THE BABY IS HERE!!

Yes, at about 8:43am Friday, September 12Th, this morning, Kim gave birth to baby Ariana Lynn Morrison. Now, I could have the name wrong, because although they knew what they were going to name her before birth, they were reserving their right to change their minds after they saw her, just to make sure her looks and personality suited the name. She is perfect and beautiful and weighed in at a healthy 8lbs 10oz. Everyone is healthy, but tired, and Kim obviously has some serious recovering to do. When God said in Genesis, after the fall, that he was going to increase the pain for a women in childbirth, he wasn't kidding. Ruth was their and witnessed the birth. She said it was amazing. We have after pictures of the baby, and if I ever can figure out how to put pictures on my blog, I will show some to you.
Thank God, everything went OK. The next few days will involve multiple trips to the hospital, so you may not see much of us of over the next week or so, especially since Ruth will be staying at Dan and Kim's for a while until they get settled to help out.
Looks like no one guessed the date right. Dan and Louise were the closest. I knew the baby would have a mind of her own. She takes after her mother in that regard and that's a good thing!
I'll keep you posted and hopefully pictured too!

That was a week

Have you ever had the experience that things were happening so fast that it was like you were sitting back watching a movie of your life? Absolutely no control over what was happening, yet a sense that it was all good and God was definitely the one in control.
It started with the sale of my car last Wednesday. That was an answer to prayer, especially in this economy and totally unexpected. I had all but given up on selling it. The guy was a very nice fellow, an artist, who writes an article in the Hamilton Magazine. Very interesting person and a new connection I was happy to make. A God moment? I think so. Then tragedy strikes! The free car I was to receive from my in-laws suddenly became unavailable due to the fact it was uncertifiable. Had a hole in the frame. Not repairable. I could have been killed driving down the QEW as it split in two and broke apart at 100km's per hour. I drove this car for a whole month back and forth to Toronto. My plans have been derailed! YIKES! I have no car to get to work next Tuesday and only about 4 days to find one! I might as well have not sold mine, right? Nope, God knows more than I do. Ruth and I had discussed the possibility of getting a van. Lot's of room for carrying people and stuff and since commuting will no longer be an issue, neither will gas consumption. I found one on Kijiji that we liked in my price range. Actually made an appointment to go see it, but that's when I was offered the "free" car. I cancelled the appointment. Four days later, I have no free car. When I learned I wasn't getting a free car, I was about to leave for work and rather panicked that I needed to get one soon. Absolutely no time to look for one myself. I don't know if you have bought and sold cars yourself recently, but it is not as easy as it looks. Their is a few things that have to be in place like certification, e-testing, sales kits, lineups at ministry offices, etc. Time consuming and potentially expensive. What if you buy a lemon? It's buyer beware you know! I called the guy with the van hoping it was still available. I had a good feeling about him. Turns out he is a retired pastor that is involved in a street ministry here in Hamilton. A God moment? I think so. I trusted him and his vehicle. It was absolutely in immaculate condition. Somebody had beat me to it, made an offer on it sealed with a hand shake pending approval of the potential buyers wife, but........ no money had changed hands yet. Not a done deal. Since I had no time, my wonderful wife and great dad went on my behalf to look at the van with my unseen approval that if they both liked it, Ruth was to give the guy some money and buy it, quickly. The potential buyers wife disapproved of the purchase. We were in! Ruth made a fantastic offer on it which was hesitantly accepted! The van was ours! We are the proud owners of a beautiful Toyota van and it runs as good as it looks! God knew that all along. He also knew we needed funds to replace the old roof on our house which has been ravaged by rain and sun this year. Something that was out of the question only one week ago with the loan I had on my old newer car which I don't have (either of) cause I unexpectedly sold it and paid off the loan. Now I have the funds available for a new roof and the roofer who lives in this area with 40 years experience who just did my Grandfathers old house around the corner and did a very good job cause I saw it and his truck in the driveway where I got his name from and my wife also got a good feeling that he was the one and he gave us a price that was $3,500 under the closest estimate........ "breath"............. can you tell I'm excited? My grammar has gone right out the window.
Then, you know the best part of this whole thing for me was the guy who bought our car tells Ruth while they were waiting at the bank for me to pay the loan off that he chose us over other potential purchases because we were so honest and up front in our dealings with him. You know that's something we really strive for is complete honesty. That sometimes can get you in trouble with people. This time it paid off and God allowed us to hear about it. We needed that encouragement from our Heavenly Papa.
The moral of the story. Each morning we give our lives over to God and he is the one running the show. Father knows best. He is in control. His will be done. Thank you Abba!

Plans coming together

Found a home for the bed, sold my car( on kijiji for free!), getting another one for free, going to sell the couch and get a new one.( Ruth needs one she can get out of, this one is way too soft) I just know everything is going to work out according to plan. God has always looked after us. I love it when a plan comes together even despite those moments of doubt. God is much bigger than my doubt. I have peace. That's worth more than anything. Plus, I'm going to be a grampa very soon. Thank you Lord!
A thought for the day: When God gives you a plan, believe him, step out in faith and follow it, stay focused despite the obstacles that get in the way and he will see you through to the end.

FREE TO GOOD HOME!

We finally broke down and bought a new bed today. Really nice one made by Sealy. Great deal at The Brick. Our backs are going to love us. Our current bed is going in the guest room and the natural order of displacement moves a very good double bed made by Royal Mattress out into the hall. It's hardly been used and is in excellent condition and includes mattress, box spring and metal bed frame and is free for the taking. So if anybody out there needs a good double bed. Let me know. We may even be able to arrange delivery, thanks to my dads bicycle trailer.
Also up for grabs is a nice beige leather couch and love seat. I need some money for that though. About $400 for both is a fair deal I think. But what do I know. If you wave some cash in my face I might grab it! You can then grab the couch and run! Before I change my mind. Let me know if you are interested by sending me an email. Have great weekend!

Fall Is Coming

I can feel it in the air. I can always tell, about 2 to 3 weeks into August, something in the air changes and I can sense when September is just around the corner. Even if I didn't have a calender and I didn't know the date, I would be able to tell Fall is not too far away. I don't know why I know, I just do. It happens one day and I go, ahhh! There it is again, that sensation, whatever it is. I love fall. Warm days, cool nights, no bugs. It's the best time of year as far as I am concerned for holidays. That's when I take mine, usually over Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving, especially the dinner part. But, I think we need one good BBQ with the gang, before summer ends. One more week of kids being out of school. My summer bus driving holiday is almost over. I must say I don't miss picking up 80 kids at one stop around 3:20pm. It's been nice and quiet. That is all soon to end. All good things must come to an end. That's what they say anyway. Another summer come and almost gone. Hasn't been too hot either. Tolerable, I would say. I think we live in the best country in the world, with it's changing seasons. I like them all, for one reason or another, but Fall is still my favorite. Always something to look forward to. I like that!

The Real Fast

As I am convalescing at home, I have been watching some very inspirational Christian Programs on TV. One was a sermon from Peoples Church in Toronto on Paul's letter to the Galatians and the other a request for financial help from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. This was a very moving program. Part of their ministry is to reach out to elderly Jews in Russia and the Ukraine who had to flee from Nazi Germany. They settled in small communities in places like Siberia and have been forgotten and alienated by mainstream society. It is a very cold and harsh environment and many are slowly starving and freezing to death. No food, fuel for heat, medicine and they are lonely and still feel the pain of persecution from the Nazi regime. They are still discovering these small communities that nobody knew existed. Christians have been reaching out to these neglected Jewish people with the basic necessities, most of whom are elderly, sick and dieing. The results have been nothing short of miraculous.
God said in Genesis 12:2-3 in the call to Abraham:

" I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great and you will be a blessing,
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all the peoples on the earth will be blessed through you."

Isaiah 58:6-9 says:

" Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help and he will say: Here am I."

So would you like to receive a blessing from the Lord and have him hear your prayers?
Do the real fast. Reach out and help the helpless, especially God's chosen people- the Jews.

I've added a Linc to the website to my blog.

Be blessed!

Baby Shower

Why do they call them showers? There was no water involved other than what was put into the coffee and tea. Maybe because it was raining presents?
We went to Kingsville for Kim's first baby shower this past weekend. Her mother-in-law hosted the event at her restaurant. There was about 30 in attendance including three guys of which I was one, stuck off in a corner where we wouldn't be noticed. But hey, they fed us so I wasn't complaining! Good food too. Done in courses as is Italian tradition. And very good. Well considering she is a cook and makes a living feeding people and is a full blooded Italian. Need I say more. The first dish was of course pasta, followed by some sort of fancy stuffed chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy, followed by a cherry cheese cake that was to die for. The ladies got some kind fruit and ice cream thing in a chocolate cup which you could eat. They must have run out of those. But, again, the cherry cheese cake was so good, I was very contented. I was starving too, after having driven 4 hours most of which was through a torrential downpour. I said to Ruth at one point, I think we need a boat, not a car. It slowed us down considerably. I thought if we left at 10:30am( the shower was at 2pm) we would be on time. I was wrong. Plus we were 30 minutes late leaving. We were 1 hour late for the shower , but luckily just in time for the food and for Ruth to help Kim open her presents. Which she got allot of. I am told that this is not the only shower she is going to have either. Her and Dan are going to be pretty well set when this baby comes.
We stayed the night at Dan's parents( Gary and Louise) house. They are very hospitable people. They even gave up their bed for Kim, to make her more comfortable. Now, that's a good mom and dad. There were so many gifts, we couldn't bring them all in our little car, so Gary and Louise will bring them in the van when Dan and Kim move. Hopefully, Ruth and I can return the hospitality favour at that time.
On the way home, after another professionally cooked breakfast, ( how does she get the eggs like that?) we stopped off at Colasantes. This is a combination of a greenhouse/restaurant/zoo/novelty store/ Christmas store etc. If you are ever in this area this is a must see. I think they just kept adding on over the years until it has become this huge tourist attraction. They are famous for their broasted chicken and home made donuts and apple cider. A real treat believe me. I ate four donuts if that tells you anything. Nothing like them anywhere, especially when you get them warm out of the cooker. Yummmmy! I'll do twice as many push ups tomorrow to compensate. Honest, I will.
I got to feel the baby Kick! WOW! That is so cool. That little life moving around like that. I wonder how they can breathe water? I can't wait to meet her. But if she's anything like her mom and Nana, she'll be beautiful!