God is in CONTROL

Monday, December 30, 2013

Holidays

I love the warmth of the room when everyone is there . . . together .

I love the smells in the house --

I love the excitement and anticipation of children (tiny tots and old g'mas and g'pas) -- at Christmas we're all kids!!!

I love those yummy  foods that we don't dare eat any other time of the year --

I love the sacrifices people make to be together -- 





I love starting new traditions:








I love the time preparing and 
anticipating the time approaching ---


 


I love the effort that goes into to buying just the right gift -- and the meaning behind it-- hoping the other person will catch the significance of it.
Marshall shopped for C & S by buying them his favorite toys at their age
Yay Hungry Hippos -- Uncle Marshall and Glo worm -- did good!
























We MISSED our CO kids like crazy and was so sorry they couldn't be with us -- but we enjoyed hearing about the traditions they have started of their own this year as husband and wife --  I love all the phone calls with them in preparation for the big day -- and the ones for days after -- followed by texts -- and pictures -- we just can't seem to let go of the holiday

 
Marshall horsing around with Katie's Green Bay duct tape (stocking stuffer)



We enjoyed the pics of them celebrating Grandma Jeanette's 90th birthday.One of the things they were able to do was each write 90 blessings for her -


It's been a wonderful year -- a great holiday --I'm feeling very happy -- brimming over!

Whether Christmas is celebrated at Thanksgiving, on the actual day or New Years  or even 4th of July-- whenever you can have your people -- under one roof together-- sharing love-- it's CHRIST-MAS!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

LOST




The end of my school semesters always bring a sigh of relief and a surge of cleaning to get the house back up to at least minimal standards in order to keep the Board of Health from shutting us down.   Yesterday I got up early and became a whirlwind -- cleaning carpets and washing bed linens -- scouring bathrooms and sanitizing the whole house.  (I even thought about sorting the garage -- but gave up on it)

IT was a day of highs and lows --About 10:00 I found out we'd won the Outdoor Christmas light decoration contest for our neighborhood -- I'm big on twinkling lights --I'd like to think they can see us from Heaven.

 About noon I looked down and saw that my diamond had fallen out of my engagement ring!!! EVERYTHING came to a screeching halt and I became like that woman in the Bible who was sweeping her whole house looking for the lost coin--  Same whirlwind I was earlier in the morning -- only this time --I was picking through trash -- sifting through the lint in the vacuum cleaner bag -- and searching through the washing machine's filter-Terry stopped everything and took over the vacuum bag -- while I retraced my steps through the house over and over. 

Twenty years ago -- I lost another diamond -- and since that time have checked mine periodically and even had the prongs examined by a jeweler. 
Forty years of marriage -- two diamonds lost -- but I still have my MAN!!.
That woman long ago in the parable -- I'm pretty sure she was destitute -- her life DEPENDED upon finding that coin!!!

 I'm sad -- and find myself preoccupied with looking for anything that glistens--do you know how much sparkly there is on the floor at Christmas???

Throughout the day I remembered that there have been other losses this week-- so much worse than mine . . .

A KU intern lost her mother in a tragic way

Another friend was given a timeline of his days left on this earth

 . . . I do have to admit that when I look at my ring -- it makes me  sad.  

It dawned on me while I was working frantically --caught up in cleaning -- this had gone on and I was totally oblivious to it.  It got me to thinking -- how many other -- hidden happenings are all around me that I'm not noticing because of being so caught up in my activity of the moment? 

When we prayed last night, I said -- Lord you know that people are lost and you know where lost things are -- LORD, please help me keep it all in the right perspective.



Friday, December 20, 2013

Sleepovers

Sleepovers are as much fun for T & me as they seem to be for the girls.  Campbell will often come up to me at Church and ask to have a sleepover -- of course I have to say not tonight -- since I'm in school the next day.
We sort of pull out all the stops and spend 24 hours in their world -- It's so much easier since Bethany and Mat keep them to a pretty regular schedule.

Often these sleepovers are on a Saturday night -- so it takes advanced planning for our Sunday responsibilities  to come off smoothly--  We're finding that getting two little girls ready on Sunday morning and Papa finishing his powerpoints can be a bit tedious. Nana resorts to bribing -- (the girls that is-- "Campbell you can have one more Joshua Fought the Battle Song and then you HAVE to get your clothes on." and "No we can't go out and play in your sand castle this morning."

Lots of great memories

Last Sunday morning -- waking up we heard Campbell singing "Frosty the Snowman" at the top of her lungs outside our door and Sydney Kate answering her from her bed in the next room with "EEE - I--EEE -I - OOOO".

Tonight  Papa built a fire and it was S'mores and watching "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" -- a sweet little movie I used to love to watch with our kids.


The girls go to bed so easily -- S loves to cuddle and then almost lunges for her bed eager to get to sleep.
C on the other hand, has to have 49 books read and 2-3 songs sung while you stand in a certain place beside her bed.  Right now we know we have to hurry to bed because morning with these two comes EARLY -- first wake-up call is about 4:30 and the second is usually by 5:30.  We are so blessed to see these two in action - growing, learning and becoming all they are destined to be!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Thankful For Our Time Together

Easy--- they're ever so thankful to have these two little ones in their lives healthy and happy --




Terry and Jim catching up and our kids thought it reminded them of the two old codgers in the Muppet movies
This little lady was raring to go!
Campbell and I hung out in the park during the first run

Katie, Bethany and Mat ran the four miles and then they all joined Campbell for the family fun run



Marshall was "night float" at the hospital and put in some long hours -- He gave up lots of sleep so we could have family time.

Everybody has their specialty -- Jim smoked the turkey -- Marshall and Katie make some wonderful mashed potatoes, I did the rolls and pie-- Jan does all the rest and beautifully so!
So glad Bethany had us all gather  for a quick pic before dinner.

Marshall and Katie took us to the armory right near the hospital to see the Buffalo and deer.  Couldn't believe it was so close to downtown.  A great way to finish up the trip!
Sydney was a happy camper the whole holiday and this pretty well sums up how we all felt by Saturday noon!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Happy Birthday, Sydney Kate!!!


Sydney Kate -- where has the time gone? 

Wasn't it just yesterday we met you for the first time?


You have wound your tiny fingers around ours and have made your special own place in our heart of hearts.

You are the precious little girl who is so calm and relaxed . . .  yet has a million different expressions -- we never had to guess what was up with you!


You are the snuggler, the cuddler --the peace -KEEPER for all of us -- cuddling with you seems to make the whole world calmer.






You are. . the little sister that delights at your sister's antics as  you watch her for cues and you giggle at all her clowning   . . .









 Yes, your big sister is so proud of you and tries to take care of you -- even to the point of crawling in your crib and teaching you to jump on the bed. 


.






Papa and I can't get enough of you and are looking forward to doing life with you!





Saturday, October 12, 2013

God's Spoiling

Any time we get to spend with our kids, their spouses and our grandkids is pure delight! 
Getting several hours with Sydney and Campbell,  I am reminded "this is God's spoiling" ---Whether it is "Targeting" with the girls and their Momma

                                                          Or

Glow sticks and flashlights at night in the Sand Castle


















Or a trip to the Pumpkin Patch
  


We savor every minute of it!









 Last Sunday two things reminded me of my blessings -- Campbell --who had been a bit tired because of a recent "nap strike" she's on -- was sitting on my lap during praise and worship -- I thought she was about to drift off to sleep-- when she whispered -- "Isn't it wonderful?" looking at the praise team in front of her.  I could see she was really caught up in the music and then heard her singing a new praise chorus -- I had no idea she knew.
Later when I delivered her to her preschool Sunday school class -- I saw her little class of 3-5 yr olds  prayer requests posted on a page outside their door -- there was her post "that Nana's leg would heal".
Aaaaah -- my heart soared!




Seeing life from their perspective -- watching Sydney learn to walk-- having her plop that thumb in her mouth and snuggle off to dreamland while you're rocking her is pure HEAVEN.  I can't believe that in less than 2 weeks she'll be a year old!  This time last year we hadn't even met her and now she's such a big part of our lives!!!  God is sooooo good!


Friday, August 30, 2013

Growing UP!!!

I'm ready!!!!!
My mommy did really well with this big day -- she didn't let me see her tears!

Papa got to go to first day -- where was he the next day???

Could you guess -- our lesson was Queen Esther???   Syd's found she can almost make it up to Papa before Mommy catches her



Waiting for Dr. Geeta for our regular check-ups. Momma didn't tell us we were getting shots!

Look at me all grown up!!!! 
Papa and Nana's cure for teething!!!


Hold on Dad -- I know where those screws go ---
Mommy and Big Sis dressed me ---























SYDNEY IS EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT AND TONIGHT FIGURED OUT HOW TO MOVE EVEN FASTER!!!!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

I loved this picture when I saw it on Pinterest this week and thought -- that's me . . .
Caution: Falling People! "Every day do something that reminds you you're still alive."  Words to live by from AJ Hackett Cairns >>> Here's a sign you don't see every day!! When you travel do you like to to push yourself to your limits?


Now to HIM who is able to keep you from falling -- Jude 24 is a verse I used to claim for my mother as her ability to walk and move was being diminished.

 I thought of that this morning as I was talking things over with God -- ME telling HIM --

  I was bummed that my school year now has a different beginning  never mind that I started this job 13 years ago with the OTHER ankle broken and in a cast.  .  .

Or that we were accumulating a closet of those big ankle boots  -- luckily Terry is now out of his -- and moving around better than he has in months.  


At our kids' suggestion -- we've decided our Christmas picture needs to be T & me in our ankle boots.


This has got me to thinking --

WHAT REALLY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT?

ALL THAT RUSHING ABOUT -- FOR DEADLINES I'VE CREATED -- WHAT IS REALLY THE MOST NEEDFUL?  

When I fell it was b/c I had spent the day rushing around to finish a lot of outside chores so we could get off for CO earlier than planned -- I was taking T out to see my finished pool painting.  Hmmm,  Jan do you see the correlation -- a lot of your falls come after you've been rushing about all day???

I don't want this time on my back with my foot higher than my heart -- on an ice bag (following Dr. Marshall Bell's orders as well as the ankle surgeon) --I don't want this time to be lost. .  .what can this time of slowing down to for my list of "MUST DO's"?

It drives me nuts that I can't clean or even sweep the kitchen floor -- Loading the dishwasher takes 3 times as long! (I insist Terry LET me do that)
You should have seen T & me in Wal-Mart yesterday with me trying to keep from running over people with the motorized handi-cap cart --and T getting hit by someone else in a handi-cap cart letting their child drive it.  
Terry took a video of me driving and said I shot across an aisle without even looking -- he seemed to try to stay as far away from me as he could 
the fact that the pic is blurred I think has something to do with the whole problem of controlling it's speed


  (I sort of got an inkling of how it feels to be the person  in a wheelchair having people treat you differently -- i.e. the irritable cashier in the quick lane when I hadn't kept my items moving so she could scan them  -- thanks to the guy behind me in another handicap cart who pushed them forward) -

Right now I feel pretty vulnerable -- facing -- 120 students for the first time on a scooter -- I always think it's important to at least LOOK like you're in charge when you start the year.

I've lost a week of pre-start preparations --  (which Bethany helped me reclaim on Friday)
First bulletin board up -- launching Single Survival Course



I alternate between  brain fog from pain meds and weepiness from frustration. I basically had to tell God I'm pretty helpless at this point.

 My biggest decisions right now are pretty basic -- which boot would I be able to stay in an entire day -- the short or high-top? Where  can I set up a place under my desk to keep my foot propped up and iced while I lecture? AND Where in the world is that  basket we used with Mom's walker?
 
I have been blessed with a doting husband who continuously wants to know what he can do -- 
Bethany who runs all my errands and brings the girls by to a pick me up (Campbell is the best nurturer -- she continually covers my foot up -- gives it a kiss and checks to see what I need) 

We're forever grateful for Marshall and Katie buying last-minute air tickets to come see US when we couldn't go to THEM . . and then working to help us get set up for the week.
Special thanks to my co-workers who are helping it all come together for show time on Thursday morning-- and my sweet hairdresser, Joelle!

I 'm learning that the best way is to say "Yes" when someone offers to do something and to ASK for what is out of reach not try to get it myself. AND  to lock the brakes on my scooter before I get off it --

Right after this happened and the pain set in -- I thought -- this is one broken spot -- what must it be like for those people in car wrecks with multiple breaks???  or People who have such horrible diseases or people who go through these things all alone??

And yes, though this is taking a lot of my energy and effort now -- 
and is a delay in MY plans --in 6 months or even weeks it will be only a memory and a dull ache every time the weather changes -- just a tiny blipp -- on my time line.  


  I have given so many people the words from Col. 1:17 -- "In HIM all things come together"  I'd say those are gonna have to be my "marching orders" (or scooting ones) for the next few weeks. 


AND NO -- LIFE IS NOT BETTER in FLIP FLOPS -- that's how I broke both ankles



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