1,000 GIFTS, #800 to #826

WOW - I am really nearing the goal of counting to one thousand gifts. As I seek to reach that goal I can say with complete confidence that a greater goal has been achieved... that of seeing His grace everywhere at all times with all JOY.

800. I love moonflowers. I took this picture one night last week on my back patio. (They bloom at dusk.) One of my favorite authors, Jan Karon, wrote a book entitled "The Trellis and the Seed,"  which is a book of encouragement about waiting...

801. These next few pictures all show God's bounty as we approach harvest. If these pictures bore you, I must say I will never get over the fact that "God planted a Garden," (Genesis 2:8) and I love gardens and farms. We live in the country with farms all around. This past Saturday evening we took a drive and a farmer was harvesting his peanuts...I really love this picture.

802.  Less than a mile from the peanut fields are acres and acres of soybeans...

803. And about a mile from the soybeans were acres and acres of cotton. The cotton is just starting to mature. My paternal grandfather (who died before I was born) was a farmer who grew peanuts and cotton.

804. Cooler morning temperatures which mean my favorite season is almost here. Autumn brings me so much energy, and I'm going to need it as we await...

805. The birth of our fourth grandchild, a girl...due in about 10 days. Here we are celebrating at a baby shower two weekends ago. Gran Jan, Mommy-to-be, and Nonna. Love this picture.

806. We Southern girls love our monograms - and I loved these precious pink monogrammed cookies at the baby shower for Emery.



807. My little 2 year old granddaughter Madie also came to the baby shower with my daughter-in-law. She is precious. Having raised boys, I am really enjoying watching her "girl play." She will sit in the little rocker in our den and rock her baby doll, patting her on the back and being the sweetest little mommy. It just blesses my heart.

808. And here is the finished dress I made her for fall. I really get excited thinking about all the little jumpers and dresses I can make for my grandgirls.

809. And of course I still have to make things for the little grandboys too...here is Jackson's fall shirt....with a manly monogram. ;)

810. Texting with my niece Amy who lives in California. I love that we can "connect" at a moment's notice. She shared with me "Be Here, Be Now," and that little saying sometimes comes to my heart and helps me focus. Amy is the daughter of my sister Jean who passed away when she was only 25 years old, and Amy was 23 months old. I wrote all about my sister Jean in this blog post. 

811. My other niece Melissa got married this past weekend in beautiful Savannah, GA. Here is the beautiful bride on the arm of my father, her grandfather. She is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.

812. My parents - God's grace in my life. I am one of those blessed daughters that has sweet childhood memories and now much love and support as a grown woman. They are simple people who value family and hard work.

813. Wednesday night Bible study with some faithful women. We are completing a study this week by Priscilla Shirer, "Discerning the Voice of God."  It has been tremendous.

814. Looking forward to our next study by Kelly Minter, "The Fitting Room," (Putting on the Character of Christ). I am thankful for the way God is raising up these young women that teach and hold true to the Word of God. Thankful for women like Kay Arthur and Beth Moore that have paved the way for them.

815. Grandparents Day at my grandchildren's preschool. They are both in this picture (Madie is in the middle in the yellow blouse), and that tall little fella in the red shirt on the far right caught his Gran Jan's eye. He ran to me and gave me a hug that carried me the rest of the day...

816. Every Sunday after morning worship we wait for our grandson Jackson to come to "big church" to see us before we all leave. Just yesterday he sat right down at the pastor's pulpit and my son took this picture. I love seeing my family at church.



817. And even though I don't see my oldest son and his family at church each week, I know their influence for Christ in their church is strong.  My son pastors a great church in a neighboring community and I drove by this sign just this past week on my way into work. Joy for this mother's heart, multiplied grace.

818. A Saturday spent making a memory with our oldest grandson. We spent the day together with Zeke and rode the SAM Shortline Train to Plains, GA for the "peanut festival." Here is his with Pop after we had enjoyed the big parade. :)

819. A cup of hot tea soothes a scratchy throat. The tea (Constant Comment by Bigelow)
was tasty (my favorite flavor of spice and oranges) and the honey stirred in was sweet, but what was especially good was that my sweet husband prepared it and brought it to me as I was working on my Bible study...I am spoiled rotten. Grace?

820. He also makes a mean pan of jalepeno cornbread...which he has done a lot lately. I will post the recipe soon - it is very good. He called me as I was leaving work one afternoon and said "the cornbread is in the oven."  God surely graced me by bringing Gary into my life all those years ago. God's gift of grace in my marriage has grown exponentially over the years as my love for my husband has grown too...

821. Looking foward to the Georgia Quilt Show next month with my friend Lanie. Tickets and reservations are made. We call it the QTT (Quilting Think Tank and Quilting Time Together). Good friends are God's sweet grace. Lifelong friends are priceless.

822.  My youngest son works on our local Air Force Base as a Project Manager. I'm not quite sure what he does but I know from reliable sources that he is very good at his job. He had to go TDY (temporary duty) last week to Nevada...and sent me this picture as he visited Hoover Dam. I'm so proud of him and his work. He is a great son, brother, husband, father, and worship leader.

823. There is a very quaint public place in downtown Perry near where I work that is especially nice to have lunch.  My friend Sharon and I did just that last week. We took our Subway sandwiches and sat outside ane enjoyed the glorious cool weather.

824. I am most thankful for our pastor's series of messages in the book of Joshua on Sunday mornings. He is an awesome expository preacher - and the Word of God is so rich. He began a series just like night on Zephaniah. It's going to be a hard word, but the hard words are just as needed and show His grace to us strong.

825. One of our staff pastors and his wife have been serving in Kenya the past 2 weeks. Can't wait to hear from Pastor Matthew and Kathy as they return home this week.  May the sun never set on the ministry of Second Baptist Church...

826. Rejoicing with another of our staff pastors in the birth of a daughter. We love you Dawson and Taneea and celebrate this gift of God to your family...

Thankful tonight for the simplicity of gifts seen in faith, family, and friends. It's all His grace.  Blessed.

Jan

Happy 4th Birthday Zeke

Four years ago today I became GRAN JAN. I received a new name, a new role, and began a new season of life that contains more love than I ever dreamed my heart could hold. I welcomed my first grandchild into the world on a hot Sunday afternoon, August 17, 2008; and life as I knew it has never ever been the same. Nor have I...

When a baby is born,

so is a grandmother...

Zeke...I love your zest for life, your tender heart, and sensitive ways. You are such a respectful young man and you love your family so much. You have a very vivid imagination and facial expressions to match (including sweet dimples like your momma).  You love cheese sandwiches and fire trucks and going to church. You like to sing and make up songs. I love watching you play with your sister Madie Ruth. You remind me so much of your daddy when he was a little boy. So much. Sometimes when you don't know I'm coming to see you, or even when you come to see me here at the farm...and you run to me with arms open wide yelling, "GranJan, GranJan, GranJan," I literally think my heart will burst open.

Today I celebrate YOU Zeke! Your Gran Jan loves you and prays for you...and as long as the Good Lord leaves me here on this Earth I will be here for you. I'm in your corner buddy, and I always will be.

I loved you at ONE when the fun had begun...

I loved you at TWO and you know that is true...

I loved you at THREE and you filled me with glee...



And I LOVE you at FOUR and all God has in store... 

• I look forward to the day you become a believer in Jesus Christ and your daddy baptizes you...
• I look forward to lots of ball games and promise I won't cheer too loudly (like I did at your daddy's and Uncle Jonathan's games)...
• I look forward to many family times around the table here at the farm... 

And as hard as it is to watch you grow up, I know that is part of God's plan. As I hold memories of two other little boys deep in my heart who are now grown men, I pray that God will bless me with the JOY of watching you and Madie Ruth and Jackson and Emery grow up too. I already know that God has blessed me to see my children's children, and I thank Him every day for that JOY. 

Proverbs 17:6

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged...

Happy Birthday Zeke, I love you with all my heart.

P.S. I may not be able to hold out on the not cheering too loudly...

1,000 GIFTS, #749 to #769

In the rhythm of life, the ups and downs we all experience...spiritually, emotionally, and physically - the gift of seeing His grace gifts all around brings a balance that centers me. I am so thankful. The counting continues and it blesses me way down deep.

749. My sister Joan celebrated a birthday on July 27 - she is one of the most generous women I know. She loves to give and because of that, God has entrusted her with a lot - because she knows where her blessings come from. I love you middle sister.

750. I love my pastor. He is so genuine and kind. I was so happy when I got to church on July 29th and he was preaching a message on "believers baptism." It was the anniversary of my own baptism 27 years ago...I felt God's love in a special way as I remembered my baptism. (Believers baptism is baptism by immersion after salvation - that is what my church practices and what I believe.)

751. An absolutely amazing gift - to see the face of my unborn granddaughter through the miracle of a 3D sonogram. She is beautiful and we are thrilled that she will be joining our family late next month.  Praying for a safe and easy delivery for my daughter-in-law.

752. A Saturday drive through the country with my husband unbound by an agenda and time to stop for peach ice icream at Lane's Orchards.

753. As often as we've driven the backroad home, we've never seen this old cemetery before. It's amazing when you see when you take the time to slow down and really look...like counting His gifts. The dates were pre-Civil War - 1850s.

754. A new baby quilt for a little girl who is also due late next month. I love that she and my granddaughter will grow up in church together. Her daddy is Dawson Hull, one of our staff pastors, and he directs our church orchestra and is a gifted musician. His wife Taneea is also a talented musician. They are a sweet couple and I loved making this quilt for their little girl. This is just the quilt top - I hope to begin quilting this weekend.

755. Rain. Thunder rumbling. Approaching summer storm. Sitting on the front porch enjoying the cooler air with my husband and son Jonathan and his son Jackson.  Hearing Jackson say his mommy was at a "girl party" and laughing...he is only 2. She was attending a baby shower...indeed.

756. Three generations..."ready, set, go." Jackson looking back saying, "Gran Jan..."

757. Singing an old gospel song at church "When the Savior Reached Down For Me," and having the senior citizens talk about remembering that day in their lives too...

758. A working dinner with my Women's Ministry Leadership Team - Cindy, Teresa, Jennifer. Words can't adequately express how much they mean to me. They embody servant leadership. 

759. A new Bible study and personal messages (tweets) from the author Priscilla Shirer the very day we began. The class was so tickled. So was the teacher (me). :)

760. Running into my son Jeremy's 2nd grade teacher at the grocery store and having her remember what a special little boy he was. She knew God had great plans in store for him. She said he impacted her life in a great way. I love the gift of being in a community so long that your lives intersect like this. 

761. Onesies. All for baby Emery. Gran Jan loves her embroidery machine.

762. My niece Amy celebrated a birthday August 8th. Amy  is the daughter of my sister Jean who passed away at age 25. Amy never knew her momma but she is so much like her. I wrote a post about Jean that has had more response than any I've ever written... If you haven't read it, please visit here. I miss Jean every day.

763. My other niece Melissa is getting married next month. She and her momma (my middle sister Joan) came down and visited last week and my sister brought some of her favorite salsa.  Here she is being silly with my mom, her grandmother...I love my family so much.

764. My daughter-in-law Carrie put together this photo collage of Zeke and Madie Ruth's first day of school at their church playschool.  Delightful.



765.  Beautiful pink sky and awesome Creator God. He speaks to me through sights such as this. I love living in the country.

766. We've been singing the song "10,000 Reasons" at church and I can't get the song out of my mind (and heart). I love the line that says "whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes."  A mature walk of faith in Christ KNOWS that whatever does come - our God is in control. Thank you Jesus.

767. How about 100,000 reasons to be thankful? This was my odometer this past Wednesday night. When it turned over one hundred thousand SAFE miles, I stopped and pulled over to the side of the road and thanked the Lord for keeping me and every single passenger safe during my travels.

768. This boy. Gran Jan's JOY = grandchildren.

769. I love Elisabeth Elliot. I've had a little daily calendar by her on my desk for over 10 years. It is called "Keep A Quiet Heart." I especially loved this quote from last Friday - and I was praying hard about a situation.  This is true.

Blessings to you all who stop by to read these gifts. I hope you are counting your own blessings each day too.  God is so faithful.

~Jan



1,000 GIFTS, #690 to #710

I'm getting closer to the mark of the 1,000th gift, and as much as I anticipate reaching the goal, the greater JOY has been the journey. I mean that. I am thankful for this JOY and discipline, knowing that His grace gifts will not end even when I reach the goal...

690. Glory glory glory - precious TIME unbound by the clock or a schedule...time to just "be," as I'm off work this week. Lots of projects lined up, but I can't wait to get started on them all...one at a time, just like this counting.

691. I saved zinnia seeds from last summer all winter long and planted them in the Spring - they are bringing much JOY and I've enjoyed sharing them. They have grown exceedingly abundantly more than I could have imagined.

692.  Fresh corn from my Dad's garden and his JOY in sharing it with so many folks.

693. I kept my oldest grandboy weekend before last, he even came to church with us on Sunday! I loved every single moment with him. It is very special to have one-on-one time with my grandchildren. I enjoy having them ALL, but the noise level and activity of three 3 and under is wild sometimes. He enjoyed playing on my mom's front porch as we visited with her.

694.  He enjoyed helping Pop water the new pecan trees...his little tractor was a birthday gift to him when he was two.

 695.  Our children's ministry presented the musical, "What's Up Zak?" , the story of Zacchaeus...Jesus Changes Everything... It was tremendous and there were souls saved that morning!!! God is so faithful. I am so thankful for all the workers who gave their time to serve our children and their families. We were blessed to have the author of the musical worshipping with us and she was blessed too - thank you for coming Mrs. Ingram.

696. Zeke loved climbing up in Zacchaeus's Sycamore Tree...

697. A very special surprise visitor to my office last week! My youngest grandson Jackson. Made my day...

698. The sweet voice of my little granddaughter Madie Ruth. She spent the night with us this past Thursday and I loved having her...she said, "I love you Jan-Jan." Made me smile every time. 

699. My first garden tomato ripened on the first day of summer...and now they are bountiful. Enjoyed a tomato sandwhich for supper Sunday night, a Southern delicacy.

700. A nest of sparrows in my mother's fern on her front porch. His Eye is on the Sparrow...and is also on you...do you know that truth?

701. Peaceful times at dusk, reflecting Psalm 92:2 - "His faithfulness at night..." These two geese have taken up here at our pond and the female is injured - she doesn't fly. The male stays by her side. They mate for life - isn't that wonderful?

702.  Our church's annual "Family Night Spectacular" was just that - spectacular. Sweet sweet sweet fellowship and fireworks! The Family of God. What grace is this?

703. Zeke and Jackson enjoyed the games at the church family fun night...

704. Hay cutting at the farm...I love the smell of freshly mown hay. That is my dad in his tractor.

705.  A "twister pinwheel" quilting class day before yesterday and time with my friend Lanie that began with pancakes at IHOP and much fun and laughter around the sewing machines at a new quilt shop in Macon we discovered...Couture Sewing Center that is run by two sweet sisters.



706. The wedding of my sweet young friend, Ashley (see blessing #676)...Jesus was lifted high at this wedding...

707.  A beautiful sunset one night last week...

For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,

And Your truth unto the clouds.

Psalm 57:10

708. A new bluebird house that my sweet husband put up for me...in my beautiful garden which he built for me too.  I love you Gary. We have so many bluebirds here at the farm and I can't wait for the ones who come to this little house...

709. I got outside very early this morning to beat the record heat we've been having the past few days and pruned my hydrangeas. There are many many spiritual applications in the garden, and none stronger to me than pruning...I prayed as I pruned that the Master Gardener would prune my heart too. It's painful but necessary.

 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;

and every branch that bears fruit He prunes,

 that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:2

710.  This beautiful Swallowtail butterly was enjoying the zinnias in my garden, and I had my iPhone with me outside so I captured the moment...



I hope you will find time this week to capture the moments He sends your way each day as you stop and count the gifts of grace that surround you - hard gifts, sweet gifts, tangible gifts, gifts unseen...all from His Hand.