A Birthday Quilt for Beth

June 20, 2011 12:30 AM 10

I wanted to do something very special this year for Beth Moore’s birthday. God has used Beth to teach, encourage, and equip me as a pastor’s wife, as a mom, and as a woman for the past 13 years…  I could never repay her or thank her, but I wanted to try.  A few months ago my bff Lanie and I attended a beginning quilting class together.  We had a blast! I did not win any “best of class” awards, but I discovered that I really loved quilting.  So I decided to make a quilt for Beth for her birthday. It is flawed just like me, but I somehow knew that Beth wouldn’t mind my mistakes. She’s the real deal.

Here I am in class at the quilt shop (the shop is called A Scarlet Thread  and is owned by Christians). Beth’s quilt pattern is called “Take 5” because there are 5 coordinating fabrics and each fabric is in the block in five varying positions throughout the quilt.  I think that’s what the instructor said…remember, I am a beginner.

Here are the five different fabrics in the quilt.  I sent an email to Nancy Mattingly (I met her at the So Long Insecurity Conference and LOVED her) at Living Proof Ministries to ask her what colors Beth liked…and she said “pink.”  So I bought fabric that had lots of pink!  The material is called “In the Garden.” (Now there’s a subject I know and love, gardening!) But I did have a blast learning to quilt. It’s just hard for me to be still that long.

My sweet husband set up tables for me in our living room so I could lay the quilt out to baste and get ready to quilt…there is a label on the back with a note from me for Beth!

It wishes sweet Beth a Happy Birthday and reminds her that she is “covered in His love.”
Here is the Birthday Girl and her beautiful office manager Sabrina Moore, holding up the quilt. Beth was sweet enough to let me know that she had received her quilt. (In fact both Sabrina & Evangeline at LPM went out of the way to let me know the quilt had arrived. Beth’s staff serve with hearts of gold!) I hope that every time she snuggles for a nap or takes some Sabbath rest, Beth will feel just how much I love her! God has used her ministry to bless me, and I have attempted to bless other women as I serve in women’s ministry at my church out of the overflow of His grace in my life. 

I am so thankful that we are all covered in His love!  Happy Birthday Bethie! 🙂
Jan

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June 20, 2011 12:30 AM 10

1,000 GIFTS, #130 to #152

May 10, 2011 2:44 AM 1
I have not posted on “Multitude Mondays” in a multitude of Mondays, but I’m back and thankful to be here. Life is good but life is busy. I promise I’ve been counting all along the way…and really can affirm that this counting grace gifts has become a habit. A good habit. A way to bring perspective to my day, even to my “situation.”  Blessed.
130. I had a great checkup from my new young doctor, “Dr. Young.” I told him I wanted a young doc to get me to my senior years and his name was a plus! 🙂
131. Celebrating my youngest sister’s birthday April 8th. Peggy Jo was born on Good Friday back in 1966 when I was 8 years old…she’s a sweetheart.
132. Having all the pastors and their wives over to our home for a meal and sweet fellowship a couple of weekends ago…priceless, theraputic, and just plain FUN!
133. Celebrating my Dad’s 77th birthday on April 29th.  “Captain Tom” is a Vietnam War Veteran, a retired Career Marine and one of the finest men I know. I love you Dad.
134. Surprising my sweet Mother-in-law with a visit! She was so excited and apologized for not having her “face fixed.” (Meaning no makeup…she is 88 years old – I love that!)
135. I have finished my quilt top! My bff Lanie and I are taking a quilting class on Tuesday evenings. We have so enjoyed our class, but the fellowship in the car during our commute to and from the quilt shop is an added bonus (we drive for over an hour to our class site).  There’s nothing like good conversation with a trusted friend.  We always get Starbucks on the way home!
136. On Easter Sunday our choir did the most beautiful music and at the end of the song, a HUGE banner was unfurled…it simply said JESUS. I got to “pull the cord” to unfurl it from the choirloft…it was WAY overhead…very high. I have never been so excited in my life as I anticipated letting it go at just the right time…and I am thankful to say it was right on time!
137. Purple Martin birds coming to live in the big birdhouses we have up for them! They are migratory and they found us! 🙂
138. Speaking of birds…the hummingbirds are back…I so love them!
139. A great harvest of snow peas from my garden – delicious.
140. Beautiful tomato plants in the garden now…pictures soon!
141. This visitor on my patio the night before Easter…I am serious.
142. This is my youngest grandson, Jackson. He loves being outside and this picture has brought me a multitude of smiles…that is his momma, my sweet daughter-in-law Erin holding the hose for him.
143. A letter from my Compassion son, Iduar. He was thanking me for his birthday money. He bought tennis shoes. Remember the perspective I told you that this counting grace gifts brings? A little boy that lives in Colombia bought tennis shoes and he was so grateful. Speak LORD.
144. Coffee on the front porch with my grandson Zeke. It was a cool morning and we had our “blankies” and our coffee. I love when he spends the night with me and Pop!
145. Beautiful roses in my garden. My favorite of all is “Mr. Lincoln.” Smells divine.
146. The joy of praying for my dear friend in the fellowship of pastor’s wives, Lisa McKay, who weathered a tornado in the crawl space of her new home with her husband and four children. They are well and are ministering to their community in northeast Alabama. Go here to keep up with her. She is a treasure.
147. The joy of babysitting my little grandgirl recently, Miss Madie Ruth. She will be ONE YEAR OLD tomorrow and we had her birthday party this past Friday evening with a big family BBQ planned by my son and his wife…her parents. The weather was perfect and it was so much fun to be together to celebrate her life!
148. Rocks! Yes, rocks! Rocks to line my flowerbeds. Nice big beautiful rocks from “the Stone Mart” in town. They are beautiful and I plan to do a post soon about my garden because it is a work in progress and it is my happy place.
149. My husband and I took Dr. Robert Smith of Beeson Divinity School (Birmingham, AL – Samford University) and his wife Dr. Wanda Smith out to lunch last Sunday. It was pure JOY to sit with them and receive the wisdom they spoke into our lives. We are on “this side” of a rough season in ministry, but God is faithfully teaching us, and we are receiving all He has for us.
150. We have blueberries on our farm and the earliest varieties are bearing now. They are HUGE (that is a quarter next to the blueberry I picked this evening). I had the best time teaching Zeke which ones to pick! He kept saying, “don’t pick the green ones Gran Jan…they will hurt your belly.”  🙂
151. Celebrating Mother’s Day this past weekend with my boys and sweet daughters-in-law and grandblessings and then having my Mom and sister and her family for Sunday dinner yesterday. Besides knowing JESUS, being a Mom & Gran Jan has brought me more JOY than anything I’ve ever done!
152. The joy of singing a solo in church yesterday with the most wonderful choir in the universe! The song is “Saving Grace.” The second verse always *blesses* me so:
In this life before me, there are trials I must face.
But God has given all I need to finish out this race.
So when the earth’s foundations crumble,
there is refuge in His Hand,
and I will rest in this assurance,
that by His grace alone I’ll stand… 
Yes indeed, by His grace alone I’ll stand!
For ALL is GRACE – to Him alone be ALL glory!
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May 10, 2011 2:44 AM 1

ALABAMA TORNADO RELIEF EFFORT – FROM LISA McKAY

April 29, 2011 9:45 PM 33

It is such an honor to post concerning the Alabama Tornado Relief Effort on behalf of my dear friend in the Sisterhood of PW’s (preacher’s wives), Mrs. Lisa McKay. I talked to her for a long time this morning, and cannot tell you how the chills ran up and down my spine as she shared. In fact, when I saw her name on my cell phone as a call coming in, my heart began to race. She has not been far from my thoughts or prayers the past 3 days.

First and foremost she wants everyone to know that she and her husband, Rev. Luke McKay and their four children are safe. Their home is uninhabitable at the present, but it can be fixed and will be! They had much devastation up and down their road. Lisa was so thankful and yet grieved, in that place where joy and sorrow meet. Thankful for her own family being spared, and grieved to tears at the pain of others.  In the words of Lisa, “It is like God reached down His Hand and cupped His palm over my home as the tornado jumped and skipped all around…” More chills. More tears. More praise.

She and Luke and the kids were in the crawl space of their home and she said she was praying and crying out to God Psalm 57:1 over and over…

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
She said she was praying, “Lord either take all of us or none of us, don’t leave part of us…” Can you even imagine? The children were telling each other they loved each other. For those of us who have or have raised squabbling siblings – that in itself will make you cry. Let’s all commit to pray that the terror of this will be erased from their memories by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lisa also said that yes – a tornado sounds like a train and she cannot even describe the terror and feeling of doom as they were huddled together waiting…waiting…waiting. And to hear the sound of your man crying out as well…

They had neighbors that were killed (pray as members of the Otts family grieve) and another neighbor where the concrete slab foundation of their home was literally “wiped from the face of the earth,” only 200 yards away.

And now, at Lisa’s request – the purpose of this post is to let you all know that another local church in the area, Chestnut Grove Baptist is the “HUB” of all collections, donations, etc. for the relief effort in their community. They have a fund set up that is ongoing for benevolence called “Chestnut Grove Needy Child Fund” where the tornado efforts will be pooled. This is the address of the bank where the funds may be sent:

Citizens Bank
Attn: Chestnut Grove Needy Child Fund
PO Box 147
Valley Head, AL  35989

The donations are tax deductible and receipts/thank you’s will be mailed!

Following are pictures that Lisa sent me…with her text beneath the pictures:

 More of our road I’m just now seeing.
This is the landscape for miles.
 Behind the house.  My backyard used to be a dense pine thicket.
 The trees miraculously began falling horizontal to the house
where we were hiding underneath.
 We were in this crawlspace…
Front of the house. All trees blowing directly perpendicular to it.
I love you Lisa, and we are praying for you. And you know there’s a guestroom here at the farm with YOUR name on it!
Your friend,
Jan

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April 29, 2011 9:45 PM 33

1,000 GIFTS, #80 to #98

March 15, 2011 1:28 AM 4
MULTITUDE MONDAYS
80. Back to Bible study with my Wednesday night girls, I love them so much!
81. A homemade Chocolate Cobbler. Go HERE for my posted recipe and pictures.
82. Time in my garden with glorious warm weather on Saturday and Sunday.
                             Texas Sweet Onions!                         Daffodils!
83. Joining my friend Travis Cottrell by becoming a backer on his new worship project.
84. Assurance that Jesus Christ is the Solid Rock, even during times of devastation in our world. 
85. Thankful for Samaritan’s Purse and their gifts to help the people in Japan suffering intensely after the earthquake and tsunami.
86. Enough hair for my 10-month old granddaughter Madie Ruth to have a real ponytail.
87. The opportunity to pray with some of my co-workers this week. We are asking God to give His grace to a family in the death of two young sisters in a car accident…they were headed home from church and the weather was so stormy. 
88. Singing with our Praise Team this past Sunday morning…”Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin and “I Bless Your Name” by Selah. Awesome worship.
89. Thankful that my Dad is continuing to recover well from back surgery 5 weeks ago.
90. Good conversations with my sons this week. I love them with all my heart. We are friends.
91. Calls, emails, and cards of encouragement from friends at church who know that the past months have been extremely difficult in ministry. God is doing a mighty work in our church…things are better than ever and we praise His Holy Name. Our God is Greater.
92. Helping my husband move these two cows to the pasture behind our house…I am not a cowgirl, but I had a blast! That’s Helen on the left, and Thelma Lou on the right…

 93. A new devotional book Reliving the Passion as I prepare my heart for Easter…

94. Continuing to memorize scripture with lots of friends on the SSMT…Siesta Scripture Memory Team!
95. Going to “Sonic” last night after church with dear friends Jack & Lanie and sitting outside at the picnic tables until way past our bedtime 🙂  Laughing like teenagers.
96. Enjoying these violet violas while they last…because when the warm weather cometh they will not be happy! (I like cooler weather too.)

97.  The sacred echo of this verse in my heart… James 4:14
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life?
 It is even a vapor that appears for a little time
and then vanishes away.
98. Which is exactly why I rejoice in the simple JOY of counting to 1,000…FOR ALL IS GRACE.
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March 15, 2011 1:28 AM 4

Cookbook Giveaway Winner!

December 2, 2010 2:06 AM 2

Congratulations to Terry of the Ater-Price Family Blog!  Your cookbook, “Christmas in the Country” will soon be on it’s way to you!

Thank you to those of you who shared your thankful thoughts.

I am also very thankful to each of you who visit this blog, which is basically the rambling thoughts of a blessed woman…

So thankful!
Gran Jan

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December 2, 2010 2:06 AM 2

My First Giveaway for You!

November 16, 2010 11:36 AM 11

Good Morning!  While the coffee is brewing and I’m listening to the wonderful sound of the rain coming down on the metal roof of my home…

and while thanking the Lord for all His goodness, I decided to celebrate with a giveaway on my blog.  It’s my first one and since today is my birthday, I wanted to give something to someone else.  I am a blessed woman indeed!
So…all you have to do is:
  1. 1.  Go here to “The Gooseberry Patch”  and pick out a cookbook you would like to own. I love this website and their products are great, and I love to cook! I had a cookbook published in one of their cookbooks…this past year. It’s the recipe for “Gran Jan’s Chicken Pie.”  Go here to read the post!
2.  Come back and post the 5 things you are most thankful for.
3.  Also tell me which cookbook you would like to receive.
4.  Do this by Tuesday, November 30th, two weeks from today!
5.  I will randomly select a winner on December 1st and have your cookbook sent to you in time for Christmas if you want to give it to someone else!
Happy Birthday to Me! Happy Giveaway to YOU!
*Gran Jan*
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November 16, 2010 11:36 AM 11

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

October 22, 2010 4:02 AM 5
Twenty-six years ago today, God blessed our family with a gracious gift!  Today, October 22, we celebrate the birthday of our youngest son Jonathan.  I asked myself “where did the years go?”, so I began sorting through family photos and selected a few to celebrate Jonathan’s journey!  This momma’s heart was sure blessed as I reminisced the memory of each picture. God did graciously bless us with Jonathan, which is of Hebrew origin and means “God’s gracious gift.” 

Dear Jonathan…

Here we are getting ready to leave the hospital in Athens, Georgia…ready to go HOME!
 I’ve told you dozens of times before, but it was a “record hot day” that day…88 degrees.
I should have realized we were headed for fun times…the picture below was taken
literally minutes after we brought you home.  Check out the dart gun in Jeremy’s hand!
You were a beautiful baby and a good baby!  Although you had your
days and nights “crossed up” for the first 2 weeks, once you got your schedule
straightened out, you were a dream…easygoing and laidback.
You were about 8 weeks old in this picture.
You loved your big brother so much, and I’m thankful you still do!
This picture was made while we were at Jeremy’s soccer practice.  I love it because
you are wearing a “G.I. Joe” shirt – and those were your favorite toys for many years. 
This was your 5th birthday picture, and may well be my favorite of all times. 
The Olan Mills folks thought so too, because it was on display for a long while!
Your Dad and I loved all the years of T-ball, baseball, soccer,
basketball, track, and football! 
 You’ve always loved animals, and Beulah the bassett hound was one of your favorite pets.
 Fun times on a deep-sea fishing trip with your friend, Jackie Bell.
You were always taller than all your friends, and
stood 6 feet tall in the 7th grade. 
This is one of the last pictures made of you and your brother when you
both still lived at home before Jeremy went to college and seminary.
Raising you and your brother have been my life’s greatest joy.
You always have been a handsome young man. Knowing that you
are also a man of ingegrity means more than anything to me.
 I loved watching you catch the football and RUN like the wind!
Although you’ve never LOVED school, thank you for being diligent!
This is from your Senior pictures and I’ve always loved it so much.
 God led you to a fine young woman to marry. 
I love this picture of you and Erin Lee.
I
 06-07-08 – handsome groom on your wedding day.
 The Morton Four – how blessed I am.
We loved every moment of your wedding day.
I’m so glad you love the family farm and look forward to you and your
brother having fun times here with your children.  
We are so thankful for the heritage we have.
 
I added this baby picture of you here at the end…
because the one below this one is your son Jackson at the same age.
You have cloned yourself.
 Jackson Evan Morton
You are such a good daddy and there is no greater joy than
watching you be a daddy.
Your precious family.
Jonathan, Erin, Jackson…God is so good!
I love you son! Happy birthday and thank you for being a joy to my heart. Your life is a gift straight from God to our family. Your dad and I are so blessed to have been chosen by God to raise you…you have brought us so much JOY!  And Jackson will be the same JOY for you and Erin as you raise him up in the Lord!  I can’t wait! 
Love, Mom
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October 22, 2010 4:02 AM 5
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