My Granddaughter Has Made Her Entrance to the World!

It’s true!! Noel Heart, oldest daughter, and Chief, her husband, had their baby daughter on the 20th!

I got to go to the hospital for the better part of a day and cuddle that sweet little bundle. It’s been four years since I had a grandbaby to hold. There is nothing better in the whole world!

Her blog name is Darlin' Girl. It's one of my terms of endearments I use with children. And it fits here beautifully.

I’m thankful that Chief and Noel Heart live nearby so I can get my fill of baby holding. It’s between 3-4 hours away. Much better than Massachusetts!

I feel like a grandma pulling out her brag book!

A Thoughtful and Thankful Day

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

This year has brought bounteous blessings in my life. If I took a pen and paper, the list would take 20 pages or more. And those would just be those I remember.

One of the most miraculous (and I don’t use this word lightly) is about my oldest daughter, Noel Heart.

One year ago, she was in a serious car accident. Her car was a compact one that Chief’s grandma had given them for Noel to drive to and from work. When she was driving back from dropping Firstest off at school, she came to a construction zone. As she drove through, her car tire went into a little gully. This flipped the car and it rolled over five times.

During the roll, her driver window was broken and her arm went out of the gaping hole. She shattered her upper arm and broke a finger. Her head was bounced against the ceiling several times.

She lived.

Those are the most precious words. With a small car, the cabin should have been crushed. She should have been killed.

She lived.

Heavenly Father was watching over her, as he does each of us every day. It was not time for her to leave earth.

She lived.

Noel Heart and Chief had been married just over a year. Half a year after the accident, Noel Heart became pregnant with their first child.

Because of this accident, she and I became close again. We have shared laughter and tears this past year. This Thanksgiving my most extraordinary blessing is:

She lived.

Noel Heart, Chief and Baby
Taken yesterday at Apple Hill

I hope that part of your Thanksgiving is to deeply reflect on all the blessings in your life. The big and the small. And like the name of the holiday reminds us, give thanks. Say a prayer and fervently thank Heavenly Father for all the blessings he sends your way.




You might also enjoy an earlier post I wrote which expresses gratitude for friends. You will find it here.

Be sure to enter my giveaway celebrating my 4th blogiversary.

Merry Christmas 41 Days Late!

To Get You in the Mood for a Story About Christmas

Wowser! Is it really 41 days since Christmas?? And is it already February? How is it that time up close goes slowly but time in chunks goes quickly? I guess it's a question for the universe...

Leading up to Christmas I had two quilting Christmas gifts that I couldn't post because I hadn't given them yet. Finally, I got to give Sweetie her present on Christmas Day. I was there! Hundred times of wonderful! You can see a picture of the zebra pillows and my granddaughter here and general Christmas fun with Nancy Drew's family here.

More Christmas ambience

My second quilty Christmas present was for Noel Heart. Unfortunately she and her husband were very sick with a virus over Christmas. They didn't see anyone. They didn't get to travel over here to see us. I felt so sorry for them. We finally got together after the New Year when they were back on their feet. I finally got to give Noel Heart her "Christmas Present".

It really wasn't her Christmas Present...it was supposed to be given to her before Christmas, but they never made it over. Very disappointing. A few years ago, Noel Heart has said how much she wanted a Christmas tree skirt. I started keeping my eye out for a good pattern. I just couldn't find one... Last year in October, my friend and I went to Pacific International Quilt Festival. We stopped at one of the vendor's booths and I swear I could hear triumphal trumpets majestically playing in the background! There was a Christmas Skirt pattern! I started doing the Happy Dance right there. Many people smiled. Some laughed and pointed. Other quilters nodded, knowing what a good quilt discovery feels like. Then some of them were just disgruntled because I was blocking the aisle.

The Tree Skirt was everything I had hoped for. It was beautiful. It was big. It was EASY. Gotta love EASY! It had a special ruler, and it was a good affordable price. My quest was over. Now I had to make the skirt.

This is an Advent Calendar my Mom
made for TGS

Fast forward. This was supposed to be her Thanksgiving gift.*

*(I didn't want to make you look very far for the asterik!) My Mom started a tradition of giving me a Christmas decoration on Thanksgiving. Once I was married, she started doing this so I would have Christmas things for my house. It was lovely. I decided to carry on the tradition and once each of my children has started in their own home, I've given them Christmas decorations.

And now, in January, Noel Heart was getting hers. She was overwhelmed. She was so happy to get one and she thought it was beautiful. What more can a Mom and quilter want?

I forgot to take pictures, but Noel Heart did it for me. I wish we had a tree to show it off. Just a little too late for that photo op! Hope you like it!

It's a whooping 54" diameter!

I decided stitch-in-the-ditch was perfect for this.

Hooking up with Patchwork Times, Show and Tell Tuesday, Fabric Story, Linky Tuesday, WiP Wednesday, We Did It Wednesday, Needle and Thread Thursday, I Quilt, Finish it Up Friday