R&R IN “YE OLDE SOUTH”

November 9, 2008 3:59 AM 5

My sweet husband and I just spent 3 days away for a little R&R (for you non-military types, R&R stands for Rest & Relaxation). It could have been R & R & R & R & R, Rest, Relaxation, Revival, Reconnecting, and ROMANCE 🙂 We had such a wonderrrrrful time! This trip was a gift to us from our church in honor of our 20 years of service there. They are the best congregation in the world and we love them! Anyway, the gift came in June, but since the reservations were good for a year, and we had a BIG-EVENTS summer in our family that included the wedding of our youngest son in June and the birth of our first grandchild in August, we finally just got away this past weekend. We headed out to Savannah Wednesday afternoon. We love Savannah, a very beautiful and romantic city on the coast of Georgia. In fact, it is Georgia’s oldest city. Here are some pictures from my weekend…

A huge moss-draped Live Oak tree – St. Simons Island, Georgia
View from our room at the River Street Inn which fronts the Savannah River in the
historic section of Savannah. The hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places
and was built as a cotton warehouse back in the early 1800’s.

Another view from the room facing the Savannah River and the riverboats.


These are the ruins of  Fort Frederica which was built back in the early 1700’s to protect the coast of Georiga from invasions by the Spanish in northern Florida.

Now this picture below is also in a historic section of Savannah. It is the famous LADY & SONS RESTAURANT and is owned and operated by Paula Deen and her two sons. The food is wonderful and no trip to Savannah is complete without a trip to the Lady & Sons.

Me and Paula Deen!
My sweet husband indulged my love for history and we took the “long way home” and re-routed back by St. Simons Island. One of my favorite authors of all times, Eugenia Price, is buried at Christ Church cemetery. Eugenia wrote many books about Georgia’s early history.  They are novels, but she always used “historical characters.” I own every book she ever wrote – she was a wonderful Christian woman. Prior to her extensive novels, she wrote many Christian devotionals that have become classics.  I also own all of those and am so proud of my collection!
This is Gary and the famous “Wesley Oak” where John Wesley preached when he came to preach in the newly founded Georgia Colony.
 
Christ Church on St. Simons Island, Georgia

It is absolutely gorgeous and a step back in time with all the huge live oak trees and Spanish moss hanging from them. The cemetery had graves dating back to the early 1800’s and it was so peaceful to visit this church and the gardens nearby.

Life is good and I am a blessed woman indeed.  Thank you for sharing my R & R & R & R & R weekend!

~Georgia Jan

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November 9, 2008 3:59 AM 5

Moonflowers…I LOVE them!

September 5, 2008 7:49 PM 7

I love gardening…besides spending time with my men-folks (husband, sons, grandson) and my girls (daughters-in-law), it’s my most favorite thing to do. Gardening is pure therapy for me…and much cheaper…unless I’ve been to the Lowe’s Garden Center!
Have you ever seen a moonflower? Well they are wonderful and I grow them from seed every year! They grown on a beautiful vine and the foliage is heart-shaped. The flowers are spectacular, about 6″ across, lightly scented, and they are white with a “star” in the center. They begin to bloom at dusk…when the day is winding down.

One of my favorite authors, Jan Karon wrote a wonderful book entitled The Trellis and the Seed, a book of encouragement for all ages. It is all about waiting for a moonflower to bloom, it is delightful.
I just wanted to share some gardening joy today. I’m sorta like those moonflowers in that I am not a morning person (or a morning glory)! I begin to wind up when the day is winding down myself. Maybe that’s why I love these flowers so much. There’s nothing sweeter that sitting in my back porch swing and enjoying the moonflowers blooming. Did you know there’s even a night-time hummingbird? Oh yes there is…I’ll save that for another post!
Georgia Jan
Isaiah 58:11…your soul will be like a well-watered garden…
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September 5, 2008 7:49 PM 7

Siesta Fiesta – Beth Moore!

August 27, 2008 7:05 PM 14
What a suprise to find this picture in the group of pictures that Rich (awesome photographer for Lifeway) took during the Siesa Fiesta! I was plum tickled and blessed because it was such a sweet, brief moment and I had no idea it was being captured for me…I was simply telling Beth that I loved her – she has meant so much to my life. (I believe our brief meeting at Deeper Still in Atlanta back in June jogged her memory when she saw me walking across the floor at the Alamodome Saturday afternoon as she hugged me and said “Georgia Jan.” I attended that amazing conference with my dear friend, who just happens to be the wife of the Governor of Georgia and her VIP treatment washed over on me, a very un-VIP person, however favored I was that weekend.) So Georgia Jan is a blessed woman indeed. Thank You, Father. God has used the faithfulness of Beth Moore to encourage my heart…as she also encouraged and inspired untold thousands of women around the world. The Bible studies she writes are amazing, her poetry is precious. Her encouragement, her sense of humor and quick wit are priceless (and I especially love, love, love, when she goes into that “Arkansas twang” and talks…cracks me up every time). The truths and reaffirmations of being an heiress – and not a boring one – were so tender. A poignant hit-home truth was that my intimacy with God will never never replace ministry. As Women’s Ministry Director at my church, may I say, help me Lord! Also, any place that God is not occupying – the devil has…my oh my. This was a great trip, however a very quick trip! God gave me and Deborah (Twinkle) favor from the moment we left Georgia in the wee hours early Friday morning until we flew home Saturday evening with the remants of Hurricane Fay’s rain welcoming us! I left with a divided heart, as my first-born’s firstborn came into our lives just five days before I flew out to Texas. But little Zeke is precious and was in the care of his mommy’s love, my sweet daughter-in-love. What a joy to meet so many Siestas – to hug their necks, to pray with them, worship alongside them, and to just laugh and have fun. God is so good and His Spirit was ever-present. Hallelujah and Amen – what a great trip.
Georgia Jan…aka Gran Jan 🙂
Romans 15:13 <><
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August 27, 2008 7:05 PM 14

ZEKE Arrived…He is a Sunday’s Child…How Fitting

August 25, 2008 2:32 AM 4

Zeke Arrived last Sunday…

What a day it was. He is beautiful and all you grandmothers out there who told me there is “nothing like it” were so right. What an amazing gift. Ezekiel means “God is Strong.” God showed Himself strong by bringing this little boy into our lives. We prayed him in…and we are claiming him – he is already turning our lives in and out and up and down. And we are loving every minute…stay tuned…more from Gran Jan to follow…:)

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August 25, 2008 2:32 AM 4

Still Waiting…

August 12, 2008 2:04 PM 1

We are still waiting on Zeke-man’s arrival! No signs of labor yet – but full of faith and hope as we await the blessed event. I am beyond myself…can’t wait for all that being Gran Jan will entail…it should be within the next week… I’ll let you know – you will hear me “holler!” 🙂

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August 12, 2008 2:04 PM 1

Hope Deferred

August 6, 2008 2:05 PM 2

Well, Zeke is snug as he can be and there are no signs of his coming yet (unlike the signs of our Lord’s coming – hallelujah!)… God is so good and I am already so in love with this little grandboy, I can hardly wait to see him. (I can hardly wait to see my Savior most of all)… Proverbs 13:12 says “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but the desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Waiting and waiting for this grandbaby has made my heart sick – but knowing the desire is soon to be filled has made me think about another “tree of life,” and that is our family tree. Because it is growing and this precious little boy will be the beginning. My Sunday night Bible study ladies gave me a “Gran Jan” Wal-Mart gift card Sunday night. I was so surprised and so excited. The wise sages (already Grands) in my class told me that I will need baby things at my house…I jumped for joy! Thank you for reading – be encouraged – be blessed – for the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

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August 6, 2008 2:05 PM 2

Waiting Room

July 24, 2008 12:03 PM 1

Well, just a few more days until I will become Gran Jan. I am beyond excited – for this has been a long journey…not only for me – but even more so for little Zeke’s parents – my first-born son and his precious wife. While they waited for a baby, I was waiting for a grandbaby, and when I quit asking God for the baby – and began praying for His will, the peace came – and so did the pregnancy (in that order). It came out of my time at the “Deeper Still” conference in Nashville, Tennesse in September of 2007. God used His Word and the words from sweet Beth Moore to minister to my heart, calm my spirit, and give me the assurance to pray for His Will – whatever that meant. The story is miraculous, and after a failed adoption (of triplets), the conception came – when we least expected it to come. Isn’t that just like our Father? While we are in the waiting room, He is busy all around us, preparing, working, teaching – being God. My heart is full of joy today, and I am so thankful to my heavenly Father for His peace, and that out of the waiting time for the past 3 years, I will soon be in a real-live waiting room…as I wait for the birth of my first grandchild.

A Well-Watered Soul…
soon to be…

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July 24, 2008 12:03 PM 1
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