For the little ones

At the last preschool I taught at in California, they had an incredible selection of unusual games and toys and this game was one of them.  The children loved it and because it is a German game I wasn't familiar with it; when we got ready to move I located it and although it was pricey I bought it for Christmas for our grands.
That year most of them were too young to get the concept, it is more for children 3+.  Now however whenever we have a get together here, that is the game that the little ones want to play.  Even the bigger boys, ages 9 and 7, love it.  It has directions in 10 different languages and is very simple to play and the children love saying loudly, "oh no it's the Crow".  I know there are many grandparents, as well as parents, that need to start thinking about Christmas gifts and I would highly recommend this game.  I just checked online and it is available at several sights, just remember the longevity of the game will out weigh the cost of it. 
Have a delightful weekend.
Noreen

Weekend Blessings

The day is half over already and so far I've walked with a good friend, been extra hands to my daughter and her girls as they plan a surprise for her hubby's birthday and filled up 6 grocery bags-trying to restock our bare pantry.  It feels good to have done this already and now have a bit of a relaxed afternoon while hubby is golfing.  We've got 5 of the grands tonight for dinner and the evening, while our oldest takes her hubby out for dinner, as it is his birthday too.  The dinner we end up having with them, because it is one of the kids favorites, is hot dogs and beans.  I can't deny it is very easy to feed five this meal because they all love it. 
Tomorrow eve we gather, all 15 of us, for the birthday celebration with presents and ice cream sundaes. 
You know I've grown when the idea of 15 of us, together on a regular basis, doesn't throw me a loop anymore; in my younger years this many would have stressed me out.  God has richly blessed hubby and I.
Have a joyous weekend my friends!
Hugs, Noreen

Good Morning Friends,  I pray this post finds you filled with His grace, joy and peace and that you have a Thankful Heart today and each day.  You know I've shared previously that when we made our major life change and left our home state of California to move to our beautiful Colorado, there were several personal decisions I made. The first decision is that, in my life, there were to be no regrets concerning this move; I didn't want to look back but to look forward and to rejoice in this day that the Lord has given.  My second decision was to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in all things.  I'm sorry to say,in the past, that I've always been a gal who looked at the glass half empty instead of half full and I seriously wanted to change that.  My hubby has always been such a positive guy and I really wanted to be more like him.  Then about five months after we moved here, my daughter introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging; little did I know how you all would impact my life and how much a part of me you'd become.  I've always loved writing because it expresses what is in my heart.  I found that your blogs also helped me to abide more in His presence, because you are a sweet aroma to the King.  You have blessed me more than I ever would have thought possible and I am so very thankful for you today.  I'm thankful for my dear sister Lynn, over at SUM, for being our hostess this month; Lynn and I've become good friends over the past several years and she is someone I hold close to my heart.
Today I am thankful that although we have frost on the ground we don't have snow yet!  I am thankful that the wind is supposed to quit today and the day should warm up to the high 50's or 60's.  I am thankful for the study I'm going to this morning and the friends I'll see there.  I am thankful for how the Lord continually uses Beth Moore around this country, around the world, to encourage and teach women.
I am thankful for my beloved and who he is.  What an incredible man the Lord has given me.  I am thankful for my daughters, their hubbies, their kiddos.  I am thankful that my brother celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday~he turned 70...wow.  I am thankful that I can rest in my God who not only numbered all my days but knows everything about me and loves me still.  I'm thankful my autumn quilt top is done and now I get to hand quilt it.  I'm thankful for you my friends and how you bless me.
Stop and look around today, see how many things you can give thanks for. 
Hugs, Noreen
Please go visit my dear friend Lynn at http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com/and read some TT posts.

Outdoor Wednesday

 The Glory of His Handiwork

If you looked towards the Rockies today, you would see them covered in snow.

Wednesday blessings to you dear friends.  Hugs, Noreen

A Blustery Monday

Good morning to you.  I hope you had a delightful weekend that was filled with blessings regardless of what is happening.  Yesterday afternoon hubby and I decided to go for a drive to the mountains; I love being within 45 minutes to the Rockies.  It always refreshes me to venture up there and yesterday was no exception; it was a very windy afternoon and we thought that snow would be falling but it just sprinkled a bit.  The colors of the Aspens and other trees were still phenomenal through the canyons and it does my heart good to be there.  We went into Rocky Mountain National Park to look for Elk but only saw a few because most of them were in town.  After driving a quick loop we headed back to town and happened to see this guy in someones yard.  Will you just look at that rack-he was huge.  I wonder if the locals get tired of these guys in their yard?  After watching him for a few minutes we headed home as it was getting late and we didn't want to wait for bad weather.  If I lived there I might get tired of the traffic and congestion but oh how it makes me smile.  Last night we tried a new recipe, from our daughter, to make Clam Chowder-I may have to post it here for you.  It was so good and perfect for a cool Fall day; I can't have it regularly because it contains both dairy and gluten-two big no-no's for me; but I did have to try it.  Today is extremely windy here and everything is blowing out in the yard so I know what I'll be doing this morning.
Have a blessed day dear ones and keep your eyes upward.
Hugs, Noreen

My Girl

Yesterday was our oldest daughter's birthday, pictured here on the left in the baseball cap.  Carrie turned 31 and is such an incredible woman of God.  Today as I reflected on her childhood, her youth and adult years, I again was reminded what a huge blessing she has always been to the family.  She, our first born, was such an easy baby in every way.  As she grew, she was such a delight but we also became aware that she had a strong personality.  This has proved to, at rare times be a challenge, but has also proved to be used for Kingdom purposes.  From her earliest years, she was an incredible big sister to Kim and often would mother her if I wasn't around.  Both girls grew to be the best of friends, in childhood as well as adulthood.  As a woman, Carrie has embraced marriage and motherhood as well as family.  It is a rare trait today to see adult children who relish extended family vacations and we are blessed that both daughters love our family times.  All the grandchildren are more like siblings than cousins and it does our heart good to see them get along so well.
Today as I thought about Carrie's birthday gifts, I smiled because they all were family oriented~photos, picture frames, posters for homeschooling, books on home life and spiritual life.  Nothing means more to Carrie than her family and our family and this mom(dad too)couldn't be more proud of the person she is.
May the Lord bless her with many, many more birthdays and give her the desires of her heart.

With love to you my girl.
Mom

These bushes are called Burning Bushes and I had never seen them before moving to Colorado.  During most of the year they are simply just bushes, but in the fall they turn the most glorious color red, a sight to behold.  Always reminds me of the biblical Burning Bush, in a figurative sense.  You all know that the trees are one of the things I miss most about northern California but this year I have been blessed to witness the most glorious fall here.  Having these bushes in my back yard helps when I think about Crepe Myrtles, Pistache trees and of course Maples in Ca. and I will admit I did a lot of whining the first year we were here but not this year.
I hope your weekend is filled with the wonder of nature.
Blessings, Noreen.