Double Delight – Two Babies on the Way in May!

November 17, 2009 3:27 AM 16
DOUBLE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW DELIGHT!

I am BEYOND excited to share the news that we are going to welcome TWO MORE grandbabies to our family in May 2010!   Both of my sons and their sweet wives are expecting babies just FIVE DAYS APART!


My oldest son Jeremy and his wife Carrie (they are the couple on the left) are the parents of Zeke, my 15 month old grandson and “Gran Jan’s Joy.”  (This blog began as a way for me to process and record the joy of waiting for his arrival, which was a miracle of divine design.)

So their little boy, Ezekiel (everyone calls him “Zeke”) is going to be a big brother sometime around May 16, and then he will welcome his cousin to the family around May 21!
 

My youngest son Jonathan and his wife Erin are on the right in the photo above.  They are expecting their first baby! Erin made these matching shirts as a way to “tell” the Double Delight news to my parents (the great-grandparents) who live next door to me.  Here they are walking over to my parents to share the news.  I was following behind with my camera to record the event!

Here they are going back over to my house after they told my Mom and Dad…it was almost more than I could take in one evening.  I can’t believe I am going to be Gran Jan times three, and I am counting my blessings.  The other day I heard a woman call her grandchildren “Grandblessings,” and I loved that. They truly are grand blessings, and I can’t wait to meet the May Babies!

Today is my birthday…and I can’t think of a more fitting day to celebrate LIFE and God’s goodness to our family. 

i am thanking God for the promise fulfilled in my life from His Word, found in Psalm 128, verse 6:

Psalm 128:6 
May you live to see your children’s children.

Thank you Lord,
Gran Jan

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November 17, 2009 3:27 AM 16

South Africa – 6 (Journal Day 1)

September 23, 2009 3:50 AM 1

Sunday, August 16, 2009 We had a wonderful time of praise and worship at my home church this morning, Second Baptist. We went home after church for a quick lunch and to grab our suitcases and head to the big ATL. My youngest son Jonathan and his wife Erin drove us to the airport this afternoon. He is such a good son! Our flight left Atlanta, Georgia, USA, headed for Johannesburg, South Africa at 8:10 p.m. It was a non-stop flight and I praise God for that because if it stopped…we would have been over the Atlantic Ocean! The flight was long, long, long – 17 hours long. Our seats were toward the back of the plane in the very middle with a 3-seater section. I sat in the middle with my sweet man on my left and a very tall young man named Ty on my right. Ty was headed to South Africa as part of his doctoral dissertation work. He was from Washington state. His work sounded very heady and concerned proxy government negotiating…I told him we were going to sing and share about Jesus, and thought to myself that God would do all the negotiating by his Holy Spirit! Amen to that. We slept some on the long flight and that was great. Leaving at night also helped, as did the Ambien I took about 2:00 a.m. Thank you, Dr. Heaton! This was my first international flight, and I was pleased to discover that everyone had a little screen on the back of the seat right in front of them. You could choose from dozens of movies, TV shows, all types of music, and even a “flight-tracker” to keep up with the progress of the flight (which was basically a little plane icon over the OCEAN). I did not want to see that – but of course, my husband did… I watched several episodes of “24.” Thank you Jack Bauer for making me feel safe, secure, and proud to be an American. All in all, I was so blessed and pleased with the flight and my lack of a claustrophic fit of fear. I truly felt the prayers being lifted up for me and the peace of God surrounded my heart. I look so forward to all that God has in store for me the next 10 days.

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September 23, 2009 3:50 AM 1

Brothers – Preacher and Worship Leader

July 31, 2009 2:22 AM 6

This mother’s heart is so full of joy and gratitude tonight as I write this post on Gran Jan’s Joy. Last night, both of my boys were “back together” at our home church for a special youth service. My oldest son preached and my youngest son led worship. I sat there and just cried with joy to the Lord, so did my husband. Both boys grew up at Second Baptist Church. We dearly love our church, my husband has served on staff there 21 years. Our oldest son has been gone since he was 17 when he began to pastor a church his Junior year of high school…yes.he.did. He is still the pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church and is now working on his doctorate degree from SWBTS. He has always been a great student. My youngest son leads worship in the student ministry here at our home church, and also sings in his daddy’s choir. He is a tax assessor, a real estate appraiser. Both boys are married, and our daughters-in-law are beautiful blessings, and we love them.

And of course, little Zeke needed tending to while his daddy preached, so I was happy to oblige. I love him more and more and the feeling is reciprocal…he is starting to reach for me and wants to stay with me, and I love that so much.
It was a great night for our family, one I will cherish and thank God for. One of the most tender blessings for my heart was when Jeremy openly exhorted his little brother for the heart and passion he has to lead worship. My heart rejoices with joy that my boys and their wives are all serving Jesus. You young mothers out there, be encouraged. God is able.
Oh to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be,
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July 31, 2009 2:22 AM 6

First Father’s Day

June 19, 2009 3:37 AM 11

This picture really blesses me…it is my boy and his boy. I love the matching shirts, shoes, shorts…and SMILES! My boy will be celebrating his very first Father’s Day this Sunday, June 21, 2009. It is also the first day of summer, the beginning of a new season. This picture marks the beginning of a new season in my son’s life too! It is one that he has prayed for and waited for, as God in His providence provided a son for my boy and his wife. They are now a family and are loving every day with this precious gift of a son. I thank my Heavenly Father that He provided His Son for us – making a way for us to have eternal life through the atoning death of Christ, and to become part of the forever family of God!
Blessings to you,
Jan
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June 19, 2009 3:37 AM 11

My Wedding Anniversary Tribute

June 11, 2009 10:48 PM 4
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June 11, 2009 10:48 PM 4

A Contrast in Babies…USA and India

May 2, 2009 1:54 AM 8

I have been following Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick’s blog journal this week over at the LPM Blog. She and several other bloggers are sharing their journeys to India as part of the Compassion bloggers’ trip. It has been an amazing journey for that team as shared through their posts – and we have been privileged to participate by praying and reading their blog. Of course, the best way we can participate is by sponsoring a child. My husband and I have been sponsoring a little boy since February. His name is Iduar and he lives in Colombia, South America.

The following excerpt from Melissa’s post just wore me out:

A six-month old infant lying alone on a bed in a shack without any supervision *for the entire day* since both his parents are out working daily labor jobs and living desperately from hand to mouth.

The reason I am so slain by that thought is of course the obvious: six-month old babies don’t stay alone for any length of time, much less an entire day.

And another reason is that our 8-month grandson is spending the night with us tonight! We have enjoyed every minute of his company and he has never ONCE been out of our arms. We’ve visited all the farm animals (chickens, cows, sheep, donkeys) and we watched as my Dad, (Zeke’s great-grandfather) worked in his beautiful vegetable garden. Six adults and one blessed little boy – his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all doting on his every action – laughter and joy abounding.
My mind kept thinking about that 6 month old in a shack some- where alone because his parents had to do what they had to do to survive. I cannot wrap my mind around that.

One little boy here in the USA all tucked in tonight, sleeping in the very baby bed his father slept in – with a full tummy, smelling so sweet and clean, and rocked to sleep by his Gran Jan…

One little six-month old in India that was alone for a whole day – in filth, hungry, crying – oh God – why?

I say thank You Father for Your love, mercy, and grace to me and my family.

Mark 10:14 (Amplified Bible)
But when Jesus saw [it], He was indignant and pained and said to them, Allow the children to come to Me–do not forbid or prevent or hinder them–for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Please consider sponsoring a child – for $32 a month you can make a difference.

Blessings,
Gran Jan

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May 2, 2009 1:54 AM 8

Resurrection Ferns

April 6, 2009 5:07 PM 9
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”
I first learned about resurrection ferns while reading the historical novels of one of my favorite authors, Eugenia Price. Most of her books are set on or around my beloved Georgia coast, St. Simons Island. Her books on the beautiful city of Savannah are marvelous. When we built our home and moved to “farm country” almost 2 years ago, I noticed that some of our pecan trees have these resurrection ferns on the main trunks and large branches. They appear dead but after the rain they revive. What an analogy of this great verse from John 11:25 and especially as we prepare to celebrate the GLORIOUS resurrection of Jesus Christ this coming weekend. Resurrection ferns feed off the air and may curl up and look dead, but they aren’t. They’re just surviving… They bloom when they receive lots of water! The resurrection fern gets its name because it can appear dead, but when just a little water is present, the fern will uncurl and reopen, and “resurrect.” Sometimes I too may “curl up and look dead” but thankfully, I am not! (I may be in survival mode myself!) But Hallelujah and Praise His Name when the Living Water of Jesus is poured out on me, I will uncurl and open and be alive to Him, and hopefully will remain dead to sin.

Springtime abounds here in Georgia! The hope and power and promise of the Resurrection can be seen, even in the ferns on my pecan trees.
BECAUSE HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW!
Love, Jan

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April 6, 2009 5:07 PM 9
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