Meet Our Grandson, Jackson Evan Morton

May 28, 2010 12:42 AM 17
May 2010 has certainly been an amazing month of double blessings for our family! We celebrate and rejoice in the birth of little Jackson Morton just this past Monday on May 24th. He weighed 8 lbs. 10 ozs., and was 20.5 inches long – a beautiful big baby boy! His mommy, my daughter-in-law had a wonderful delivery – short and sweet, thank You Jesus. 
This is Jackson just a few hours after he was born…
What a beautiful family…the brunettes 🙂
Hmmmmmmm…Gran Jan is also a brunette.
Perhaps Jackson got that dark hair from her too?
This is “Pop,” my sweet husband with Jackson:
These are Jackson’s maternal grandparents,
my son’s wonderful in-laws.
 Jackson is their first grandchild
and they are so very excited!
My baby boy watching his baby boy in the nursery…
This is a blanket I made for Jackson that my
daughter-in-law brought to the hospital with her.
She also wore a necklace while she was in labor
that I had just given to her for Mother’s Day.
It was the very same necklace that my husband
had given to me when our son was born.
When I saw her wearing it, I was so very touched…
When we first learned about the double grandblessings back in September and that we would have back-to-back grandbabies in May 2010, I really had no idea how it would be – I was just so thankful and VERY excited. The boys and their wives were even so thoughtful that they paid to have early sonograms so they could announce the genders to us on Christmas Eve. They gave us these stockings wrapped up as gifts and surprised us…this kind of thoughtfulness blesses us every day with these four wonderful children.  
The long-awaited month of May is almost over.  The double portion blessings are HERE and the joy begins.  I want to testify that I am committed to being the best Gran Jan ever. I will love and pray for my grands and I will be there for them – in every way possible. As long as the good Lord gives me breath, I will be there for my family.
Counting my blessings, naming them one by one…Zeke, Madie Ruth, Jackson…
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May 28, 2010 12:42 AM 17

Meet My Granddaughter, Miss Madie Ruth Morton

May 12, 2010 1:50 AM 27

5-10-10…My son and his wife were on the way to the hospital, and I went to keep Zeke and took this picture right before they left.  Then on Monday afternoon around 1:45 my sweet daughter-in-law, gave birth to a girl.

I have a granddaughter!  Her name is Madie Ruth Morton

(Madie is pronounced may-dee.)  She weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long.  She is so beautiful. 

Gran Jan’s Joy is now PINK!
Her Grandaddy meets her for the first time below,
and I could hardly wait for this moment,
because we had BOYS!
I just know he is in for a wonderful JOY!
These are Madie’s maternal grandparents.
They did a wonderful job raising her mother, my daughter-in-law!
This is Madie’s big brother Zeke,
my inspiration to begin this blog,
Gran Jan’s Joy.
In less than two weeks my baby boy’s sweet wife will deliver grandbaby number 3, little Jackson Evan Morton.  Gran Jan’s Joy is receiving the double portion this month.  I honestly can’t wrap my heart and mind around everything I am feeling and praying and rejoicing over, but I’m doing the best I can to enjoy every minute and to be thankful.  
My family is growing and the heritage of faith they are going to receive is the most important gift my husband and I can give them…
Psalm 103:17
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children-
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May 12, 2010 1:50 AM 27

Long-Awaited May

May 1, 2010 7:38 PM 8

Today marks the first day of a long awaited month – MAY, 2010!  May is one of my favorite months in the garden. This picture was taken just this morning in my garden and is my most favorite rose, “Mr. Lincoln.”  It smells so sweet and is big and red and like I said, it really is my favorite…

Long-awaited May is the month our family will add 2 new members…two grandchildren; a granddaughter, Madie Ruth Morton, and a grandson, Jackson Evan Morton.  (Madie is pronounced “May-Dee.”)

Both of their names have connections to family.  Madie Ruth’s middle name, Ruth, was my paternal grandmother’s middle name. Mary Ruth Thomas Maloy was born on May 16, 1896, and my Dad, was the 9th of her 11 children! Two of her children died within a few days of each other during the great flu epidemic of 1918.  She was a woman of great faith and loved the Lord with all her heart.  She was what some would call a “shouting Baptist.”  I was embarrassed as a little girl when attending church with her, but would sure love to attend church with her now…

Both of Jackson’s names have family history.  Jackson was my husband’s great-great grandfather’s name. He was born August 3, 1817. We actually have an old newspaper article from 1907 where he was being interviewed.  It says:

 “although nearly 92 years of age, Mr. Morton stands straight as an arrow.
His eyes are keen and he stands 6 feet, 2 inches. His speech is quick, with no waver in it.  He is a “hale and hearty” survivor of Georgia’s Indian Wars. 
He was cutting wood when interviewed, and from his looks and activity,
one would not take him for more than sixty years.”
Jackson’s middle name Evan, is a version of his maternal grandmother’s maiden name, Evans.  (I know that was a lot of information, but I like to document things such as this on my blog.)

The following three photos show the journey these two sweet girls have allowed me to capture on film as they have both grown “great with child.”
September 2009
February 2010
April 2010
Madie’s mommy is in green, Jackson’s mommy is in blue.
Gran Jan is most thankful for this long-awaited month of May, and I am counting my blessings.  I cannot wait to meet Madie Ruth and Jackson Evan, and I know that along with Ezekiel Timothy, we are in for some fun times ahead.
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May 1, 2010 7:38 PM 8

Beginnings and Firsts

March 24, 2010 1:57 AM 15
There is something very special about a new beginning, a “first time.”  This is a picture of my youngest son and his bride on their wedding day almost two years ago…06-07-08. This day marked the beginning of their lives together! They had “only just begun” as the song lyrics repeat…it was a beautiful wedding, their first day as husband and wife.

This past Saturday, March 20, 2010, was another first! The beginning of a new season, the first day of Spring! The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the gardener in me loves the beginning of a new season of flowers.

But the “Gran Jan” in me had another *first* this past Saturday that I would love to share with you!  A miracle of sorts, a blessing to enjoy thanks to the amazing technology of today. I laid eyes on my little grandson that isn’t even born yet! Little Jackson, son of my youngest son and his sweet wife!
A FIRST! I saw my baby boy’s yet unborn baby boy via the imagery of a 4-D sonogram.  It was so amazing. My son and his wife and both sets of grandparents were there.  We had a wonderful morning as we saw baby Jackson’s sweet face. We can’t wait to see him face to face!
Psalm 139:13-16
13  For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15  My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16  your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
And this last picture is another beginning…the first day my name became “Gran Jan” when little Zeke was born.  Oh the JOY, Gran Jan’s JOY!
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March 24, 2010 1:57 AM 15

The Jesus Storybook Bible!

March 10, 2010 2:13 AM 6
I love books – especially Bibles, and this is one I heartily recommend to all you moms and aunts and grandmoms out there!  It is called the Jesus Storybook Bible.  I first heard about it on Christian radio, Moody’s “Midday Connection.”  I remember just weeping and also shouting when some of the excerpts were read aloud.  I bought a copy before my grandson was even born, and I love to read it aloud to him.  This picture of Zeke was taken when he was just 4 and a half months old!

If you start reading this Bible storybook to your small children and grandchildren, by the time they hit the teen years they will have a clear understanding of God’s story of redemption. It is SO good – even for adults, you will love it!
For example this is what is written in Leah’s story… Now when Leah knew that God loved her, in her heart, suddenly it didn’t matter anymore whether her husband loved her best, or if she was the prettiest. Someone had chosen her, someone did love her—with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.

This is taken from the back cover: “The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story.  And at the center of the Story, there is a baby, the Child upon whom everything would depend

Beautifully written and illustrated, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation-and at the center of their story, too.

A must buy for every parent and grandparent!

Love and Happy Reading Aloud Times,
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March 10, 2010 2:13 AM 6

WHAT’S IN YOUR PANTRY?

February 27, 2010 8:23 PM 16
When we moved to the country almost three years ago, I hoped for three things in my new home…a library/study of my own, a big country kitchen so all the family could gather around, and a big pantry!  Well, I was blessed with all of the above, but today I wanted to share pantry pictures. This has been a place of fascination for Gran Jan’s Joy, my little Zeke to play!  It helps that he knows the cookies are in there, and now he goes after them. He is 18 months old now and he loves to climb!
He knows exactly where to find the animal cookies!
He needs a little help with the lid…
But has no problem reaching inside for a handful…
And then he actually puts the cookies away!
What a good boy!
All that searching for animal crackers has stirred up Zeke’s appetite, so G-Daddy took him outside to check out the John Deere tractor…  As our son (Zeke’s father) says, “Nothing runs like a Deere except maybe an 18 month old…”  It took a while to find a tractor that fit, much like Goldilocks in the story of “The Three Bears.”
Here’s the Papa Bear Tractor, and it is way too big!
Next is the Mama Bear Tractor and it’s not quite right either…
But then we find the Baby Bear Tractor, and it is just right!

This little tractor is close to 30 years old and it belonged to Zeke’s daddy and also his Uncle Jonathan!  We hope it brings as much joy to the grands as it did to our sons.

Life is good on the farm with Gran Jan’s boys…
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February 27, 2010 8:23 PM 16

DELIGHTS – TIMES 4!

February 15, 2010 3:14 PM 10

DELIGHTFUL WEEKEND! I have enjoyed so much this past weekend!  Special time with my family as we celebrated special events of our lives together, and the beautiful snow that is so rare for our area. So this morning, I am thanking God for some more Gran Jan’s JOY!  (These delights are in no particular order…they are ALL joyful.)

Delight #1: Winter Wonder ~ We don’t have snow ’round these parts very often – and definitely not of the magnitude that we enjoyed this past Friday.  There is something so peaceful about the clean and pristine white snow.  The rarity of this event made it quite a delightful winter wonder for all of us. 

Our driveway – Double M Farms
My parents live next door.
(My maiden and married names – M’s)
Pecan grove
Oak trees line the driveway (I love this so much!)
Side view of my front porch – a happy place to spend time
Single cardinal in the birch tree, the
view from my kitchen window
Delight #2: Zeke finally said Gran Jan – clearly! Not “ga-ga” or something two-syllable sounding as he has been doing, but he said “GRAN JAN!” I went to babysit him for a little while Friday morning and as I was leaving, he patted his mommy and said “Mama,” then pointed to my son and sad “daddy,” then tapped my arm and said “Gran Jan!”  I was so tickled.  I have been waiting for this day!
Delight #3: Our other two grandbabies are on the way in May and the girls took another picture this weekend to show their progress!  If you look closely, you can see the babies’ genders on their tee-shirts.  Erin (daughter-in-love on the right) made these shirts as a surprise.  (Go here to read all about that.)  Carrie (daughter-in-love on the left) is having a girl! See the flowers showing? Erin is having a boy! See the sports balls showing? They did not plan this, but Erin pointed it out when she sent me the pictures – I love it!
Delight #4: Today is my husband’s birthday.  I have celebrated many birthdays with this man, and each one is more special – each celebration of life makes me so grateful for the man God gave me to be my husband.  I love Gary more than ever – he is my best friend, he takes good care of me, he loves our family and he is a man of great integrity. He is a true man of God – at home, at church, and in the community – and that makes me respect him all the more.
Counting my blessings today, and loving Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength!
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February 15, 2010 3:14 PM 10
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