1,000 GIFTS, #538 to #561

March 20, 2012 12:30 AM 2
After ending my last post with the wonderful news of grandchild number four on the way, His grace gifts continue to bless and astound me. He is a Faithful God.
538. And these three precious gifts from the Good LORD bring Gran Jan’s JOY to great heights. We had fun this past Saturday at our monthly family breakfast at the farm:
539. So thankful there was a single blue popsicle in the box when the request is made by my grandson, “I want a blue one Gran Jan.” 
540. Fresh brown eggs and stone ground grits from the Callaway Gardens Country Store make breakfast so good (and butter – never forget the butter).
 
541. A morning spent dividing daylilies in my mom’s garden – made especially easy by a good hard rain the night before.

542. Thankful for the good health of my parents and that they live next door. Yes, of course, families can get out of sorts with one another, but His grace is sufficient. And we are family.

543. Firewood gathered by my husband for sweet times around the firepit. (Gift #520).

544. I love a “series” of preaching messages, so I love that our new pastor, Dr. Jim Perdue is preaching through a series each Sunday morning. Right now he is taking us through the Beatitudes from The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). The series is called “Blessed,” and we certainly are…beyond measure…to have him as our pastor. His wife and children are so precious to us and they’ve only been with us 3 months.

545. I love my church – if you’ve been around this blog very long, you know that I love my family and my church. It was a special delight to help hostess a shower recently for a young man that I’ve had the pleasure of watching grow up. Christopher Alford is marrying a fine young woman and I’m thankful for his godly parents and extended family.  The blessing of community – the family of God – and a local church = God’s grace indeed.

546. My oldest son Jeremy celebrated 10 years as Pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church the first Sunday of March. We thank the Good LORD for that special milestone and blessing of God. But when you note that he is only 30 years old and has been pastoring that same church one-third of his life…that is God’s Amazing Grace. I love you son, and yes, I am proud – I am your  mother.

547. My youngest son works at our local military base (a Project Manager) and we received the greatest compliment last week from someone who “just wanted us to know” that Jonathan is a man of great integrity and already respected in his field at his young age. I love you son, and yes, I am proud – I am your mother.

548. Having both sons and their wives and our grandchildren within 20 minutes of home is one of the greatest blessings of my life. God’s grace and goodness multiplied. I praise Jesus for that grace gift in this day of families on the move.

549. The response to the new Bible study by Beth Moore, “James, Mercy Triumphs” has been wonderful. God is using His Word to touch lives. The power is in the Word of God. May He continue to speak and may we be “swift to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” (James 1:19)

550. My friend Sophie (Boo Mama) shared the most wonderful app on her blog last week and I am LOVING it. It is FREE and is called Red Stamp  You can use it to create wonderful e-cards like this that can be texted, emailed, tweeted, sent to Facebook, printed, mailed, whatever.  It is so much FUN.

551. I have driven by this little white country church ever since we moved to the country almost 5 years ago…to my dismay I discovered last week that the church was MOVING, literally. It has been empty for some time now. I would love to know the history.

552. But imagine my delight when I saw this sight the very next morning, about 1/2 mile from my office…someone obviously cared enough to restore this church.  I am so glad that not only can churches be restored, but because of HIS Grace, we may be restored too.


553. Spring cometh – tonight when you are asleep – at least if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. March 20, 2012, at 1:14 A.M. (EDT). I can’t wait because I love to garden. These gorgeous flowers were in the garden center last week.

554. These two little sweethearts made a trip to the chicken house Saturday morning and were so proud of their findings…more brown eggs. They have NO FEAR!
555. The most beautiful full moon this month…I took this picture on my way home from Praise Team practice, after James Bible Study…my heart was as full as this moon.
556. This little sweetheart is the son of a couple on our Praise Team. He sits right there at the pastor’s podium while we are rehearsing. I love little church boys. So thankful to God for young couples raising their children up to love Him and His Word. Thankful for a church where the Word is preached and where families can grow in grace.
557. These right here is the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team at my church. We had one of the sweetest meetings last week – planning and praying for God’s Will as we seek ministry opportunities. God is doing a great work among us. I love you ladies.

558. This picture is from a women’s leadership planning retreat held back in January (see gifts #485-#489). We have decided to get together again next month just for fellowship, because I’m telling you this…we had one of the best retreats I’ve ever been on. Kindred hearts united to serve our Great God. More Grace.

559. I picked this little man up to come spend the night with me, and on our way home we passed the local fire station and lo and behold they were washing the fire truck. He was beside himself. I’m thankful for the firemen who let him see this truck up close.

560. A joint project by two grandmothers – how special is that? Me and Mrs. Catharine, Madie’s maternal grandmother. She is making the dress and I put the bunny applique and name on the front. Catharine is an accomplished quilter and seamstress. I’m having a blast.

561. Lastly tonight I want to share the beautiful sunrise from this very morning, the last full day of winter. I don’t know where you are right now in your spiritual life, but tomorrow is Spring and you can begin anew with Christ. I’m so thankful that God’s grace and mercies are new every morning – whether you are in a “winter” season or on the brink of something fresh and new, He will meet you there. I know this for sure because He’s done it for me. He is our Redeemer, oh Praise His Name!

Blessings,
Jan

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March 20, 2012 12:30 AM 2

1,000 GIFTS, #524 to #537

March 6, 2012 2:24 AM 5
His grace gifts abound and I am so very thankful. Life is busy – and my blog of late has basically been all about the counting. This counting sums up my life these days as I live and   love to see His gifts of grace. This living intentionally to see His Hand carries over to eyes open wider to see His grace everywhere. Will you consider leaving a comment about His grace in your life? I would love to hear from you. 
523. My wonderful dentist Dr. Alex Bell, Jr.  Yes – my dentist. I had a great appointment 2 weeks ago. Dr. Bell has been my dentist for almost 24 years. His sons and my sons grew up together and his wife Sandy is one of the sweetest ladies I know. I’m thankful for their attentive care to our family. We use to be neighbors and the memories of that time are so sweet to me.
524. Grandson Zeke spending the night and then staying the WHOLE next day. We were literally inseparable for 24 hours. We made cookies and we watched movies and we laughed and played and took a nap together and had popcorn and he makes me forget anything except what I’m doing right at that moment…which is enjoying him…Gran Jan’s JOY. He has begun to tell me that “he loves me with all his heart.” Gets to me every single time.
525. Special delivery to my many birdfeeders with sunflower seeds. Pure joy.
526. Special help filling the birdfeeders…more JOY.
526. A trip to Atlanta with three sweet coworkers for a School Board conference. We girls had a great time. I am blessed to work with some wonderful people – supportive and kind.
527. Leap Year Wednesday – February 29, 2012 was the night we began the new Beth Moore study – “James, Mercy Triumphs.”  We had 35 for class and just yesterday at church there were more women buying books…
528. Happy faces of women in Bible study…
529. Spring is still two weeks away and we’ve barely had winter here…on a walk last week during my lunch hour I saw dogwoods blooming…
530. This is a beautiful flowering shrub that blooms in the winter in our part of the state…Taylor’s Pink Perfection  The color is divine and so is the JOY of this plant during the winter.
531. The JOY continues with making things for my grandchildren…
532. Yellow violas blooming in an antique bucket hanging on my garden fence.
533. Tomato soup and crackers at my desk…quiet lunch times during a busy day.
534. I dearly love pimento cheese. So does my oldest son. It’s a Southern thing. My friend Sophie (BooMama) and I texted about our pimento cheese love recently when we saw new recipes featured in the February Southern Living magazine. Sophie’s blog and her writing is another favorite of mine. Pimento cheese and bacon…my my my.
535. The blessing of driving country roads to and from work each day. Lord bless the farmers. Thank you for sending the rain this weekend and greening up the landscape. Thousands of pecan trees have been planted in the distance.
536. Look who was at my supper table tonight…eating two helpings of Gran Jan’s chicken and rice. God’s tender mercies – blessing me with three grandchildren…
537. AND NEWS OF ONE MORE GRANDCHILD ON THE WAY! Gran Jan times four…in late September. Thank you Jesus.
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March 6, 2012 2:24 AM 5

1,000 GIFTS, #509 to #523

February 20, 2012 6:17 PM 3
 
As I begin this second half of counting His gifts of grace all around me, I’ve thought about this journey that was begun last February. I’m not the same person I was, all glory to Jesus. I have been stretched in my faith and I wouldn’t trade the lessons learned for anything. I absolutely love this season of life I am in…
509. The deep contentment that comes from a long, steady marriage. I love what my friend Beth Moore has said before that applies to this joy:  “a long walk of obedience in the same direction.”  That long walk of obedience can apply to many areas of our lives…by God’s grace.
510.  The joy of family. I love Saturday morning breakfasts with everyone around the table. There are four generations here…my parents, me and my husband, my sons and their wives and our grandchildren. I was sitting by my mom and Zeke before I stepped away to take this picture…
511. Impromptu gatherings. This Valentine’s night supper last week at a local pizza restaurant was so much fun. I love my boys and their wives & the grandchildren so much – thankful to spend this “day of love” with them for a meal.

512.  Kissing Cousins. Sweet Madie grabbing a kiss from sweet Jackson… She had just told me to “take her picture.”  These two grandchildren are 2 weeks to the day apart in age. JOY!

513.  Blueberry pancakes are always on the table. Looking forward to June when our blueberries are in season again.
514.  Today…a holiday from work called “President’s Day,” is so welcome to me. I am committed to pray for this election year as we seek a new President. This scripture from Daniel 2:20-22 comforts me in these days of uncertainty in our country…
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
515. Late afternoon sun breaking through the clouds.
516. When our former minister resigned (December 2010), our church went through an interim time in search of a new senior pastor. [I wrote about our new pastor in this past last November.  We are so blessed by the awesome expository preaching of our pastor Dr. Jim Perdue. He is a shepherd to us.] Before Pastor Jim came, God blessed us with a wonderful interim pastor – Rev. Joel Southerland. We honored the Southerland family at church yesterday and then had a big old churchwide fellowship last night! EVERYONE was talking about the sweetness of the Spirit in our midst. This is Brother Joel & his precious wife Sherryde. God blessed our hearts with this couple and their girls Savana and Mikayla. They will always be part of our lives as they were instruments of love and healing in our church. We love y’all.
Wall to wall fellowship at SBCWR…
517. Sweet Miss Madie and her Hollywood entrace to the family breakfast this past Saturday…this girl does not meet a stranger.
518. Jackson loves loves loves tractors, big trucks, motorcycles, anything with wheels. This is my Dad’s big John Deere out in the hay barn. They stopped there on their way out this past Saturday. Jackson has to see the moo cows and chickens…and the tractors.
519. My best friend Lanie is making a quilt called “What Cancer Cannot Do.” I wept tears of joy and thankfulness to God when she showed the finished quilt top to me last week. This is the quilt label…how I praise God for sparing her life. (Teal is the color for ovarian cancer.) She encourages all women to have their annual physicals. That is when her cancer was discovered.  One of the quotes on the quilt top says, “Cancer cannot destroy friendship.”  Amen my sweet friend.
520. Right now as I type this, there is a big fire in this new firepit my husband purchased. It has 3 Willows Farm cut out on the rim in two places. We love living in the country with redneck firepits made from big old recycled propane tanks…we are going green here at the farm.
521. My oldest son Jeremy and his wife Carrie took their two children, Zeke and Madie, to go see Memama Morton this morning. She is their great-grandmother and my precious mother-in-law. She will be 90 in June and is the matriarch of our family…a godly woman who has taught me so much. I love her dearly. We enjoyed a long visit with her this past Friday evening.
522. For some reason my 3 grandchildren love my pantry. Maybe it’s the Spiderman and Dora snacks that I keep there. 🙂  
523. I love to browse seed catalogs and think of the delicious fresh vegetables we will enjoy from my garden this summer.  In fact, I need to head outside now and PRUNE back the rosebushes and crepe myrtles. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post – I wouldn’t take anything for the journey of my life this past year, the PRUNING has been hard, but oh so necessary for growth. Thank you Jesus.

 John 15:1-2 (Amplified Version)
I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing]
 He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and
 repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit,
to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.


 


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February 20, 2012 6:17 PM 3

1,000 GIFTS, #479 to #499

February 7, 2012 2:30 AM 3
479. Hymns – glorious hymns about God’s blessings. Showers of blessings, showers of blessings we need…mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead. So thankful for His tender mercies as I continue this journey to 1000 gifts.
  
480. Beautiful glorious pink sunrises through the pecan trees on the farm. Welcome morning!

481. This gorgeous tree is in full bloom…although Spring is still 6 weeks ago, this big tulip magnolia (magnolia lilifloria) is a JOY and sight to behold (downtown Perry, GA).

482. Sweet grandgirl Miss Madie wearing her new shirt Gran Jan made for her (see gift #477). She calls me “Jan Jan” instead of Gran Jan. Melts my heart.

483. I am loving the JOY of my embroidery machine – this is a little “dot font” monogram I put on a shirt for my sweet grandgirl!
484. A big beautiful LIVE OAK tree in Savannah, GA…the official state tree of GEORGIA and one of my favorite trees.
485. Sweet times with sixteen of the most wonderful women as we planned and prayed together at our annual women’s ministry team retreat last weekend.  God is so good to give JOY and FELLOWSHIP and KINDRED HEARTS as we shared around the table.  We went to a neat place called New Ebenezer Retreat Center that was a delightful respite.
486. Bunk Beds, delightful bunk beds in our retreat cabin. It has been YEARS since I climbed a ladder to the top bunk. We laughed until the late night (early morning). Our youngest team member is 24, the oldest is 71. Pure therapy for the soul…girl time.
487. A long walk Saturday morning to the bluff of the Savannah River which is where the retreat center is located.  Came across this old church that has been “in continuous worship of God since 1734.”  Amazingly serene.
488. Lunch on River Street in Savannah before we headed over to the Retreat Center!
(Melissa, Stephanie (our new pastor’s wife), Julie, Joy, Debbie, Jennifer)
(Leia, Cindy, Teresa, Doris, Charlene, Kathy)
(Taneea, Lanie, Patsy, me)
489. Someone built seats and a pulpit overlooking the river bluff. I can just imagine sitting here for a glorious Easter morning sunrise service.

490. Sweet surprise visit from Jonathan and Jackson this past Saturday – another winter day that felt “just like Spring.”  And a visit to the farm always requires checking out the cows and chickens…
491. The sight of these daffodils blooming in my garden always brings me joy – God’s glorious creation, gifts of His grace…the promise of a “new season.”
492.  I’ve enjoyed watching this beaver dam being built (about 2 miles from our home). My husband pointed it out to me recently. He knows how I enjoy all things “outside by God’s creation.”
493. Just finished a baby quilt yesterday for some dear friends awaiting their first grandchild. His nursery is a “John Deere” theme. Yes – yet another John Deer quilt…
494. Have I mentioned how much Travis Cottrell’s music blesses me? Can you tell by this iTunes list on my computer?  Thankful for his ministry.
495. Speaking of music, this is little Jackson sitting on the floor near his daddy in the back of our church’s worship center listening to his Pop (my husband) leading worship…generational joy! Grace.
496. A wonderful chocolate covered sweet cream-filled heart-shaped donut – yes, I took a picture of my donut and got caught doing so. Didn’t bother me one bit.  Enjoyed every sweet bite.
497. Bulbs, bulbs, bulbs. Springtime cometh. Oh the joy in each of those little planters. It was all I could not to get one of everything. But I restrained. For now.  It’s still winter. But not for long!
498. My sister Jean would have celebrated her 52nd birthday this past January 18.  I wrote a blog post about Jean’s brief life here .  Her daughter, my niece Amy, is so much like her.  Amy was just 3 weeks away from her 2nd birthday when Jean died. She looks more like her momma every single day, especially in this picture…
499. And here is the silly side of me (I am actually silly on all sides) from a trip to Wendy’s for lunch…it makes me smile every time I look at it, so I saved it. I love to laugh and be silly, which I hope will help me grow old gracefully. I really pray about that. That I may never lose the wonder of each day. Counting His gifts to 1,000 is sure helping me on the journey. Amen?

May God bless you and hold you close,
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February 7, 2012 2:30 AM 3

1,000 GIFTS, #427 to #443

December 12, 2011 4:58 PM 6

So many times on this journey to 1,000 gifts I am reminded of the old hymn “Count Your Blessings.” I’ve heard it and sang it so many times in church with my husband leading in worship. I’ve been in church services when people would testify of His blessings. So really this counting is not a new thing, but a great discipline of old. The chorus of the hymn says:

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.
Soooooooooooooooooo, here I go, almost half-way there!

427.  Since my post almost a month ago I celebrated my birthday on November 16. I’m thankful for all the cards and gifts and wonderful birthday messages on Facebook. I really was overwhelmed with love. I’m thankful for LIFE.

428.  Birthday flowers from my husband (roses), and my sweet friend and partner in women’s ministry, Cindy (fall bouquet). The colors were vivid and brought me so much JOY. Our Creator God sure makes beautiful flowers.
429. Thanksgiving. Next to Easter, it is my favorite holiday because it is “uncluttered.” Family, food, fellowship, and exactly what this post is about – BLESSINGS. This picture says it all…food everywhere. It was a great year because EVERYONE was around the table. That in itself is a gift of His grace.
430. My dad loves our homeplace and is so proud of this new sign at his driveway. Double M Farm Road. Watching him enjoy life brings me great joy. I love my parents. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on November 23rd. Grace.
431. Planting pansies is one of my many fall delights. I love to plant the little violas in my strawberry jar. Another JOY from our marvelous Creator. Flowers in COLD weather!
432. While outside enjoying my gardening day, I had quite an audience.
433. A week off for Thanksgiving. It was the best week I’ve had in a long time. It began with a visit to see my amazing mother-in-law, included time with my grandchildren, my whole family around my table, time in the garden and in the sewing room, and the PEACE and JOY of awaiting our new pastor’s arrival!
434. My church’s women’s ministry has an annual Christmas Brunch and this year we had an amazing speaker – Leah Adams of Point Ministries.  God has given her a message about leaving a Godly legacy. She brought a word from THE WORD and is a delightful woman. I am very thankful for her life and ministry. God is using her and did I mention that she is delightful?
435. This sweet woman is my Merle Norman lady. I love Mrs. Sarah. Isn’t she beautiful? Thank you Mrs. Gayle for sending me this picture from the Christmas Brunch. I thank God for the women He has brought into my life to encourage and mentor me in the faith. My heart’s desire is to do the same for the women He brings in my life.
436. A combination Birthday/Christmas/Valentine’s/Groundhog Day/Anniversary/Fourth of July/Memorial Day, etc. etc. gift. A new embroidery machine for my sewing DELIGHTS. This is my sewing room happy place. The new machine is on the left.
437. Because of #436, I can now make my own labels for my quilts (this is the first one I made and it is for a Christmas table runner I quilted). I really look forward to making personalized gifts for my grandchildren too. I have much to learn but am enjoying every minute. My friend Lanie has been so much help to me.
438. My baby boy with his baby boy. JOY. They are clones. I love this picture and their similar expressions…
439. God sent us the prettiest, brightest, largest, fullest, and most delightful RAINBOW I have ever laid my eyes on. It even made the local news. I pulled off the road 3 times on my drive home from work to just delight in it’s beauty and to praise and thank my COVENANT KEEPING GOD.
440. I babysat my oldest son’s children one night a couple of weeks ago so he and his wife could attend an event for Dr. Johnny Hunt. Out of the blue, this little fellow looked up and said to me, “Gran Jan, we don’t pray to kings…we only pray to God.” I actually took this picture right after he shared that WISDOM with Gran Jan. He is three years old and is the inspiration for my blog. I love you Zeke.
441. DAILY GRACE. One of my many favorite hymns is ““Come Thou Fount” I especially love this line because in the busyness of life as wife, mom, Gran Jan, daughter, sister, friend, employee, choir member, women’s ministry leader, I am prone to WANDER. Sweet Jesus keep my heart centered on You.
442. I love my front porch swing and it now has a fresh coat of red paint. Red is my favorite color and my sweet husband painted it for me. He also surprised me one night last week with supper ON THE TABLE when I came home from work. He is the kindest and most generous man I know and he is mine.
443. This precious red-bowed beauty is my granddaughter Madie. She is sweeter than Georgia sweet tea. She is starting to “talk up a storm” as we say in the South. We were making reindeer cookies. She was putting Rudolph’s red M&M nose in place. Here is a link to making these reindeer cookies from Southern Living. Easy and fun.
Next week is going to be all about CHRISTMAS and I cannot wait to share gifts of the season. If you’re prone to wander, may God bind your wandering heart to Himself and may you intentionally seek quiet moments every day to reflect on the JOY of His coming to this Earth to redeem your soul.
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December 12, 2011 4:58 PM 6

1,000 GIFTS, #386 to #408

October 31, 2011 11:45 PM 8
Here I am again on this Monday, my heart brimming with multitudes of gifts – more grace gifts, lessons learned, memories made, and in just a week! Just the blessing of being HERE on this earth, at this time, in this generation, is a gift. The Word of God tells us our life is but a vapor in James 4:14

This is a picture of the vapor in the cool mornings around our pond this week.

I’m so thankful because:

386.  …I am very content in my life’s current season:
387.  …I am halfway through my 34th year of a solid marriage to a Godly man
388.  …both my parents are still healthy and well
389.  …my sons are happily married to wonderful young women
390.  …my grandchildren are healthy, delightful, and bring me JOY
391.  …my sisters Joan and Jo are there for me any time I need to talk
392.  …I have a wonderful circle of friends
393.  …my church family is Rock solid.  
394. I’m so blessed with my quilting time. It calms me to sit at my sewing machine and ponder and pray as I sew. I finished Madie’s quilt Saturday and it was fun to work with such “girly” fabric for a change from the boys’ tractor themed quilts. This was a simple pattern of squares and rectangles but I love the old-fashioned look. Madie is a beautiful child and I know she will continue to grace our family.
395. This is my quilting buddy and best friend of 23 years – what a treasure Lanie is. We’re old school and don’t mind sharing that. Faith and family are our joys. We enjoyed a recent “sew-in.” Today’s generation of women is missing something that women in times past did – getting together to quilt, sew, can food – train – mentor. We need that.
396. I love my job – I actually do have a “day job” besides being a pastor’s wife. I have worked for our local board of education for 23 years. The people in our offices are true public servants. Sharon is one of those folks, and she brought me some apples from the North Georgia mountains. She is “Gran Sharon” and when she became a grandmother 11 years ago, it was actually then I decided I would be “Gran Jan.”  And so I am.
397. Saturday was fun as the boys came very early to cut firewood. It’s been a long time since the back door opened and I saw my boys come in together. Raising them has been my life’s greatest JOY. I love their bantering – always have. I know they could quote Psalm 133:1 right now…
398. My husband loves to deer hunt. He was in the woods and when I got home I found these sweet “love notes” all around. Reference #387 – amen?
399. This is a cotton field – a HUGE one. Right now on farms all around us – cotton, pecans, and peanuts are being harvested. My paternal grandfather was a sharecropper and raised cotton and peanuts. I love to hear my dad talk about him because I never knew him. But I know I would have loved him dearly.
400.  What a joy my mom and I discovered as our camellia bush is finally blooming. We planted this one four years ago and the wait was well worth it. They bloom when nothing else is…what a great life lesson. I want to do the same!
401. My grandson Zeke spent the night and he was with me and my mom.  My grands call her “Gigi” (Great-Grandmother). She and Zeke were walking with pockets full of rocks to throw in the pond.  It’s their thing to do – and he never forgets.
402. We moved from our home of 20 years “in town” to the country life on the farm four years ago last week, October 27. I love this land already and the traditions we are making with our grandchildren. Another JOY of this season of life.

403. My dad has wanted a fence along the front of our farm for these 4 years, and it’s just something we haven’t been able to get done. Well, now we have. A fence on a list of grace gifts? Yes – because if you knew how happy it made my dad, you’d know just how thankful I am to do something for him for all the things he’s done for me my whole life. It was my husband’s idea. He is a generous man.
404. Our church’s senior adult ministry is called XYZ for “eXtra Years of Zest.” The XYZers went on a trip last week and my mom went with them. They had a blast. (Older ladies are still little girls wanting to have fun and from all accounts, they did.) I’m grateful for Pastor Mike Slade and his wife Susan who lead this ministry. These girls are the cream of the crop. Back row: Mrs. Lynn, Mrs. Sara, Mrs. Rita, Mrs. Gayle. Front row, Mrs. Lola, Mrs. Lois (my mom), and Mrs. Ann. My mom told me she got her picture taken with Dr. David Jeremiah and they also had former President George W. Bush as a speaker at the conference. Blessings indeed.

405. Yes my garden. Aside from time with my family – this is a happy happy place for me. I love to sit on that stone bench under that river birch tree..
406. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches shaped like hearts for a little boy who has stirred up so much love in my heart when I became Gran Jan the day he was born. I love you Zeke!
407. Me and my sweet husband with our youngest grandboy Jackson…more love stirred up in my heart. Thank you Erin for sending me this picture. It was good to have y’all with us on vacation this month.
408.  As I’ve learned from reading Ann Voskamp’s book and more importantly, God’s Word, there are times of hard eucharisteo.  We are to give thanks in all things, not just the pleasant and joyful and blessed times.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16. Rejoice always,
17. Pray without ceasing,
18. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This past year has been a time of deep reflection, in prayer, in learning, in trusting. Even surrounded by family and friends, the sweetest times have been those when the still small Voice of His Spirit spoke to the deepest places of my heart.  Abide – be still – I’m in control. Abiding in stillness is not easy in this day of go go go – but it is always where the times of growth occur. I want to be fruitful, don’t you?
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October 31, 2011 11:45 PM 8

1,000 GIFTS, #288 to #304

September 13, 2011 1:53 AM 4
Grace gifts, still counting along the way; very thankful and very blessed.
288. A blessed Women’s Ministry Conference this past weekend on 09-10-11 with the wonderful Mrs. Esther Burroughs. She is a precious mature Christian woman who shares from her life’s experiences and all who listen benefit. She taught from John 4 and encouraged us to “splash the Living Water” as we “Go OUT of our way while ON our way…” It was glorious!
289. This is a picture from the Conference with Mrs. Esther (she is in the black and white stripes). I call it “Generational Joy.” The two young women on the left are in their early 20’s and are DELIGHTFUL! Esther encouraged us to pour into their lives.
290. Helping Hands at the Women’s Conference…how blessed we are to have a church where people serve with JOY. Thank you Cindy, Sarah, Taneea, Teresa, Pam, Doris, Lisa, Kathy, Susan, Natalie, Lanie, Mindy, Lynn, Barbara, Rounette, Karen, Charlene, Patti, Jeanette, and Cheryl.
291. Sharing a recipe for Tomato Pie with my sweet friend Lanie.
292. Moonvines…this picture was taken just a few hours ago at dusk. I love these flowers. They will bloom all night and close up in the morning…
293. Another quilt class and girl’s night out with Lanie. We learned techniques for “half-square triangles,” but we learned much more than that…quality time in the car during a road trip helps you learn each other’s hearts and prayer needs…what a gift from God.
294. Driving through this allee of trees as I leave home each morning and returning each evening and celebrating His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night.  (Psalm 92:1-2)  So grateful for my job and the people I work with and for. Grace.
295. Looking up from my desk at work just in time to see my oldest son and his son coming in the door to see me. Zeke gave me the sweetest hug ever. He said, “I’m your boy, Gran Jan.”  He knows that blesses my soul.
296. Another great practical message from Rev. Joel Southerland as he preached from the book of Job on the value of our families.
297. Finding a long-lost receipt. Thankful. Needed it.
298. Collards and turnip greens planted in my fall garden.
299. Attending a wedding with my husband this past Saturday of a young woman named Julie who we’ve known since she was 5 years old. Her groom was injured in an accident 14 months ago. Seeing her speak vows that she has already lived by standing true to him gives me such hope for young people and marriage.
300. Two big bags of fresh peas from a friend at church – thank you Mrs. Rhoda! I love to sit and shell peas – it is so soothing.
301. Jasmine. In my garden.
302. Long bike rides with my husband down country roads, cool weather. Good exercise. Weight loss success! So thankful. 
303. Spending time with my youngest son and his son tonight. Getting to play with little Jackson, feed him, bathe him, and tuck him in was so tender for me. My daughter-in-law is taking a class and was not home. I missed her, but love seeing the home she is building for my son and grandson.
304. New books and the anticipation of reading “The Resolution for Women.” The book is by Priscilla Shirer.  Excited about participating in her on-line book club this Friday.  Details will follow on my blog.
Nighty-night sweet friends,
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September 13, 2011 1:53 AM 4
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