In the northern part of China, there is a tradition used to celebrate and welcome a new baby into a family. This tradition is called "bai jai bei" or "good wishes quilt". The custom is to have family and friends contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the new baby. Part of the cloth is sewn into a quilt while the other is attached to the wish and put into a memory book.
The quilt made from these pieces of cloth will wrap the baby with all the luck, energy, love, and good wishes of the participants, and the memory book will show the child how many people cared for her/him even before arriving in the family! The quilt is then passed on from generation to generation.
On Friday a package was delivered to our door from our friends Sue and Arlie Williams from Texas. They are in China now with their family and will be meeting their beautiful daughter Jia on Monday. Sue and I have became friends while waiting for our little ones who lived this past year in the same orphanage. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Jia last month when we visited the orphanage. When I opened the package I was overwhelmed with emotion. Below is Sue's special message to Lily....
"This is a memory book for a special "bai jai bei" or " good wishes quilt" made for Lily Mei....many of the fabric squares in this quilt are shared in another quilt, a quilt made for Jia Suzanne, a little 4 year old girl who your mommy hugged even before her own forever mommy could!
This quilt was made for you while your mommy and daddy traveled to China to get you. It was made by Jia's mommy in special thanks to your mommy for that very special hug she gave Jia. Each stitch was placed with good wishes, dreams and warm feelings for you Lily. Lily and Jia, once shared a waiting place in China, now both share a quilt of wishes, loved in their own forever familes, both girls priceless blessings."
Sue had put together a beautiful book of good wishes from other adoptive families and the beautiful quilt that Lily is wrapped in. I just can't find the words to express what this gesture of friendship means to me. I know that our girls will always share something special.
Lily wrapped in love and 100 good wishes
Jia, Pamela, and Lily 5/7/08
2 comments:
How wonderful! It is so lovely to see Lily growing and surrounded with everything she needs and more! She is such a lovely child I can see why she has you all charmed. She has the same beautiful glow as her mother. You really look remarkably alike! Another sign that she is meant for you. I am so glad she has all that love and care and we will send you lots of thoughts and support on Monday and in three weeks. Sarah and Elinor YaTing (another Xuzhou family)
Isn't Sue an amazing person! We are fortunate to know her!
Post a Comment