Ohhhhhhhhh, ya better be good...

I know, it's way too late to be thinking about being good.   Oh well, maybe next year.

I've been so busy with life as well as Christmas preparations. Tomorrow we will change Internet, phone and cable TV providers and I may not get a chance to get on here and wish you all a joyous Christmas. 

I'll be back with a vengeance after we clean up the last of the wrapping paper and eat a few hundred  million billion calories.  

Lots of changes in the past few months, more to come, but one thing that never changes:  Jesus is the reason for the season. 

If I don't get a chance to come back and 'talk' before then, have a safe and blessed Christmas, everyone!

With love,
Jan 

Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Talkin' trash garbage...

Last night, right after dinner, I was cleaning up my mess when I heard a gurgle and a glug...which can only mean the disposal was indisposed, or clogged!

First impulse:  call Andy.  I was not born with a common sense gene (I have to repeat "lefty loosey, righty tighty," over and over when replacing the top on the tooth paste container), and Tony did not inherit one from his father.  (Remind me to tell you one day about the time he took the blades off the ceiling fan).  Poor Andy.  He had been doing 'chores' for me all day and had announced an hour before that he was going home and going to bed.

Tony and I had a short conference.  What would Dad do?  Make a mess, say bad words and unclog the darn thing.  Well, let's do it.

We changed into work clothes and donned rubber gloves.  We looked like amateur surgeons on the prowl for patients...or was it patience?

I went first.  I managed to loosey one of those thingies...Tony went next and managed to loosey another...suddenly...

Of course I got the camera!  How could I let YOU down?

Well, let's just say it was a good thing I got the bucket.

Moral of the story:  Well, there is no moral, but the disposal is disposing and Tony is not changing his business major anytime soon...

So, do you have all your shopping/baking/decorating/wrapping done?

Get out there and get it done and while you are at it, remember to smile, open doors for fellow shoppers and don't pass that guy (or woman) ringing that bell without dropping a dollar or many in the kettle.  The money will be well spent.  They do wonderful things.

Next time, remind me to tell you about the guy undressing the mannequin in Kohl's last night.

I love you all-I am SO glad you stop by!

Love,

Jan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MORGAN!

A special day in our family, Miss Morgan celebrates her 22nd birthday!

Morgan has been a part of our family for soooo long now, it is hard to remember when she wasn't.

We loved including her in all our family activities (well maybe when she caught the bouquet at Katie and Brian's wedding, I was a tad nervous)...

Morgan is a real trouper.  No matter what the activity, she is willing to have a go at it!

This year when our family was reeling from our loss, Morgan was right there, tackling all the chores no one thought of, organizing us and hugging us when we needed hugs even though her heart was breaking as well.

 Too bad she didn't have her pink Dyson then, she would have cleaned up after us!

We all love her!

Don't they make a wonderful couple?

Happy birthday, Morgan!  We love you.  May God bless you and give you many more birthdays.

If you see Morgan out and about today, stop her and wish her a happy birthday.  

I'm off...got lots to do, move things, shake things, rearrange things...

Be a blessing to someone today.  I know I'm going to do my best.

Love,

Jan

You know you wanna do it...


I was not going to post today.  I am a busy woman with much going on (like going out to eat with friends at least three times in two days), but as I drank my coffee, again in bed with Race Car at my side, I remembered what I have to tell you.


I signed up for yet another event...

just click on the graphic above for details!

I've already signed up!  Yeppers, sent in my money and am thinking about how many members of my family and extended family and friends I can get to do it with me. 

Think of it...if you join us, you will have a chance to be included in our group photo, much like this one

but we will be wider since we will be running/walking/waddling to burn off all those Christmas cookies, ham sandwiches and all that egg nog!

So what are you waiting for? 

Click right here and you can be part of this elite group!

Please say you will, you know you want to! So go and sign up and leave a comment telling me you did. 

Now I am out of here.  I have things to do, kids to annoy. 

God bless you.  Thanks for stopping in. 

See you soon!

Love,

Jan

If you could see me now...


Sitting here on my bed, my cat, Race Car, snuggled up beside me.  I'm wearing flannel PJ's, a robe and the biggest smile I've had in a long time.


I'm thinking about yesterday...


Riding to church in the middle of the bench seat in the pick up, flanked by two of my most favorite men:  Andy and Tony.


Standing in church with Andy, Tony, Morgan, Vicky and her friend Bonnie, singing with all my heart, tears flowing.  I remembered something the pastor of my late father-in-law said at his memorial service.  He talked about all the weeks after my mother-in-law died, how Dad would come to church, sit in his customary right-front seat, listen to every word Pastor Tim said and cry.  Every week.  I didn't understand then and now I do.  The tears are not bad things, they are simply a statement.  Your eyes translating what your heart is saying.

Those who loved much have much to lose.

The message was about Hope.  Hope!  Hope.  Hope.  I'm not going to start talking about it here and now, this is not the time or place, but HOPE is a wonderful gift.  I reached out and grabbed it with both hands and am hangin' on for dear life. 

Feels good.

After church, Andy, Tony, Morgan and I went to Panera for bagels and coffee.  The bagels were good, but oh my, the new cream cheese, cranberry something???  is to die for (not literally).  Next trip, I'm going to order just the cream cheese and a spoon.  Yum.

Sitting there, we got to talking about the things Mark did.  He was quite a character, you know.  Like when we were standing in front of the White House and he stopped a woman and asked if she knew how to get to the White House.  She kept trying to turn him around to see that it was right behind him and he kept asking what left handed streets he should take.  Finally he turned and pretended to be shocked and she was delighted that she helped this out of town idiot find our president's home.

Or the time he told one of his sisters that Lake Authur in Moraine State Park was the only lake in the state that had unlevel water, that it sloped from south to north!

How about the time, right after they started dating, he sent Morgan out to buy Tony left handed golf balls since he played left handed...

What a character, what a tough act to follow, what precious memories.  Can't imagine being left behind without them.  What a gift!

I got to spend the rest of the day with another one of my favorite and most handsome men....my oldest son, Michael!  We hit up the mall (where we got the last parking place in the state), looked at everything and bought very little, and stopped for a delicious and leisurely dinner on the way home. 

Six hours of walking and talking...what a special time that was for me.  We don't live all that close, he has such a busy schedule, a wife and family (if you can call a dog and cats family - they do), and so we frequently make phone conversations do instead of visits. 

Today's schedule includes a dinner at the church with Vicky.  My friend, Melody will be the speaker.  I can't wait!

I know that I can't leave you without a picture...so here's one of my family taken about two years ago...and shows just how silly we are...

Now I'd like to stay and chat all day, but I have to figure out what a casserole is and then make one!

Have a wonderful day, be a blessing to someone, buckle up when you go out and come back!  I love company.

God bless you,
Jan

PS...according to blogger, this is my 150th post.  Celebrate!

Some things go on, no matter what...

The sun comes up, the sun goes down, ice melts in hot temperatures and my car usually starts...

One other thing happens...Annett's Annual  Ornament Exchange (and food fest).  It's been going on for years and years.  She makes it easy...bring a wrapped ornament...

And some food.  I did not photograph the food because I was afraid to get that close.  Those women are crazy!

I am not sure how many women were there, but lets just say, more than 30, less than 40.  Yes, in her living room! 

Next year if she invites any more, she'll have to rent bleachers!  Every woman gets a chance to choose a 'mystery' ornament in the first round, and can 'steal' an ornament from another in the second round.  There is much laughter, some shouting, lots of kidding and more laughter.

Every year there seems to be a 'theme' to the ornaments, this year it seemed to be snowmen.  There were more snowmen than anything else

Every year there seems to be a favorite.  This year it was a pig. A pink pig that seemed to be the favorite.

I lost count, this was either the fourth or fifth party I've attended.  The past two years, Vicky came too!

I met Annett when she was six or seven.  Her mother, Nancy is my BFF (and my oldest friend). I asked Vicky to take a picture of us together...

Vicky, turn the camera around!  That's what you get when you hand a blonde a camera...

 Okay...now that the spots have disappeared from before her eyes...let's get serious...

Of course my mouth was open...what did you expect?  Let's try again?

There, Jan and Nancy, BFFs!

The three generations of girls...

 Vicky, me, Nancy and Annett.  In front is Larissa, Annett's daughter.  

At a time when traditions are many and some are hard to deal with, a night with my girls was just what I needed..

Some traditions are broken.  I have all my shopping done AND wrapped.  Those who know me know that not only do I insist on shopping until the stores close on Christmas eve, but my Christmas eve late night wrapping sessions are legendary.  There have been many Christmas eve mishaps:  I ran out of tape and used Tupperware freezer labels and staples (not the prettiest packages).  

I have also run out of gift tags and either made my own or label the packages with a sharpie marker...or (and this was the best), trusted my memory to remember which package goes to what kid.  The results of that were many post-unwrapping exchanges...

I remember the year Tony (age 5) declared he would shake every package and if it didn't make noise, he would throw it away, unopened because he KNEW it was clothes.  I remember Mark having to retrieve most of his gifts from the trash can since Mark always got clothes!

Christmas memories...what a good thing!

Remind me to tell you about Rudolph throwing up on the neighbor's porch...

I'm so glad you are here!  

Now that you are done reading, go out and do something great!

Love,

Jan

A lot is well...

Here it is, after 7 AM and I'm back in bed.  Got my coffee and debated:  should I give in and  turn the furnace on?  Should I just take a cup of coffee upstairs,climb into my warm bed,  turn on the laptop, turn on the news and pretend all is well. Is it? 

 So many people ask, I thought you might like an answer.  There is not a morning that has gone by in the past two months that I did not go downstairs to make coffee and have been hit by the reality of it all.  Mark, who made my coffee every morning (and frequently brought me a cup before I got up), is gone.  That alone is enough to bring me to a grinding halt...BUT...

I am blessed.  I lost my partner in crime, my inspiration, my (fill in the blank) two months ago yesterday, but I never find it hard to come here and tell you about my blessings simply because there are many.  I am a grieving, sniveling mess who has the best friends, pets, kids and readers...I lost much but I had much to lose and I still have much left.  I have much because I AM BLESSED BEYOND ALL MEASURE and am always thanful for that.

God is good.  My prayers have been answered.  Not always the answer I had in mind, but my faith in HIM got me here and will certainly get me there, wherever that may be.

ALL is not well but MORE THAN ENOUGH is, and that keeps me on my toes.

So...

The dysfunctional family from House on the Hill is working on a top secret project.  Can't tell, can't even hint, but I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later.  Until then, want to see what is going on at Andy's house?

Please forgive the crappy photos.  I will soon learn not to trust my phone for those Kodak Moments in life. 

He got a new piece of furniture!  No, not a sofa or a dresser...not a fridge or a bed...are you ready for this?

A PING PONG TABLE!

Yes, because he is a 25 year old guy with a home of his own, he decided to move the living room into a spare room and furnish his living room with a ping pong table but before he got the furniture moved, they decided to set up the table...

I'm thinking we won't be seeing much of Tony at home, he loves this game!

I got tired of watching the ball bounce, so I went out to get the guys pizza.  Guess what they were doing when I got back? 

You bet...they were playing ping pong!

But now they had a spectator!  It's Pele!

But not for long, he's not named for a soccer player for nothing...he's a natural!

~sigh~

So, what's new in your world?

Time to run!  Busy weekend coming up.  I'll try to remember to take my camera so I can tell show you everything!

Go out and make someone smile?!?

Love,

Jan

It takes sooo little...

A few weeks ago, Andy, Tony and I went out for dinner.  On our way home, Tony got a call from their friend, Tom, who said he had a cell phone cover for Tony.  Before I could say a word, we were on our way to Tom's house.

As I sat outside of Tom's house...

I got bored and started playing with my camera.  I focused on a bike on the back of Jon's car, in front of me...

Just then, Andy, Tony, Jon and Tom came out and spotted this...

A tricycle in the neighbor's trash!  Before I knew it, the tricycle was in Jon's car and we were headed for the parking garage in town...

The guys were so excited!  They couldn't wait to take turns riding on the trike...

Tom pulled out his skate board, Jon got on the trike...

Next it was Andy's turn on the trike...

There he goes!!!

Everyone has to get in the act...Here comes Tom....

Whoopsie!

Tony?  Aren't you going to go?

They just kept going...GO!  GO! Andy!!!!

 

Of course, they can't be happy to just ride taking turns...

Let's ride tandem?

A triple?

What?  They won't fit?  Hey, someone bring that skate board!

I think they've got it!

Ahhhhh, it's cold, it's late and it's time to go home.  Time to retire the trike....

Good night Jon, good night, Tom!

Tell me again, the difference between men and boys? I'm not suure I can tell. 

Yes, I am blessed!  Now YOU go out and be a blessing to someone.

See you soon,

Love,

Jan