A Red Scarf Christmas

Mothers-in-law are a tricky thing.  They come as part of the package, so to speak, and you never can tell exactly what you'll get when it's all said and done.  I was blessed!

Over my 30 year marriage Jinny has become a mentor, teacher, spiritual advisor, encourager, and friend.  She sings beautifully, preaches a deep and meaningful sermon (just to us), can keep up with Martha Stewart easily in the decorating department, is an over the top hostess, has been a wedding planner, and cooks like nobody's business.  

Jinny's most recent uncovered talent is writing.  About five years ago she wrote and self published a "Little House on the Prairie" type book called "My Heart Remembers", based on her childhood in Arkansas.  And she blessed her family once again this Thanksgiving by writing a very sweet poem, expressing her love and tenderness for her grandchildren and her Savior, Jesus.  So this Thanksgiving I'll be most thankful for my mom-in-law and honor her by sharing part of who she is:

          A Red Scarf Christmas

Our Thanksgiving meal is over and oh, how wonderful it turned

out to be.  Even though some dishes had to be amended

for some of our little ones, you see.  Some don't like onions,

nuts, and even dressing; something wonderful to me.  The

Thanksgiving dishes rattle as women scurry about and little

feet dance sweetly for the candy that melts in their mouth.

I heard the cry from a newborn baby doll held tightly in

Adelaide's arms.  She pats her tummy, and then gives her a

kiss.  She waits for applause, and then smiles at her success.

Cash runs to find his daddy, Chris, and climbs up on his knee.

And I hear him say sweetly, "Daddy, can I have just one more

piece of candy, please:"  I smile as Chris holds him close and

thank God for the fine man our first grandson has grown to be.

Hannah looks at her baby sister with love in her eyes and her

heart.  As I look at her it's easy to see what a wonderful 

mother she will be.  She favors her mother.  That's easy to

see.  This must please Elyse greatly for she is beautiful to me.  

Then there is Mimi & Lily.  What a wonderful, happy gift.  They're

as sweet as can be.  We all love them dearly with their shiny

black hair, big brown eyes, and the most beautiful skin you

will ever see.  Truly two perfect China dolls.

I look at our Bob Number Three, so handsome and tall and

wonderful to me.  He's Captain of The Fly Boys.  As he leads

the other planes far from me I wait and pray.  

Then there is our beautiful Kaylee, our first granddaughter to 

be.  We love her dearly and a good example for the rest is she.

She has a new house and it will be blessed as she turns it into

a home.  

I feel happy as I see all the family and friends sitting about.  

They are good people and all have sweet stories they could

tell.  Yes, I am thankful for the family and friends we care so

much about.  

There is a Christmas tree in the corner.  It is smiling brightly

for you and me.  And on that tree in the corner is a bright

red scarf we can see.  A reminder for those who love Him

what Christmas really means.

So many little stories are stored up in my heart, but nothing

will compare with the sweetest love story ever written.  It was

written in red on a tree.  Oh, what a blessing Jesus is to me.  

I love to tell the story of how He came to set us free.

                                         by Jinny Jacobs  

                                                           

    

The Newest Nieces........and me!

There have been two new additions to the family lately and even though I had to travel a little, it was so worth it to see these two beautiful sweet baby girls, my great nieces. 

The first trip was back in May when Kaylee and I drove to Colorado to see Abby, my niece Emily's baby.  She's grown a lot since then but this is the picture of the two of us together.

I'm so ready to go back to see her now that she's walking and talking.  She might even be able to say Aunt Jeanne! : ) 

Then there's brand new little Clara Jacqueline.  My visit to her was more recent and I only had to drive to Houston to hold her. 

Clara is my niece Melissa's firstborn and her middle name is the same as my mom's.  It looks like she'll have a head of red hair, just like her dad and grandpa (my brother).          
Holding and loving on these sweet girls was truly a blessing.   

Happy Moving Birthday!

This last Saturday was full of special milestones.  Bobby came home which is kind of special itself because it seems like we don't see much of him these days.  He's busy captaining his flight team and leading them to a 3rd place win at regional competition and a coveted spot at nationals in May.  I'll be posting a little more about that soon.  But back to the special Saturday!

Kaylee just recently bought a house, of all things!  It's the cutest little house in an older neighborhood.  She has really made Bob and me proud these last few weeks as she did business with a loan company, endless figuring to make sure she could make the payments, hired an inspector, sticky noted up the many loan papers with her many questions, and then signed all the final papers, all on her own.  I mean, we were there to encourage her and advise if she needed it but she really wanted to do it herself and did a bang up job.  Yes, she is my daughter!!!  You can't see me but I'm beaming! 

So moving took care of the first two thirds of the day!  Here's Kaylee sitting on her new front porch! 

And then it was time to celebrate!  Bob had just had a birthday so we honored that, the move, and Bobby's team win all in one fell swoop and a trip to Babe's!  Here we are with Bobby's girlfriend, Jennifer, about to eat our fill of their good ol' "home cooked" fare.  

I'm In!

Did any of you females know that yesterday was "no make-up day"?  At least that's what I heard on the news so it's got to be true, right?............Well, anyway, some creative young lady at a high school in a nearby town decided to make a stand and a statement, trying to persuade other young ladies that they don't need make-up to define who they are and how they feel about themselves.  I give her a big thumbs up and a Yay!!! 

Finally, the celebration of a special day that I can be excited about!  I've been celebrating that day EVERY day for......oh, about the last 6,000 days!  I mean, back in the day I was just like every other high school and college girl who wanted to be pretty, to be accepted, and to be attractive to the opposite sex.  But I was never very good at it.  Well, I was lazy!  Let's just call it what it was.  And then as I got a little older allergies made their entrance and mascara just became plain annoying.  So I quit!  I would make an effort on Sundays or another special day but then I started to wonder why I even bothered.  Bob didn't seem to be partial either way so if he didn't care, then why did I?
  

So began a journey by accident that became a journey of intention.  Intention to be myself with the face God gave me.  And I haven't looked back!  Goodness, if I'd saved the money I didn't spend on cosmetics I could probably buy a car or go on a cruise.  And the time I've saved?  Well, let's just say that a few more minutes to snooze in the morning or to relax a little longer over a cup of coffee is never a bad thing.
  

Please understand that this has been my journey!  I don't fault anybody if they want to wear make-up.  In fact, I'm usually impressed if it's done well and simply adds to the natural beauty.  I was just tickled that someone that is in high school was perceptive enough to take the idea back to it's foundation (hyuk!) so others could at least think about why instead of just following the pack.