My Funny Valentine

A cold morning in the park with her Valentines dress and some bubbles!
( she calls this her lips dress)

Cat Scratch Fever

I'm going to let you in on a little family secret. It might be hard for you to believe that it's true. But, I assure you, it is 100% accurate. This is my Daddy and he and I share something that no-one else in the family does. The secret is...

We

are not

pet

people.

We never have been. The cats and dogs in our life have always been closer to My Mom or My Brother. The animals we have had all seem to know...."I don't think Jana or Daddy are crazy about us." That is what makes these pictures

H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!

Apparently that memo has'nt been recieved by the cats in this house. And when Daddy sits down in the evening to read, they come to him like the pied-piper. They just sit there with him and watch him read and they don't get up until he does. And the truth is....I laugh. I really laugh. I was laughing when I took the pictures.I'm laughing right now. Only because I know how I feel when the cats come surround me like that. I feel like....ewww...gross....go somewhere else!
But, even as I type this I am sitting on my bed and there are not one, not two but, three....yes, three cats sitting on my bed just staring me down. I'll admit that even six months ago, that wouldn't have happened.Maybe the tides are beginning to change.

Maybe we ARE becoming pet people.

Maybe we are the ones who haven't gotten the memo yet.

HAIR

For Christmas this year, PopPop gave Baby Girl an inside jumpingplene. So, she just

jumps and jumps and jumps and her hair just looks like it's in a commercial for

shiny baby shampoo.

Look at the bounce. Look at the curls. She has never had a haircut. Never had any

highlights and her hair is big and beautiful.

I absolutely love to watch her use her precious little hand and wipe her hair out of her eyes.

You'll have to bear with me. I am a Grandmother in love.


I believe this is the most beautiful head of hair in the world!

And the back view is stunning. Just stunning.

Should we send her to an acting company for baby hair modeling? Nahhh...we'll just keep her here and enjoy seeing it everyday for ourselves.

Yes.

What a precious gift she is to all of us. We are in love. We can't help it. Even she was bald we would be.

Hair, Hair, Hair, Hair,Hair, Hair, Hair

Flow it, Show it

Long as God can grow it

My Hair

Mandy

Did you see this? Did you see this? Do you know how exciting this is to me?

My name is a water bottle label. Okay, it's not a really beautiful song like Barry Manilows, "Mandy" but, wow!
Here's the sad, sad story .
As a little girl, my name was not one of the common cool names like Michelle, Terri, Judy, Robyn... I could go on and on. How many times did I see my friends with their cool little nametags on their bikes and long for one of my own. You could not find Jana on anything. I wanted something with my name on it so desparately that I vowed "My kids will have more common names and they will have a necklace, a bracelet, a bike tag, anything that says it!" And I definanly kept that vow with the kids names. Now, isn't that a strange thing? Don't know why it was so important to me but, alas, I was young.

As I have grown, I have given that obsession up and I love that my parents gave me a unique name that I really don't share with too many other people. Did you know that my name is in the Bible? Yep, Luke 3:24. It's in the lineage of Jesus. When my daughter in law walked in and showed me this bottle water with my name on it, I nearly danced a jig. How about that? I have my own water label. I had no idea. I am shocked and very happy about it. She found it at a grocery store in South Georgia. I am sure it's the tastiest water EVER. And I think it was worth the wait to finally have my name on something. I hope the check from all these sales comes in soon. Jana needs a new pair of shoes.

What Are You Doing New Years Eve

This New Years Eve, I took a ride on my bike through the neighborhood. The weather was perfect and I saw so many beautiful things that I love to look at. Had to take my camera along and shoot some pictures. Probably one of my most favorite things to do. I was thinking a lot, praying, reflecting on this past year and wondering about the new year to come. I thought I would share some thoughts with you. I even took a picture of my shadow. Which proved to be quite a challenge keeping the bike balanced and NOT DROPPING the camera and smiling all at the same time. In 2010, this is the age I became. Never thought I would live to be this old. Ha...I realize now that 4o is the new 13? *smile*

Even in the cold of winter, there are beautiful blooming flowers. All a gift for our eyes from up above. How many times do I pass them by and not give thanks for just the ability to look and enjoy and just take in? Reminds me of Corrie Ten Boom, who while she was locked in a concentration camp in a cold, dark cell. She once was walked to the wardens office and without someone seeing her, stopped and picked some little white flowers and kept them in her cell as God's gift of beauty to her. Everytime I see white flowers I am reminded to be thankful.

I liked the color of this fire hydrant and apparently the ants think it's good enough to build their little home beside.

These pecan trees have been around for years. For some reason, they are just beautiful to me in the winter, with the moss hanging like jeweled necklaces swaying in the breeze. I can just stand there for hours looking at them. You can see balls of mistletoe in the top. I thought about climbing up and getting some down. Thought about it. Didn't do it. Not such a climber these days.

Doesn't this just take you away somewhere? It does me.

I think about how many New Years these trees have seen. Were they here when horse and buggies were traveling by? Like Little House on the Prarie? Then did they see the First Model T Fords go by? Like on the Waltons? And now, the air conditioned cars with TV's inside? I just think about things like this.

And hands down, this is one of my most favorite places to go in the world. This is my solitude . You hear birds, wind, a duck or two, a hoot owl but, no traffic, no horns. This is a great place to talk to the Lord and listen. It's a great place for a picnic lunch. I hope to do more of that next year. It's a great place to catch bream. Another great place for pictures. I am more thankful than I have ever been for the opportunity to go here.

How about the cool colors of everyones boats? I am just learning to look at everything for what's beautiful and not what's wrong. I pray for eyes that see beauty in chaos.

A road covered in leaves like a blanket. Reminds me of the white paper they lay down the aisle for a bride to walk down.

A single red leaf. Just there for me to look at and admire. And then watch the wind fly it away somewhere and hoping someone else will appreciate it's color like I just did.

33. I always think of 33, the age Jesus was when He died on the cross for me. And He gave Himself willingly. They didn't take His life. He gave it. * sigh* He loved me before I even ever was. I can never comprehend that. I can never think about that without crying. And what does He want from me? Just a yielded life to Him. A relationship. Minute by minute communication. Total dependence on Him for everything.

I saw this Yield sign several times today while riding. I heard His gentle voice. His loving and caring voice.

"Jana, yield, give, hand over everything to me. Everything that concerns you, keeps you awake at night, that scares you, that brings you joy, hand it to Me and allow Me to take you into this next year."

And I say.....yes, I need you, Jesus, to be in control of every part of my life.

When I saw these bamboo plants I remember this verse.

A BRUISED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX HE WILL NOT QUENCH; HE WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE TO TRUTH. Isaiah 42:3

And the truth is, this year has had so many things that have happened, that I feel like a bruised reed. Just discarded and laying there, can't get up on my own but, HE promised me. HE WILL NOT BREAK!!!! He's strengthening me daily and providing for me. HE will not let me fall. HE will be my strength. HE has been my help in time of need. HE is my fortress and refuge. I will praise Him in the good and in the bad.

And I will say for this past year and this coming year....My eyes are upon you.

2 CHRONICLES 20:12

......."FOR WE HAVE NO POWER AGAINST THIS GREAT MULTITUDE THAT IS COMING AGAINST US; NOR DO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU."

And this is my motto. And my prayer. And my very breath. My eyes are upon my Saviour, the one who gave His very life to die for my sins. And no matter where this year takes me, I am safer in His loving arms in the storm than in smooth waters alone.

Look how tall the bamboo plants grow when they aren't bruised. I see this as a promise to me for the upcoming year. Thanks for reading the reflective side of me. I know it's a shock.

Tea For Two

I have to tell you about our tea parties we have been having around here the whole month of December. We have one almost everyday and all the family members have been included. Years ago my Mom in law gave me this cute little teaset for Christmas because it matched my Christmas dishes. I thought, oh..cool...one day if I have a Grandaughter, we will have tea parties with it. Well, last year I thought she was not quite old enough but, this year....wow, she's just the perfect age!
And todays tea party guest was Uncle U.Z. He's out of school and such a great Uncle to play with.

Most the time, we eat goldfish and marshmellows with our Chocolate Milk. But, the gold fish were M.I.A. for some reason. So, today some other Christmas treats. She sits so still and is so careful because it's "breakable" and we do talk a lot about how breakable it is. It just fascinates her.

She likes to pour a little "white" milk into the chocolate milk just so she can use the cute little spoon and stir.

Here she is drinking and as hard as she tries and talks about. Those pinky fingers will just not stick out. But, oh so cute to see her try and she was telling U.Z how to do it right this morning.

They were doing "cheers" with their little tea cups.

A mouthful of chocolate amd marshmellows!

Baby Jesus and the Angel get to particpate sometimes too.

And we wipe our mouths like little ladies when we are finished. I have been so blessed to be able to do this with her this Christmas Season. In just 3 more days, we will pack it away and get it out again next year.

And this year, she and I made a paper chain for the tree. I hope she'll remember the little traditions that I have started with her !

Merry Christmas to all and may God Bless you immensely!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Downtown Tallahassee at Christmas time means one thing to me. Well, more than one thing but, the thing this post is about is that this is the last time in the year that I can buy and eat a funnel cake.

Look at all the happy opportunities to purchase and knosh a yummy delicious funnel cake.

Nothing says Merry Christmas quite like this sign. Wow! I am in funnel cake heaven.

And it keeps going. Who to buy from? This year we got one at every Downtown get down. But, one time there were no funnel cake booths and I was completely and utterly devastated. Okay, not completely but, it was a really sad Friday night.

Look at all that deliciousness on a plate. Yum. I can't explain my love for this food. The only thing better than this one funnel cake is......

Yes....two funnel cakes. But, don't think I am a pig. I was sharing with my family

It was my parents 51st Anniversary and we all were there together enjoying Tallahassee's lights and parade and Ray even ran in the Jingle Bell Run.

And to top off a wonderful night. Miss B got to meet Rudolph.