Healthy Heart

Hey there my sweet friends.

WE ARE HOME! THANK YOU LORD!

Kenneth went in for double bypass surgery on Wednesday morning at 5 am. The surgeons began at 7:30. Bill and I were surrounded by so many sweet people in the waiting area. I told someone that we could have held the Southern Baptist Convention right there and saved everyone the cost of airfare. It was wonderful to look around at all the men who love my big man. Sweet, sweet men six feet tall. Wonderful men who prayed without ceasing. I'm so thankful I could bust.

The surgeon finished in under three hours. They had to do three bypasses instead of two. But they were able to harvest veins from one leg instead of two. This was a real blessing because his recovery time will be less. The incision on his leg is from his ankle to his knee. (it makes my leg hurt just describing it) And, just like with my surgery this summer, they used SUPER GLUE to put him back together. Humpty Dumpty should come to our hospital. Really.

Later that evening they were able to take him off the ventilator. By the next morning he was sitting in a recliner. That afternoon he was walking. I am still in shock.

Anyone who thinks prayer isn't effective should talk to me. God was so good to us! My man is way ahead of schedule. He HASN'T HAD A PAIN PILL IN 24 HOURS. And the guy has a scar from his throat to his bellybutton and down one half of his leg. THEY SAWED THROUGH HIS STERNUM AND SPREAD HIS RIBS. Don't be telling me the Shephard doesn't take care of His Sheep. No sir. Don't even think about it.

So, we are home. Watching the snow. Sittin' in front of the fire. Ozzie is snuggled up next to me on the couch trying to decipher the hospital smell his Man Master is emitting. Dadgum betadine. You just can't get rid of it.

Hey--maybe I bathe my bod in betadine for that mid winter tan...

Thanks for your prayers, girlfriends. Love you all.

Jan

Heart Surgery

Hi Friends,

Please pray for my precious husband as he undergoes bypass surgery tomorrow at 5 a.m. I will write about it tomorrow night when he is out of the woods and in ICU.

Believing in our Lord for miracles,

Jan

Happy Birthday Bill-O

Yes, I'm one month late in posting my eldest son's 20th birthday pics. So, sooooo me. Get it? Sue me? Sooooieeee? Okay, I had to throw that in since you can see the darling cake I ordered for Bill. He had a wonderful day. We went to Shogun's for dinner then we lavished ( chick word ) him with gifts. I had more fun shopping for him. I LOVE to buy men's clothes! They are so easy to buy...pants and shirts. What could be easier than that? Okay, I'm rambling now. I guess it's the talk of shopping.

My precious 20 year old--hard to believe!

Skip forward to the ice storm that hit us about three weeks ago. We were without power for 6 days. SIX STINKING DAYS. We piled the mattresses in the den and hung out together for 24 hours a day. Yes, you read that right. The first three days we couldn't leave because the roads were so bad. Trees were down everywhere. Our neighborhood has 80, 90, 100 year old trees. You can see from the pics the amount of damage. We cheered and threw kisses at the SWEPCO linemen as they drove into our neighborhood. I was never so glad to see anyone in my life!

Now, fast forward again to Valentine's Day yesterday.I made my man a strawberry pie. His favorite treat in the world. Now, I have to admit that I purchased the gel, the Pillsbury pie crust, but I DID wash and slice the berries and put it all together. And because I went to so much trouble, Hubs bought me my favorite thing in the whole world--A RUSSELL STOVER sampler. And to top if off, he found one with none other than Snoopy on it--it sure is nice to be loved, is it not?

I hope you have a great week and Jesus blesses you immensely.

Jan

A New Chapter

After being a stay at home mom for 21 years I have re-entered the workplace. I haven't been this excited since Maybelline started making washable mascara in the seventies.

I am now the Site Director for Loving Choices. You can see our website at lovingchoices.org

I volunteered there as a peer counselor last year and fell in love with this incredible organization. We are a non profit crisis center founded by pro life Christians twenty years ago. What's so awesome is that I had been praying for specific things over the last year and God answered many of my prayers with this new position.

• I prayed for something to do where I could make an eternal difference
• I prayed for a small part time job where I could make some moolah
• I asked God to use me in a way where I could share the gospel (this is my passion...I love evangelism)
• I asked for a new adventure where my family could still be first

You should see our facilities. They are beautiful. One is right by the University and the other is north. (up yonder as my grandmother would have said) I will be working at the one north of my home. It's only a 30 minute drive and with my Travis cds, hey, it's a great time of praise!

So, if you would lift me up in prayer I will be your new BFF. Put me on a prayer list and I'll send you a Razorback memento. Which reminds me...gotta run. The Hogs are on tv.

Hogs and Kisses!

Jan

PSS Go to the website! I'd do a link, but don't know how. Yes, I'm pathetic but I have all my teeth :)

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