I Can't Think of a Decent Title

Good morning, friends. I can't believe it is December 27th already. We're in between the excitement of Christmas and knowing that Christmas clean-up is imminent. It's raining cats and dogs here and the temperature is suppose to drop this afternoon. In other words--I'm stuck inside with the post Christmas blues and can't even think of a title for this post. Random enough for you?

Oh well. Christmas was wonderful. It was just the four of us--kind of laid back, quiet and uneventful. But we like it that way. The boys were in their own beds (where they belong) and all was right with the world. I still get a kick out of filling their stockings with totally useless stuff, enough candy to keep a dentist in business for years, and one or two "man-gadgets."

We are at such a great stage in life right now. Santa isn't real, but he still leaves presents under the tree. We have to wake the guys up--unlike earlier years when we were up at 5:00 am! It's the best of both worlds, really. Even Ozzie gets into the Christmas spirit. He was in the middle of the wrapping paper and his tail swiped everyone in the face countless times. He's like a toddler on steroids at Christmas.

Every year on Christmas Eve, I give my three men new pajama bottoms. This year it's chili peppers. Last year it was Razorbacks. When the boys were small, I made matching pjs. I still have them. Hopefully, their little ones will wear them one day. (smile)

Hubs bought the Christmas mugs that match my Christmas china. I was sipping java in style!

After a meal of fried chicken, purple hull peas, green beans, mash potatoes and gravy, we played games. They guys played their new video games and Hubs and I played my favorite: YAHTZEE! The boys won't play with me anymore because I am so competitive--can you believe that? Me, competitive? Let me just say that I got TWO YAHTZEES in the first game. Yes, two...

I hope you all have a wonderful vacation and a Happy New Year. Until next time...

Jan

Happy 25th Anniversary to Us

Twenty-five years ago today, I said "I Do" to my sweet husband. If I can figure out how to scan old photos and post them, I shall. If I can't, I won't...

Blessings,
Jan

I'm Such a Good Wife, Really

It's Saturday night at 8:08 and I have just agreed to watch the 1958 Colts-Giant game on ESPN.
Yes, the 1958 black and white game.
What's that, hubs?
Oh, excuse me. It seems someone has painstakingly added color.
Well...isn't that special?
What?
Oh, kickoff is about to happen--50 years ago.

See you after the game in 2008,

Jan

A Few of My Favorite Things

My favorite Santa I painted years ago--preBIFOCAL days.

In honor of my favorite December 17 wedding anniversary.

Santa busy at work cutting trees.

Busy elves hanging out by my favorite clock. When I was growing up Mom always put these two elves by the clock on our mantel. I think they are Snap, Crackle and/or Pop.

My favorite Husband and my favorite dog.

My favorite handmade stockings which resulted in BIFOCALS. Yes, I cross-stitched these suckers by hand. Did I mention that I made these BY HAND?

My favorite Starbucks--right on the corner.

My favorite angel and my cute junior.

Look who decorated the tree this year! Oh how quickly my favorite sons have grown.

Now it's off to catch some zzzzzzzzz's in my favorite bed.

Goodnight,

Jan

What's Wrong with this Picture?

What can I say? Ozzie thinks he's the alpha human...

Jan

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my Bloggity Buddies. Our day was filled with lots of food, food and more food. I cooked for two days and loved every minute of it! I always the Thanksgiving china that I inherited from my precious mother. It's Friendly Village and I use it everyday until Christmas and then I switch to my Lenox Christmas china. (shoulda ironed the tablecloth)

Jan and Hubs. Hmm...I believe I'm retaining a little H2O...or too much pie, perhaps?

And, VOILA! My three men, hence the name: threemenandamom :)

And of course, Ozzie. He's not quite sure if he should sit, stay or go. Of course having a manhand wrapped around your throat makes the "stay" command a pleasure.What a wonderful holiday. We ended the evening with a round of Spades. Bill and Joe get bragging rights until we play again. Hubs and I just couldn't get it together. Bill had to be at work at 5:00 a.m. today, Bless His Heart, so he went to bed early. Both boys will work off and on through the weekend while I start dragging out the Christmas decorations.

But for today, I plan to stay in my recliner and watch Joan Crawford movies on TCM all day. I have a quilt I'm trying to finish for a special niece that was born two months ago. (oops)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Jan

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations, Bellah! You won the $10 Sonic Card, bless your heart. If you will send your mailing address to my email I'll get it in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks to the other southern belles and (dare I write it?) fellow REDNECKS for playing along.

I'm headed to the church to help with Blessing Baskets today. I'm sure my dogs will be barkin' and I'll be petered out but it will be worth it. Catch you on the flipflop.

Blessings!
Jan

Tell Me I'm Not a Redneck, Please? Someone?

Okay...I checked out a book from the library this week on Southern expressions. I am using it for my second book. The description of the book also had the word REDNECK in it. I sat down last night with a cup of hot chocolate and promptly blew some out of my nose because I USE AT LEAST HALF OF THESE EXPRESSIONS ON A DAILY BASIS...

Oh my stars! I read them out loud to Hubs and he just shook his head. All this time I thought I was a southern gal, a Texan, an Arkansan--just pick one. But never a REDNECK...

Leave a comment if you are familiar with any of these. I am giving away a TEN DOLLAR SONIC CARD for those who comment. (only one of course...and it will be a random pick, I promise)


bleedin' like a stuck pig (quite hurt)

I'll clean your plow or I'll clean your clock (I'm going to kill you, son) not really...

come unglued (pretty upset)

diddly squat (none)

that dog won't hunt (that's not going to work)

petered out (tired)

my dogs are barkin' (my feet hurt)

punkin (term of affection)

shoog (term of affection)

youngin' (kid)

so mad I could spit (I don't think I have to explain this one)

this ain't my first rodeo ( I've done this before) ((let me just say that mothers of teenage sons say this quite often, yessirree))

and my sons' personal favorite: I'm headed to THE Wal-mart. Yes, I put "the" in front of everything...THE Sonic. THE Malco, THE Taco Bell

Gotta go. We're headed out to THE Marketplace for supper.

Blessings,
Jan

Hurry Up and Wait

I went out on a limb this week. I sent my manuscript to an agent. I may not breathe for six long weeks...

The crazy thing is that I've been sitting on this thang for months. Friends and relatives have read it. An editor friend has read it. Heck, I'd ask Ozzie for his opinion if he could read. (by the way he's been licking my feet for 9 minutes...I'm not kidding...NINE MINUTES...Hubs can verify this) But, back to the point of my latest random bloggable moment: I realized my problem this summer but I'm just now acting on it: I don't want the rejection letters.

I mean, how many of us wake up everyday and think, "Gee whiz, Oz, maybe I'll get rejected again today! Yoohoo!"

Of course we don't. But some rejection is inevitable, right? Lucky for us, we're never rejected by our Heavenly Father. Can I get amen, Kim? Patti? Georgia Jan?

So...I put on my big girl pants yesterday and starting writing my second book. Perhaps a best seller? Probably not, but it's great fun and fantastic therapy for this near empty nester. Oh yeah, and there's no sex or violence in my book. Just lots of southern fun in a small Texas town. (okay, Ozzie just stopped licking...it's been 14 minutes...seriously...this dog has some serious issues)

Have a good week my four or five readers.

Blessings,
Jannie

Last Post

Hey there...this is probably my last post for a while. I simply don't have the time to keep up with this blog!

On another note, if any of you read Lifeway's HOMELIFE magazine, check out the December issue--I have an article in it. It's a great Christmas issue--has a lot of tips for you younger moms out there in blogland.


Blessings,
Jan

Steppin Up

The weekend started with a tour of new newly renovated high school. They've put millions--yes, millions into the additions. This is our group standing by the school logo. And a pic of the new tower.
The new tower on the south side of the high school."Dressing Right" to space ourselves for our infamous kick routines...(is that a hoot? Not one of us could kick our legs higher than our knees)

They have an INDOOR football field now for the band and athletic groups to practice on. Not to mention a DANCE STUDIO for the drill team, cheerleaders and dance classes. A new basketball facility, weight rooms, new tennis courts, DRIVING RANGE, and they are building a new Performing Arts center named after our precious drama teacher.

It was so much fun to see how things have changed in THIRTY YEARS. Friday night we were honored at the football game before kickoff. Even after thirty years, I had butterflies in my tummy! We were all thrilled that we didn't have to kick our legs up to our cowgirl hats! The high school boy who had my camera thought the camera belonged to my high school friend, Michelle. So....I have NO pics of me, but tons of Michelle and Pat.




Those cute little Highsteppers in their SEQUINS. Hello...we didn't have sequins or cute little cowgirl boots. But we had white GO GO boots, baby...That's right. It was 1978 and Disco ruled.

Saturday night was hilarious. We had REAL MEXICAN FOOD. thank you very much. And then a style show. Honest to Pete...we were screaming our heads off. Two girls had their old Friday uniforms. Remember those? The cheap uniforms you could wear to school and keep FOREVER?

Oh yeah...flash gloves ruled...



And who could forget the wool junior high cheerleader jacket? Orange and black!!! No wonder the other schools made fun of us by throwing pumpkins.

Notice the DICKEY? It was the only part of my uniform my mother saved. Looks good with pink and black, don't you think?

The favorite part of my weekend was returning to the church where I grew up. I had not been there since my wedding 25 years ago because the church moved north as the town grew. Another church is there now. They were more than happy to give me a tour. Very few things had changed. For instance: the shuffleboard tiles on fellowship hall floor.

The sanctuary looks just like it did when I worshipped there as a little girl. I can still smell the Old English lemon conditioner on the pews.

I drove around town and took pics of the houses we lived in. One woman let me come in and look around. It's funny how small everything appeared--I remember it all as much larger.

So...there's the weekend recap. I have about one hundred pictures to sort. Gotta love digital photography...

So, now back to the real world. There are AT LEAST ten loads of laundry for today--not to mention an empty refrigerator.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Jan

Thirty Years, Huh???

Very quickly...I'm packing my bags here, girls.

I'm leaving tomorrow for a 30 (yes, thirty) year reunion of my high school drill team. THE TEXAS HIGHSTEPPERS. I am so STINKIN' EXCITED! I haven't been to my hometown in 10 years. I haven't seen any of these gals since my wedding (24 yrs, 10 mnths.) I have so much planned for the next four days.

I will have TONS of pics when I return on Sunday afternoon.

I feel 18.

Boy, am I glad my roots are done...

Just got a manicure, too.

Better check my eyebrows and search for unwanted facial hair.

Man, I gotta go...

Blessings,
Jan

Birthday Bash

Is this not the most beautiful cake you've ever seen? Hubs did a great job this year. And, yes, as you can see from the number I turned 48 on Monday. If I could figure out how to move the pictures around I'd put cute captions under everything. But nooooooooooo I am still illiterate in blogland.

Bill and Joe came over after Joe got off work. And Brittany (Bill's friend) was here too. (She's the gorgeous brunette in the picture) Being the mother of sons I knew when the big pink sack with pink tissue paper came in the door who wrapped my present...Pink's never been a big color at our house. Denim and beef are the two life sustaining forces in this place!

I'm headed to the salon to get my gray roots blasted back to blonde. I'm so glad someone invented bleach. Lord, where would I be without it???

May Jesus pour out his blessings on you and your family today!

Jan

TEXAS FIGHT

Ahhhhhhhh...the Texas-OU game is on! And I am sitting here watching it alone. Normally, Hubs and I spend Saturdays together watching SEC football. But he is on the golf course and Joe is at work.



Being a native TEXAN I long for the state fair, Fletcher's Corny dogs and anything else deep fried that is served. I read this morning where they are actually serving deep fried bacon. We used to go the state fair and the game (if we could get tickets) . I have great childhood memories of this. The zipper, tilt-a-whirl, ferris wheel, and, of course the petting zoos. Big Tex absolutely blew me away as a little girl! They have added some new



Since Hubs is a native Arkansan, he HATES all things TEXAS. My sons get a kick out of listening to us when I list all the things I love about TEXAS and Hubs lists all the things he dislikes about it. What can I say? Twelve years of TEXAS history will do that to you. (just kidding, I think it's more like four)



Gotta run. Halftime is over and OU has the ball. Gotta get my Hook 'EM ready...



Plus, my HOGS are playing AUBURN pretty soon but it's on the radio. Besides, we'll probably get stomped again...



May Sam Houston watch over y'all.



Jan



ps DERN IT--OU just scored. My blood pressure just took a hike. It's 28-20

Bummer...

Tonight I should be with Hubs in Kansas City eating a big hunkin' slab of cow at the Mad Ox. But guess what? I'm sittin' here in my ratty pjs reading everyone's blogs. And it stinks. Yes, it stinks. I would rather be in the cute little outfit I just bought from Belks hanging on to my man's arm waiting to order cheesecake and coffee. It was a birthday surprise (sort of) even though my birthday isn't until next week.

Why am I not there you ask? Because my stinkin' arthritis flared up Saturday and I was in the bed for two days. (that rates at least 3 poor babies, don't you think?) He has a meeting tomorrow and the plan was for Bill to come over (Mr. Collegeman) and stay here with his brother. But nooooooooo my body didn't cooperate so here I am eating my second ice cream sandwich. (they're minis...don't worry...I am not pigging out here)

There was a very bright spot this weekend, though. One of my former college SS girls (who is in graduate school somewhere else) came in town for the ball game (if you can call the whoopin' we took a ball game) and stayed with us. I LOVE it when my college girls come back to see us. It's so neat to see them grow in the Lord and get plugged into new churches wherever they land after college. Plus...girls smell nice. Very nice.

Which explains three men and a mom ...in case you ever wondered.

It's 8:20 and I'm going to bed. Good night. Sleep tight.

Jan

Does this look like a killer to you?

I just returned from taking young Oswald (aka Ozzie, Oz, Ozman, Pooch, Poochetta) to get his yearly vaccinations. I was SHOCKED when he tried to take the vet's hand off at the wrist. We're talking show your teeth, growl, and emit things from (how can I say this in a ladylike fashion?) the back end. I felt like a young mother in the pediatrician's office with an unreasonable three year old.

This dog has never, ever done anything other than lick us to death, lie on the sofa, and beg for dog biscuits. I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say. So, I said "you know, we think he was abused as a puppy before we adopted him at the shelter." Dr. Vet looked at me and nodded like I was crazy. It's true. Oz still won't drink water from a bowl. He stares at it like it's a snake ready to strike. His food bowl has to be completely full before he'll eat from it. What can I say? He's not the brightest bulb in the box, but we love him.

I asked Dr. Vet to cut his toenails since I was there and Dr. Vet is, after all, a PROFESSIONAL-- he had to manhandle him while the sweet little technician cut his nails. Ozman continued to growl and emit---I'm still in shock. WHO KNEW? that primal instinct is always lurking under the surface.


Kind of like me in my MENOPAUSAL STATE.

Oh well, a hot flash is comin' on. Gotta run.

Blessings,
Jan

Has it been 25 years?

This is the new fountain that was built long after I was there.

The front of the house where we use to wait for the bus to shuttle us up the hill to class.

A friend from Oklahoma who I had not seen in 25 years.

Valerie, Misty and me. We were in the same pledge class.

Yesterday afternoon I relived my college years. My college sorority won the national award for best chapter. This is a HUGE. The Arkansas chapter has won it two years in a row. The only other time in 99 years that they won the award was in the forties. Let me just say that we DID NOT WIN IT WHEN I WAS THERE--WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GRADE POINT. (what can I say? we were more about hair and having a date to the Hog games)

I had not been to the house in over 10 years. I don't do the alumnae club. I really enjoyed the four years I had with my friends but that was then and this is now.

Until...I saw three women that I hadn't seen in 25 years! And they have daughters living there now. I had a blast!! We walked through the house and looked at our old rooms. We found our pictures on the old composites. Talk about a shocker...Eighties hair was not pretty friends...and don't try to convince me otherwise.

All in all it was a beautiful day. The cool, crisp air brought back so many memories of fun days going to ballgames. When our biggest worry was making it to class...lying on the roof of the laundry room to catch some rays...and finding that perfect date.

I am soooooooo far from being the typical sorority girl today, but it was fun going back in time for a little while.

Blessings,

Jan

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