Joy

This photo was taken 24 hours after our daughter gave birth to Alaina. The whole family is so excited to have a new bundle of joy in their midst.

Grandpa with his newest granddaughter. He is smitten with her.

Nana, big sis Olivia and little Alaina. True joy comes from the blessings the Lord gives and this little one is our Thanksgiving blessing. I'm hoping to get better photos of her this coming week.

Our Thanksgiving

As most of you know, I was frantically working on the finishing touches of a quilt for our newest granddaughter-hoping I could finish it before her arrival. Thankfully by the time I was ready for bed Wednesday night I had finished it-yippee! I've been told that the color looks pink and black but it is actually pink and brown. The back, although hard to see if this photo, is a Beatrix Potter print that my daughter spotted and loved.
Well we also had the best Thanksgiving blessing yesterday-our little Alaina was born in the afternoon. We had been on call since the middle of the night and knew that she would arrive before dinner time. Momma and baby are doing well and should be released from the hospital this afternoon. All four siblings were ecstatic when viewing photos of their baby sister. Due to H1N1, children are no longer permitted at our local hospitals but they seemed content to spend the day playing at Nana and Grandpa's house. I know the next few weeks will be a time of adjustment for all the family and I plan to be there to lend a hand(holding baby of course) whenever I can. Although I don't have any photos of her yet, you can be sure there will be some by this weekend. Our daughter makes giving birth look easy and the photos that I did see make her look radiant(what new mother isn't?)and rested-like she went away for a retreat. Now craziness will begin as everyone settles in.

Harvest blessings to you today! We are busy getting our home cleaned, dishes prepared and all the while waiting for the phone call that asks us to please come over so our girl can get to the hospital. I'm still working on the finishing touches on the quilt~I've got half of the binding still to tack down and then I'll sign it and takes photos. I never thought I'd get it all done by the time she was born-Hallelujah!
We, in America, have so much to be thankful about-wouldn't you agree!
To all those, past and present, who serve us in the Armed Forces I want to thank you for the great sacrifice you continually make on our behalf. For those who've lost loved ones serving our nation-thank you! I wish I could give you a big hug! To our forefathers for obtaining our freedom here in the U.S. I am grateful. For those men and women of faith that sacrificed their lives to speak the Truth, I am so thankful. For those still preaching the Truth, here and abroad, risking their lives for the sake of the Gospel I thank you. For the Lord's plan of salvation for each and every person, I Praise You Lord. For the atoning blood of the Lamb, I thank you Father.
This Thanksgiving may your heart be drawn closer to the Lord and may you see with new eyes all you have to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving Blessings to you and yours,
Noreen

Tuesday blessings to you dear friends. I wanted to share that last night I finally finished all the hand quilting and today will make the binding and get that on tonight. Once it is done, I will post photos of it~I can't believe the finished size is much bigger than a typical baby quilt-60"x60" but it will be a good play quilt as well and last while she grows. There is no news on the baby yet-any day now, whenever the Lord appoints her to be born.
I was off line yesterday after reading about Canada's new law concerning adoptions from Uganda. You can read about it at Linny's blog:
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

May you be blessed today as you seek our Savior and experience His love and grace in your lives.
Hugs, Noreen

Dear Friends~ Although we have no baby news yet, I am frantically working on the quilt to finish it by the time she arrives. There have been many hours hand stitching and I've still got a bit to do.
Once it is finished I will be able to spend more time online, posting and visiting all your blogs.
Have a wonderful Christ filled weekend!

In His Arms, Noreen

It is hard to believe that next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day-has this month flown by or what!
So today I am thankful for another day to worship my Lord. I am thankful for His word and the promises in it. I am thankful for His hand of protection amidst uncertain circumstances.
I mentioned last week I had been meditating on Ps. 91 and these are a few of the verses I looked at today.
"You will not be afraid of the terror by night or of the arrow that flies by day."-verse 5
"For I(you) have made the Lord my refuge, Even the Most High my dwelling place,
No evil will befall you, nor any plague come near your tent"-verse 9
I love this one-"For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways."-verse 11
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him,
I will set him securely on high because he has known My name." verse 14

I am thankful for our beautiful weather-crisp cool days with snow still blanketing the ground.
I have so many blessings around me-I'm thankful for each and every one of them.
I am thankful that in the next few days or week we will have another wee granddaughter join our family. What joy the Father gives!

Blessings to you this day.
Noreen

New England

One of my very favorite places to visit is New England. Although hubby and I have only been there twice we fell in love with the beauty of the different states and the quaint towns. Our second visit was in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary and we even spent time at Booth Bay in Maine. Being lovers of the ocean, we especially loved the small villages along Maine's coast. We would both love to get back there within the next couple of years and spend several weeks exploring.
Today I am thankful for memories; thankful for trips taken around our great country and seeing sights new to us. I am thankful for a Creator who gives us such incredible vistas. I am thankful for each and every season, in nature and in life.
What are you thankful for today?