1,000 GIFTS - #844...A New Granddaughter

844. Miss Emery Caroline Morton

This entire post is dedicated to my new granddaughter...

Gran Jan's JOY is over the top tonight with the JOY of a new grandchild, a little girl just four days old. The news began this past winter with a sweet little note from big brother, which is still hanging on my refrigerator...

Big Brother Jackson is such a precious grandson, Emery is going to love him!



We found out that our JOY was going to be PINK when they announced to us with the gift of a little pink onesie and then we visited the "First Glimpse" sonogram

 with the family a couple of months ago to see her sweet face.  What JOY!

I took this "little girl" outfit to the hospital with me back in the day when we didn't know in advance what our baby's gender would be. I brought a precious little boy home from the hospital in the Fall of 1984, so he came home wearing the "little boy" outfit. I kept this little pink rosebud outfit all these years and took it to the hospital with me as I waited for that little boy all grown up as he waited on his little girl's birth...

My daughter-in-law is a champion - was still jogging last week!

She birthed that baby girl and looked beautiful the entire time!

My son has a daughter, how precious to my heart.

He was so very thankful for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

Sweet family time in the hospital. 

Beautiful yard art by Granddaddy Hutto.

Home at last, family of four. 

Jackson was meeting his little sister for the first time.

A little daddy-daughter naptime...

Pop and Gran Jan spent some time with the family too...

Dearest little Emery,

Gran Jan loves you so much. I can't wait to be part of your life - I already love you and have been praying for you...that you would come to faith in Christ at a young age, and that you would love God and His Word, honor your parents, and be strong and healthy. This I know...God has a specific plan for YOUR life and I look foward to watching you grow into a sweet young lady. Your Mommy and Daddy love you so much and you are going to adore your big brother Jackson. He will be a great protector for you too!

I want to teach you so many things and I can't wait for precious family times that we will all share together as God wills and blesses our lives. I love you Emery Caroline.

1,000 GIFTS, #660 to #674

Along with the daily gifts of God's goodness in our lives, this past week has been one of  milestones in our family, of birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Family is everything to me and I only wish I had more time to spend with all of them. We are busy in ministry, jobs, and taking care of day-to-day responsibilities. Just like you and your family. But taking the time to stop and count the gifts of grace Jesus gives makes the pace a bit slower so you can truly focus on what is right here and now, gifts from His hand...

660. Today is our 35th wedding anniversary. I have been a tad emotional about celebrating this milestone. Why does it seem that events that end in "0" or "5" are more special? God has certainly blessed my sweet Gary and me all these years.  We were so young and so in love. Then...and now...

661. The very first time Gary and I laid eyes on each other was when my family and I visited the little Baptist church where he was leading worship at the age of 17. We were high school sweethearts and began dating the summer before our senior year of high school.

662. Here we are on our wedding day, June 11, 1977...when 35 years ago today I took his hand in mine and promised before God and friends to love him for all time...

663. June 10th marked a milestone in my mother-in-law's life too - her 90th birthday. She is a precious woman and if I can be the mother-in-law to Carrie and Erin that she has been to me, I will be a mighty blessed woman. We celebrated with a big family party - 70+ family members came and honored the Morton Matriarch.

664. Here she is as a young bride herself...I love this picture, and I'm very thankful for her faithful love to me and her testimony as a woman who loves the Word of God. She has 5 brothers and four of them were preachers. What a wonderful family I married into...her maiden name is Moody and the family tree has lines to the famous evangelist, D.L. Moody. One of her brothers is named after him.



665. My Dad made his famous passed-down-many-generations-recipe Brunswick Stew for the Maloy Family Reunion this past weekend. He recently shared the recipe with my youngest son Jonathan. I love to hear my parents share stories of their growing up years. I sent this picture to both my sisters and for some reason we all got teary-eyed. For all his gruff "former Marine" ways, our father still has a big old tender heart. This making of the stew is a special memory for him of his own father and grandfather.

666. Baptism at the beach. Our young people just returned home from their annual beach retreat and they celebrated this year with something never done before - baptism on site in the ocean...what a testimony. I pray the foks who witnessed this will be touched and blessed. So proud of Pastor Mike and his wife Julie, and Pastor Ben and his wife Leia.

667. I planted these while calla lily bulbs last year and then forgot about them - they blessed and suprised me this year. I love white flowers.

668. We have been blessed with wonderful rains the past week. I love the way the water drops look on this daylily, it seems refreshed. My blog header has the verse from Isaiah 58:11...may your soul be as a well-watered garden. A favorite passage of mine.

669. An impromptu visit to my office last week by my little granddaughter Madie Ruth. She stayed with me for about 20 minutes while her brother finished his swimming lesson. It was a mixup in schedules for my son and his wife, but a pure delight to me. Living close to my boys and their wives and grandchildren is a DAILY blessing that I count. (I got this picture from Facebook, it was taken while she was at her other grandma's house, and I know Mrs. Catharine is happy to live close to the grandchildren too...)

670. While driving home from Memama's 90th birthday party we went through a town called Porterdale.  Many of my dad's sisters worked in this old cotton mill. It was a thriving mill for many years and my dad's father worked there too. I love the history of this town. My Granny attended the Porterdale Baptist Church. I was born not too far from this little town.

671. My youngest son and his wife celebrated four years of marriage on June 7th. When your children are blessed and happy in the homes they leave yours for...there are no words adequate enough to express the JOY this brings. Pray for your children's spouses...no matter how young your children are.

672.  Peaches, peanuts and pecans - I love these homegrown Georgia products.  The farm across the road from us is growing peanuts this year. We took a basket of peaches to my mother-in-law on Saturday, at her request. :)

 

673. And I'm growing green beans and they are so plentiful. You know I can't have a post without something from my garden...I've shared the green beans with many already.

674. There is a part of me that wonders if I am old (or thought to be "old") since I've been married 35 years? Most days I don't feel old, and I certainly enjoy being around people of all ages, so I'm not "set in my ways" (yet).  This I do know - growing old is a gift from our Lord and our lives are in His Hands. Eternal life is the greatest grace gift I will ever count and I hope you know that He is yours and you are His. I want to grow old gracefully. I pray about that often.



Blessings,

Jan

1,000 GIFTS, #538 to #561

After ending my last post with the wonderful news of grandchild number four on the way, His grace gifts continue to bless and astound me. He is a Faithful God.

538. And these three precious gifts from the Good LORD bring Gran Jan's JOY to great heights. We had fun this past Saturday at our monthly family breakfast at the farm:

539. So thankful there was a single blue popsicle in the box when the request is made by my grandson, "I want a blue one Gran Jan." 

540. Fresh brown eggs and stone ground grits from the Callaway Gardens Country Store make breakfast so good (and butter - never forget the butter).

 

541. A morning spent dividing daylilies in my mom's garden - made especially easy by a good hard rain the night before.

542. Thankful for the good health of my parents and that they live next door. Yes, of course, families can get out of sorts with one another, but His grace is sufficient. And we are family.

543. Firewood gathered by my husband for sweet times around the firepit. (Gift #520).

544. I love a "series" of preaching messages, so I love that our new pastor, Dr. Jim Perdue is preaching through a series each Sunday morning. Right now he is taking us through the Beatitudes from The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). The series is called "Blessed," and we certainly are...beyond measure...to have him as our pastor. His wife and children are so precious to us and they've only been with us 3 months.

545. I love my church - if you've been around this blog very long, you know that I love my family and my church. It was a special delight to help hostess a shower recently for a young man that I've had the pleasure of watching grow up. Christopher Alford is marrying a fine young woman and I'm thankful for his godly parents and extended family.  The blessing of community - the family of God - and a local church = God's grace indeed.

546. My oldest son Jeremy celebrated 10 years as Pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church the first Sunday of March. We thank the Good LORD for that special milestone and blessing of God. But when you note that he is only 30 years old and has been pastoring that same church one-third of his life...that is God's Amazing Grace. I love you son, and yes, I am proud - I am your  mother.

547. My youngest son works at our local military base (a Project Manager) and we received the greatest compliment last week from someone who "just wanted us to know" that Jonathan is a man of great integrity and already respected in his field at his young age. I love you son, and yes, I am proud - I am your mother.

548. Having both sons and their wives and our grandchildren within 20 minutes of home is one of the greatest blessings of my life. God's grace and goodness multiplied. I praise Jesus for that grace gift in this day of families on the move.

549. The response to the new Bible study by Beth Moore, "James, Mercy Triumphs" has been wonderful. God is using His Word to touch lives. The power is in the Word of God. May He continue to speak and may we be "swift to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19)

550. My friend Sophie (Boo Mama) shared the most wonderful app on her blog last week and I am LOVING it. It is FREE and is called Red Stamp  You can use it to create wonderful e-cards like this that can be texted, emailed, tweeted, sent to Facebook, printed, mailed, whatever.  It is so much FUN.

551. I have driven by this little white country church ever since we moved to the country almost 5 years ago...to my dismay I discovered last week that the church was MOVING, literally. It has been empty for some time now. I would love to know the history.

552. But imagine my delight when I saw this sight the very next morning, about 1/2 mile from my office...someone obviously cared enough to restore this church.  I am so glad that not only can churches be restored, but because of HIS Grace, we may be restored too.



553. Spring cometh - tonight when you are asleep - at least if you're in the Northern Hemisphere. March 20, 2012, at 1:14 A.M. (EDT). I can't wait because I love to garden. These gorgeous flowers were in the garden center last week.

554. These two little sweethearts made a trip to the chicken house Saturday morning and were so proud of their findings...more brown eggs. They have NO FEAR!

555. The most beautiful full moon this month...I took this picture on my way home from Praise Team practice, after James Bible Study...my heart was as full as this moon.

556. This little sweetheart is the son of a couple on our Praise Team. He sits right there at the pastor's podium while we are rehearsing. I love little church boys. So thankful to God for young couples raising their children up to love Him and His Word. Thankful for a church where the Word is preached and where families can grow in grace.

557. These right here is the Women's Ministry Leadership Team at my church. We had one of the sweetest meetings last week - planning and praying for God's Will as we seek ministry opportunities. God is doing a great work among us. I love you ladies.

558. This picture is from a women's leadership planning retreat held back in January (see gifts #485-#489). We have decided to get together again next month just for fellowship, because I'm telling you this...we had one of the best retreats I've ever been on. Kindred hearts united to serve our Great God. More Grace.

559. I picked this little man up to come spend the night with me, and on our way home we passed the local fire station and lo and behold they were washing the fire truck. He was beside himself. I'm thankful for the firemen who let him see this truck up close.

560. A joint project by two grandmothers - how special is that? Me and Mrs. Catharine, Madie's maternal grandmother. She is making the dress and I put the bunny applique and name on the front. Catharine is an accomplished quilter and seamstress. I'm having a blast.

561. Lastly tonight I want to share the beautiful sunrise from this very morning, the last full day of winter. I don't know where you are right now in your spiritual life, but tomorrow is Spring and you can begin anew with Christ. I'm so thankful that God's grace and mercies are new every morning - whether you are in a "winter" season or on the brink of something fresh and new, He will meet you there. I know this for sure because He's done it for me. He is our Redeemer, oh Praise His Name!

Blessings,
Jan

1,000 GIFTS, #509 to #523

 

As I begin this second half of counting His gifts of grace all around me, I've thought about this journey that was begun last February. I'm not the same person I was, all glory to Jesus. I have been stretched in my faith and I wouldn't trade the lessons learned for anything. I absolutely love this season of life I am in...

509. The deep contentment that comes from a long, steady marriage. I love what my friend Beth Moore has said before that applies to this joy:  "a long walk of obedience in the same direction."  That long walk of obedience can apply to many areas of our lives...by God's grace.

510.  The joy of family. I love Saturday morning breakfasts with everyone around the table. There are four generations here...my parents, me and my husband, my sons and their wives and our grandchildren. I was sitting by my mom and Zeke before I stepped away to take this picture...

511. Impromptu gatherings. This Valentine's night supper last week at a local pizza restaurant was so much fun. I love my boys and their wives & the grandchildren so much - thankful to spend this "day of love" with them for a meal.

512.  Kissing Cousins. Sweet Madie grabbing a kiss from sweet Jackson... She had just told me to "take her picture."  These two grandchildren are 2 weeks to the day apart in age. JOY!

513.  Blueberry pancakes are always on the table. Looking forward to June when our blueberries are in season again.

514.  Today...a holiday from work called "President's Day," is so welcome to me. I am committed to pray for this election year as we seek a new President. This scripture from Daniel 2:20-22 comforts me in these days of uncertainty in our country...

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him.

515. Late afternoon sun breaking through the clouds.

516. When our former minister resigned (December 2010), our church went through an interim time in search of a new senior pastor. [I wrote about our new pastor in this past last November.  We are so blessed by the awesome expository preaching of our pastor Dr. Jim Perdue. He is a shepherd to us.] Before Pastor Jim came, God blessed us with a wonderful interim pastor - Rev. Joel Southerland. We honored the Southerland family at church yesterday and then had a big old churchwide fellowship last night! EVERYONE was talking about the sweetness of the Spirit in our midst. This is Brother Joel & his precious wife Sherryde. God blessed our hearts with this couple and their girls Savana and Mikayla. They will always be part of our lives as they were instruments of love and healing in our church. We love y'all.

Wall to wall fellowship at SBCWR...

517. Sweet Miss Madie and her Hollywood entrace to the family breakfast this past Saturday...this girl does not meet a stranger.

518. Jackson loves loves loves tractors, big trucks, motorcycles, anything with wheels. This is my Dad's big John Deere out in the hay barn. They stopped there on their way out this past Saturday. Jackson has to see the moo cows and chickens...and the tractors.

519. My best friend Lanie is making a quilt called "What Cancer Cannot Do." I wept tears of joy and thankfulness to God when she showed the finished quilt top to me last week. This is the quilt label...how I praise God for sparing her life. (Teal is the color for ovarian cancer.) She encourages all women to have their annual physicals. That is when her cancer was discovered.  One of the quotes on the quilt top says, "Cancer cannot destroy friendship."  Amen my sweet friend.

520. Right now as I type this, there is a big fire in this new firepit my husband purchased. It has 3 Willows Farm cut out on the rim in two places. We love living in the country with redneck firepits made from big old recycled propane tanks...we are going green here at the farm.

521. My oldest son Jeremy and his wife Carrie took their two children, Zeke and Madie, to go see Memama Morton this morning. She is their great-grandmother and my precious mother-in-law. She will be 90 in June and is the matriarch of our family...a godly woman who has taught me so much. I love her dearly. We enjoyed a long visit with her this past Friday evening.

522. For some reason my 3 grandchildren love my pantry. Maybe it's the Spiderman and Dora snacks that I keep there. :)  

523. I love to browse seed catalogs and think of the delicious fresh vegetables we will enjoy from my garden this summer.  In fact, I need to head outside now and PRUNE back the rosebushes and crepe myrtles. 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post - I wouldn't take anything for the journey of my life this past year, the PRUNING has been hard, but oh so necessary for growth. Thank you Jesus.

 John 15:1-2 (Amplified Version)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing]

 He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and

 repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit,

to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.