Abe — Page 3

May 2014 Memories

May 31, 2014 9:07 PM 1

The past month has been so very busy – and as I’ve so often done in the past on my blog, I’m going to let my pictures tell the story. I really am a visual learner – and this is confirmed in my preference of sharing pictures. I see and I read and I remember…and I don’t want to forget any of these wonderful spring memories! Because my people are my heart…

I had a great time last month with a dear co-worker and friend, Sharon Riley. We spent a beautiful afternoon at Callaway Gardens, Georgia. While there we took in the “Birds of Prey” show. I had an “up close and personal” encounter with a Great Horned Owl. It was glorious. The trainer even came up and asked me I was okay after the talons of the owl touched the top of my head as it flew over. I told her I wasn’t fine…I was marvelous. It was thrilling. Look at the wingspan of this beautiful owl! And the very next week on my drive in to work, I saw one in a tree as I drove…double delight.

Two of my grandchildren are both four years old, Madie and Jackson are cousins exactly two weeks apart. More double delight! Madie is the oldest and she had a “princess party.” She told me she was actually the Queen. Indeed. I made a shirt for her to wear. All the little girls wore purple princess capes that Madie’s materal grandmother made. It was quite the event. She is quite the Queen…of our hearts.

Jackson had a “Grand Prix” tractor-truck-car birthday party. All the children brought their little cars. It was a FUN time for all! It was here at the Morton farm with lots of space to drive. My daughter-in-law even made “roads” for the children to follow. It was a great theme and the adults had as much fun as the children.

I also made a shirt in honor of Jackson’s fourth birthday. He loves orange and Gran Jan was happy to comply. He is a precious boy and we love him so much too!

Sweet notes of love from my boys for Mother’s Day. They are both fine men, respected in their work, genuine and kind. Being a mom to Jeremy and Jonathan is pure JOY to me. I am so thankful and this right here holds true for me…

My grandson Zeke graduated from Pre-K a couple of weeks ago. It was a great time! He sang his heart out, and I can honestly say it was one of the sweetest children’s programs I have ever attended. My son and his wife, and my husband Gary and I were so proud of him that our hearts were about to burst. He has brought so much JOY to this Gran Jan and is the reason this whole blog began for me… Great things ahead for this little fella – he has a heart for God.

I was able to keep my youngest little grandson for a couple of nights and my JOY was full as he napped in the same baby bed as his daddy. I am such a softie when it comes to things like that. Traditions, family legacy, God’s goodness.

My oldest son and his wife celebrated TEN YEARS of marriage in May also! Talk about family legacy, love, and the JOY of life. I am the most blessed mother-in-law. My two girls love my sons and are awesome mommas to our 5 grandchildren. You can’t put a price on any of these gifts from God! I made a scrapbook for them of their dating, engagement, rehearsal dinner and wedding. I know the grandchildren will love seeing the foundation of faith into which they were born. More gifts of God’s grace to us! My youngest and his wife will celebrate SIX YEARS next week.

Fun times abound around blueberry time here at the farm and the early varieties are bearing beautifully. Blue bounty for sure. The kids love running in and out of the blueberries with me close behind reminding the little ones, “only pick the blue ones, the blue ones, the blue ones…leave the green ones.” Who knew this would become such a fun tradition that cold day my husband and I planted those 20 bushes?

The Jasmine and petunias are so pretty right now too. The petunias are from my maternal Grandmother. They re-seed and are an old-fashioned variety that smell so good. I love that connection to my grandmother. She was a green-thumb girl and I always say I inherited my love for gardening from her. The jasmine over our porch swings is an annual delight in May. Sweet.

I love sewing for these two little granddaughters. They have brought a tenderness to me and my husband that we didn’t experience because we raised boys! We are so thankful to have these littles girlies in our lives…we enjoyed some time on the swing during Jackson’s birthday party a couple of weekends ago.

Just today I made this little outfit for Emery (Miss Hollywood above). She is a sweetheart and also spent the night here at the farm this past weekend. For one who is especially attached to her momma and daddy…she never once mentioned them! I love it – she was happy happy happy with Pop and Gran Jan.

Pop and I love our family. We literally share with each other EVERY DAY about how thankful and blessed we are. We count our blessings. We keep God’s goodness ever in front of us as reminders of His love and faithfulness. There is nothing sweeter than getting a grandchild to sleep and then holding him in your arms. Gary got Abe to sleep during Zeke’s graduation and by the smile on Pop’s face, he was enjoying the sweetness.

These FIVE grandbabies (5 1/2, 4, 4, 20 months and 9 months) are a source of great JOY and they also bring a great sense of accountability to me. I want to stay by the stuff, live strong, and show them all what it means to be a Christ-follower. I want them to know that Gran Jan believed what she lived and that Jesus is everything.

This quote helps me. Sometimes I’m so busy thinking ahead, planning ahead, and being ahead that I can miss the moments that count every day. Chasing grandyounguns through the blueberries, blowing bubbles for Jackson and Madie to jump and pop, reading to Zeke, playing with Emery, rocking Abe…quiet times in my sewing room and in my garden. Long conversations over coffee while sitting in the swing by the pond with my sweet man. Those are the gifts I cherish – that keep me centered. Faith and family.

May 2014 has been full of them. This is one content Gran Jan.

May 31, 2014 9:07 PM 1

Fabulous February – 2014

February 28, 2014 10:08 PM 2

I fully hoped with much faith that 2014 would be a “better” year than 2013 was for our family. God is faithful and was so good to see us through the trials we faced. I experienced His grace in so many ways in 2013. I wrote about it in a post entitled Triple Trials. You can’t always see God’s purposes in every season, but His peace and His presence are very real.

February has been a great month for so many reasons! Remember my blog counting to 1,000 GIFTS when I posted pictures and shared the JOY of counting His gifts of grace? Well, this post is going to be similar as the pictures tell the story…here goes!

I spoke at a retreat for pastor’s wives in North Georgia at the beautiful Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa. The theme was “Live Out Your Legacy,” and God blessed in every way. The most precious time for me was when my son Jeremy introduced me before I spoke on Friday evening. Talk about a living legacy! He made me cry my eyes out – it was a surprise and a blessing all rolled together. I love him so much! He and his brother were pure JOY to raise.

We’ve had a TRUE winter here in the South. Lots of snow and lots of fun! I’m hoping tomorrow when March rolls in…we can see some signs of sweet Springtime! I’m ready to get in the garden.

We’ve had some great meetings this month and the momentum is building! Second Baptist Church Warner Robins is blessed to host Priscilla Shirer Live this coming August 22-23, 2014. The event is open to all women and we hope that all 2,300 seats are taken! Please go to LIFEWAY to order your tickets before June 27th for a discount!

This blog began because of my JOY in becoming a grandmother. The joy continueth…

More random… My friend Jan and I auditioned last summer in Atlanta to be on the Wheel of Fortune! We did really well and made it through to the final cuts… SEVEN MONTHS LATER…we were called to go to Culver City, CA for taping, and the snowstorm of Atlanta cancelled our flights and the trip to “spin the wheel” was postponed. The fine folks at Wheel of Fortune say we are at the top of the list for rescheduling a “Girlfriends Getaway” themed week…and we hope it’s soon! “TEAM JAN” is ready to go!

Quilting is another love of mine. I made a quilt this month at my sister’s request (several months ago) to help raise funds for her son’s high school baseball program. She is in charge of the annual big fundraiser. I sure hope it does well for them – tomorrow is the big day!

My sweet husband and I had the privilege to attend our son’s church this month! It was our first time to be there since they moved last September. This Sunday was special for several reasons…it was our first occasion to attend, we were able to hear Jeremy preach a wonderful message, it was my husband’s birthday, and our youngest grandchild “Abe” was dedicated to the Lord. Our hearts were overflowing.

February 2014 has also provided some good times here at the Farm enjoying the sunsets and time around the fire pit on those rare warm days we enjoyed.

Teaching Wednesday Night Bible study is a JOY and privilege. To experience learning and growing in the Word of God is something I hope to never take for granted. This study “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” has been timely, rich, and wonderful!

I always see a pattern in these posts…faith and family – the two treasures I hold dear. I hope that never changes. I’m so very thankful.

Love and JOY from Gran Jan on this last day of Fabulous February 2014!

February 28, 2014 10:08 PM 2

Welcome to the Family Abraham Daniel Morton!

August 29, 2013 8:22 PM 5

I began this blog five years ago while awaiting the birth of Zeke, my oldest grandchild. I named it GRAN JAN’S JOY! Today that joy was multiplied again! This morning at 9:02 AM, little Abraham Daniel Morton was born, third child to my oldest son Jeremy Daniel Morton and daughter-in-law Carrie! He is a beautiful baby boy, and this Gran Jan is so thankful. He is my fifth grandchild, and was our “tie-breaker baby.” The boys are now ahead by one! Prior to this day we had two grandsons and two granddaughters. Oldest grandson Zeke said “I got what I wanted, I got what I wanted!” It is safe to say we ALL got way more than we deserved.

Here is little Abe at just a few minutes old…love those little “peep eyes.” If he only knew…This picture is very special. Carrie’s father was on Skype with her sister (his daughter) Sarah who serves as a foreign missionary. What a precious moment for her. We all stood at the window as the nurses weighed Abe and swaddled him in a blanket to take to his mommy. Zeke and Madie enjoyed every moment, and Zeke had so many questions, mostly as to whether or not they were hurting him. He’s already a protective big brother! This little video (Abe – Announcement) is so special and the execution of a sweet plan! Big sister Madie announced “It’s a BOY,” while big brother Zeke shared his name! I was so proud of them for carrying it out so well. You see, we didn’t know his gender or name. He was a blessed surprise and I am so thankful Jeremy and Carrie chose not to find out the details. Since they already have a son and a daughter, they were happy to wait, and it made for a very sweet day. (This is a picture of Jeremy bringing them to the waiting room to announce to us grandparents!)Here are the siblings holding him for the first time, with the protective arm of their daddy supporting him.There is something very special about this family of five. Dad and Mom…two boys and a girl. Before Jeremy and Carrie became parents five years ago, they were told they may never have children of their own, so they began the process to adopt. Early on they were selected by an agency and were in line to adopt a set of triplets (two boys and a girl). Through a series of events they discovered that the birth parents were not ethical and the adoption unraveled. On that dark day when hope was all but gone, we felt such despair. The very next day, less than 24 hours after the depth of sadness, Carrie discovered she was pregnant. Well, on this day, August 29, 2013 they have their own TWO BOYS AND A GIRL! His timing. Now my heart is overflowing tonight for another reason. On this day 32 years ago, I became a mother when my son Jeremy was born. Now he is here today celebrating the birth of his son on his birthday. It’s been a full circle day for so many reasons. God is faithful, always good, and His timing is amazing. I praise His Great Name. This is me and Jeremy from his birth 32 years ago. It was a difficult birth and a 10 day hospital stay. God’s plan continues to unfold today. And here are the birthday boys, Jeremy Daniel at the top of the picture, and little Abraham Daniel below. I have a feeling that these two will be joined more tightly than with just middle names and birthdays! The happiest days are when babies come! I love you FIVE – Ezekiel Timothy (Zeke); Madie Ruth; Jackson Evan, Emery Caroline, and Abraham Daniel (Abe). GRAN JAN’S JOY!