Van Gone

I said goodbye to a good friend Friday. My blue minivan. It has driven many boys over the last five years. Stinky, sweaty teenage boys with shoes big enough to ski on...Sonic cups littered the floor on most days. Beth Moore's teaching cds blew through the speakers.

Hubs and I calculated that I've been in the minivan business for almost 20 years. TWENTY. I'm not sure how that can happen since I'm only 29 years old. LOL

My tenderheartedness was short lived. Hubs went out and bought me the cutest CONVERTIBLE you've ever seen! I was shocked. I've never really been a car person. But that could all change :)

Anyway, I've driven all my girlfriends around town and on the interstate. The mountain air is cool and crisp right now and the leaves are just beginning to change. Hubs has a meeting two hours from here tomorrow and I think I might just tag along for the ride--since he's taking my ride!

The funniest thing is seeing my sons' expressions. Joe (16) took one look at it and said, "I'll never drive it will I?" I was rolling on the floor. Bill (19) went for a spin and just shook his head.

Our kids see us as MOMS. Period. They forget that we are 18 year olds trapped inside forty-something bodies. At least, I am.

Ooh, a friend just called and wants to ride. The laundry will have to wait.

Blessings,

Jan

Enough is Enough

Sometimes you gotta put your size 5 1/2 foot down and say, "Enough, already!" That's precisely what I am doing today. I have sat in the recliner, laid on the bed, and had enough pain pills to supply a small nation. Seriously...this has been the summer from south of the eternal border but it ends TODAY.

I made it to Sunday School yesterday. I knew I couldn't do church and SS so I chose to go where people would hug my neck and lie between their teeth saying how good I look. And am I glad I did. Our teacher (who is one of the ministers) taught on David and Goliath. By the end of the class I had decided that my five rocks would be as follows: a can of Pledge, Febreze, my 8# Oreck, Ozzie's dog hair brush, and some serious Tide. Nothing defeats Goliath like a good cleaning. IT WAS SO PATHETIC... I'd dust a while and sit a while. Febreze a chair or two and sit a while. Fold a load of towels and sit a while...

But, God gave me the strength to lift myself up and get on with life. It's like my precious grandmother used to say as she swatted mosquitoes from the rice farms in southern Arkansas.
"Do what you know to do, honey. And everything will be just fine."

Girls, sometimes you gotta do what you know to do. When your teens are being, well, teenagers. When you feel like the south end of a north bound mule. DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO.
I read part of Daniel yesterday afternoon. He did what he knew to do and am I glad he did :)

Blessings,
Jan

Semi-Colon?

Well...well...well...

If' you read my previous posts, you know that I've had a tumultuous summer! Two stays in the hospital, a teenager's car wreck, and no trip to the Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio. Here's why:

When we returned from Gulf Shores, I had the same abdominal pain that had plagued the earlier days of my summer vacation. Back to the hospital and more iv antibiotics. A third cat scan showed that my colon needed cutting. So, two weeks ago, a surgeon removed the lower twelve inches of my colon (colons come in 36" sections) and an ovary that he described as a hunk of cement the size of a tennis ball. No wonder I was in so much pain!!! The surgery went well. I hold the family record for most surgeries. Seriously...the scalpel has visited my tummy FOUR times now south of the navel. And let me just say that I FEEL THE PAIN. Two premature babies, one partial hysterectomy and now this. (Ain't if fun being female...)

But in spite of all this, God has been so good to us. I know He gave us the vacation together as a gift. There was no reason why my body should have been pain free for that period of time. And while I am still sad over San Antonio, I know there was a reason. Perhaps I'll meet the Patty and Kim another time. They were my first blog buddies. And of course I really wanted to meet Beth! She is an Arkansas girl after all...Perhaps everyone will catch some SEC football fever and come to Fayetteville. (hint, hint Miss Tennessee Patty)The first game is Saturday but I will be listening to it from the sofa :)

Hubs and I went to the doctor today and he gave me the thumbs up. Six more weeks of just hanging out, though. Small walks down the street. The occasional outing to Starbucks.

I'll let you know. Until then, my two friends, Blessings!
Jan

What fun we had last week! Our family vacation was a success in every sense of the word. Joe and I parasailed and had a BALL! I always wanted to do it but never felt comfortable enough in Mexico to do it. So, this year I took the plunge and Joe was brave enough to go with me! They put me in the back because I weigh more. The nerve...I do not...absolutely do not weigh more than Joe. But, hey, I didn't care. The view was spectacular and so peaceful. I know how a bird must feel as he glides around in the air. Maybe when I get to heaven, I can glide around :) too.

Must go. There's a lot of catching up to do here. I'll post more pics later.

Blessings,

Jan

The Phone Call that Every Parent Dreads

We are praising God at our house today. Joe and a friend were returning home from the movies around 10 pm on Tuesday night when they fishtailed and hit a guard rail. The car flipped and went 50 feet down to the river. Both boys managed to get out of the car and swim to shore.

I'm not going to write much because, quite frankly, my nerves are shot. But I posted these pics because I wanted you younger mothers to see how faithful God is to answer the prayers of parents who pray for their childrens' safety everytime they get behind the wheel.

When Hubs got the call at 10:30 I was already asleep. I specifically asked the Lord to bring him home safely around 9:30 when my head hit the pillow. Everytime my son gets in the car I pray.
When Hubs arrived at the scene, there was a fire truck, ambulance, police cars and a news crew.

Divers had to be brought in so they could hoist the car out of the water.

When he got home he told us that he remembered an episode of Mythbusters that we watched last year on opening doors/windows in submerged water. You have to open the door immediately or wait until the car is at the bottom and the pressure is equalized. Joe and his friend opened the doors immediately. If they had not been wearing their seatbelts well...I won't even go there. Thank God they were.

We serve a faithful God. Even when we can't see Him at work, He always is. And for you gals chasing toddlers and elementary kiddos right now, begin to pray for their safety when they hit the tumultuous teen years.

Blessings,

Jan

Playing Dress-Up

Hi there!
Once again, I have fallen behind in my posting. Being in the hospital for 14 days will do that for you. I had a colonoscopy last week and everything came out fine. (no pun intended...) It was good news to our ears around here. I had an ultrasound to see if my ovaries are back to normal. I haven't heard back, but no news is good news and I'm claiming V I C T O R Y. So, life is pretty much back to normal for the most part--which is good since school begins in one month from today. Which, by the way, is ridiculous. I still think school should start after Labor Day and let out before Memorial Day--but no one is asking me are they??

Hubs and I went to an engagement party for our best friends' youngest son. I actually bought a new dress for the occasion and I love it. I picked it up at Forever 21 for 27 bucks. Is that a steal or what? Although under closer inspection, I look kinda fat in this pic. It's puffing out in the front.

Oh well, it was nice to play dress up and not have iv tubing sticking out from under my shirt. Which, leads into the next photo. Bill, Ozzie and I are chillaxing in the swing. This is my favorite spot in the world. If you look at my left shoulder you can see my iv tubes hanging out--hence the oversize shirt, no make-up, and dirty hair. (HINT: I was not playing dress-up that day...)

For the life of me, I can't figure out how to put pictures in the middle of my blog--bear with me.

I took some pics of my flowers. With all the rain this year my yard is in foliage heaven. Lots of blooms and lots of weeds.

I hope you have a wonderful Sabbath tomorrow. I get to go to church tomorrow! I have been gone so long, they may attack me at the door and make me sign a visitor's card...

Blessings,

Jan

The Road to Recovery

Well, I've spent the month on the couch, on the bed, or in the recliner. But I finished my antibiotics yesterday and feel that I am on the road to recovery. PTL!

I wish I had some pictures to share, but that would require use of a camera and I don't know where ours is at the moment.

So...I would like to take this blog time to say to thank you to my blogging buddies who have prayed for me. I felt it. My family felt it. My body felt it.

I am headed out to door to walk Ozzie and then take a dip in the pool. I've stayed out of the sun because of medications, but NO MORE BABY! My vitamin D level is in for a little fellowship with the SUN. Hot dog...

I hope you have a wonderful day, my three friends :)

Jan