrote:

Dearest Ty,

You are a very blessed boy to be entering the loving Zucco family. I am happy to welcome you to America and your new life...I know it will be a wonderful one.

I am sending you this happy face material for your quilt because it reminds one of the wonderful smile I've seen on your face in pictures. May you, and your sister Caitlin, always keep and wear your beautiful smiles.

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." - John Barrie

Love,
Miss Valorie

This happy, blue fabric adorned with yellow stars was sent by the Browns. They are members of my Mom's Sunday school class and present in many the happy memories of our past. My parents traveled with a group of close friends on several fun and memorable trips and I was lucky enough to "host" them in New England. They are indeed special people and Ty's quilt will be more complete with this addition. They wrote:

Children are the Stars of Tomorrow!

Ty, We know you are already a "star" in the Zucco family. We wish to welcome you as you unite with your new family and your new journey in life. God has blessed you with a "STAR" family. May you all continue to shine for Him.

Love, Freddie and Shirley Brown

"Children are a gift of God." Psalms 127:3

My bestest good friend Carol joined me in another online swap for our quilts - and sent me this oh-so-appropriate ivory colored fabric with lucky ladybugs and shamrocks! She penned these thoughts for Ty:

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow
For every tear, a smile
For every care, a promise
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share
For every sigh, a sweet song
And an answer for each prayer.

Blessings from Denver, CO
Carol and Callen O'Hearn

As Carol and I both wait for our sweet children, we have kept busy planning these quilts to welcome them home to us. Carol participated in a seperate Zodiac swap than I did but sent me her fabric selection for Year of the Rabbit. And of course - it is a bunny piloting himself across the skies! She wrote:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Sweet, Blessed Ty...Welcome Home!!

Carol, Cal and Christian Kelly ShiQi
The O'Hearns

You know there are some people in your lives that you absolutely know that God put right there for you when you needed them. And this blog is FULL of those people in our lives...and Cliff and Wendi were God's hands to us in so many ways while we faced some dark times in California.

Cliff is a young, devoted Chaplain in the Air Force - and he is FULL of ideas to help our Airman develop a closer relationship with God. We were honored to worship with him and Wendi in a worship service in the dorms at Travis AFB. We miss everyone from that service - and we miss Cliff and Wendi dearly. They now have a handsome baby boy that I can't wait to meet one day! But before Braydon arrived, Wendi sent this puppy fabric and wrote:

Dear Ty,

We are thrilled that you will be a part of such an amazing family as the Zuccos. God is so good to join you together with them. They love you so much and we love you too! As you wrap yourself in this blanket of love, we pray that you feel the love all around you.

Love, Cliff and Wendi Jones