Surprise

I promise this will be the LAST post having anything to do with my birthday. :-)

About 2 months ago I emailed Donna and asked her to help me close down my blog. She wouldn't do it, she said if all I do is communicate with my sisters that is enough. At that time I had three long distance sisters reading my blog and it was a great way to keep in touch so I decided not to close it down. Our discussion made me think hard about why I have this blog. In a nutshell, I want to share my life with my sisters and my internet friends. I want to encourage, edify, laugh and communicate but more than anything I hope to share the love of Christ with my readers.

All that said so I can post these pictures for my sisters to enjoy.


Uncle Mel and Nancy


Janet and Janice











Nancy and Bink (yes, that is his nickname) took Dave, Janice and me out to dinner on Monday night. We met at a nice restaurant near Carefree. We had a very special surprise waiting for us at our table. Uncle Mel. He is our father's older brother and just turned 80 years old. The three of us were shocked and thrilled. We couldn't believe Nancy pulled this off. Uncle Mel lives in Carefree during the winter months, his home is only 10 minutes from this place. We had a delightful visit and I had the privilege of sitting across from him. That means I got to look in to those beautiful Greek/German eyes, admire his lovely white hair and soft olive skin for two whole hours!! When I look at Uncle Mel I see my own father. They didn't look that much alike to be honest but he is his flesh and blood, his brother. Our father would be 78 years old.

Family, friends and famous!

Wow! Seventy one comments from mostly strangers. I am (almost) speechless.

I would like to thank Donna for sending all of her readers my way. See, it pays to know someone.....someone who is very special, very dear, very wise, very Godly and so very kind. I love you, Donna.

Thank you all for making my 40th birthday so much fun. I admit I was obsessed. At times I would just sit here and click refresh. It was amazing and fun and silly. I am humbled by your kindness and thank you for taking time out of your day to say hello and happy day.

In one day, I heard from three sisters; Donna, Cindy and Janice, about 50 internet 'friends' and one famous person, again thanks to Donna. Donna sent Phil Johnson (of Pyromaniac fame) an email and asked him to comment on my birthday post. Isn't she bold and isn't he kind to have responded? I am a huge fan of The Pyro's work, writing and sense of humor. In case you haven't seen it, the comment is in the March 24 post. Darlene is his lovely wife, who really needs her own blog :) You will be blessed and edified by reading Pyromaniacs. Pay them a visit if you haven't already.

THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

Love Janet.


How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!
~George Elliston

The Greek and The Dane turn 40!

Today, March 27th, we officially celebrate our fortieth birthday!! We've really been celebrating for days...

Happy Birthday to my precious twin, Janice. And Happy Birthday to me too :-)




Janice is on the left and I am on the right. Isn't that a great pic. Maybe my sisters can fill in the details of when it was taken and at whose house. Hmmm, maybe it was our house.

My dad was mostly Greek and my mom was 100% Danish. What a fun surprise to have twins that looked like each. Janice with brown hair, brown eyes and beautiful olive skin and me with blond hair, blue eyes and fair skinned. (I'll have you know I work very hard and spend a lot of money to keep my Danish looks ;-)).

We had several nicknames as little ones:

Ike and Mike
Midnight and Daylight
The Greek and The Dane
Jan and Jan
'A' baby and 'B' baby

I was also called "Tiny" by our housekeeper. I was very skinny as a little girl.

I would love to get a record number of comments today just for kicks. Forty would be amazing! I am not to proud to add to the number if necessary :-) So, say hello if you wouldn't mind.

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure. This is what I saw when I went to my workout at 5:45 am. This is the work of my sil Melody and her two children.

"To Blave"

16 years ago today I married my beloved.

Lord, thank you for giving me Dave.






To quote my husband: "but, it feels like so much longer than that!" :-0

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

UPDATE 3/24 4:00 pm Post your favorite on your blog, like Amy.

I'm a Winner

Guess what??

I participated in Carmon's blogathon and I won a $25 gift certificate to her wonderful bookstore. Thank you, Gracie, for picking my name, we'll talk later ;-P

Will you help me with my purchase?

I am currently reading (very slowly)

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul
















and

Desiring God by John Piper

That gives you an idea of what type of reading I enjoy.

So, give me a few suggestions.

Maybe I should have Carmon just surprise me with $25 worth of books. Wow, that would be fun.

Please don't suggest long Russian novels (hehehe) or the latest book on paedobaptism (jk) or a racey romance novel. These are just not my thing :)

Hope to hear from you.

PS We need to get the comments up and runnin. March 27 is a national holiday and I'm going to copy my sister and see if I can get a record number comments. For me that would mean 10. har har har.

Persecution

I found this today on foxnews.com Read this.

Please pray for this man and give thanks to God that you are able to worship freely.

***********

Carmon is doing another blogathon, this time for Persecution Project. Be sure to visit her tomorrow. She will be posting every 30 minutes and it is fun check in on her from time to time.

Laundry Fun!

UPDATE 3/16
No need to go to the archives. All of the pictures are up on today's post. Look at the new ones and don't forget to vote!

Be sure to pay Mommy Life a visit and look at all of the laundry pictures. Go to the archives and click March. The girls are creative and absolutely darling. The contest ends tomorrow and then the voting begins.

I have my favorites. The mommy that superimposed herself in to the picture three times, that one is my all time favorite. Can you see the Nutrimill in the background?

My next favorite it the doll that is bending over and her bum is sticking up in the air. Now that is a brave woman but the next picture tells us why she can do that...she is small enough to fit INSIDE her washing machine!!

I am always whining and complaining about my laundry situation to Donna. She offers some good advice on occasion and usually a little teasing too. :-)

So, what are your favorite laundry products?

Mine are Tide, Bounce and Clorox Bleach. No substitutes. No way.

Off to the city of Lost Wages

That's Las Vegas for those who have never heard it called that appropriate nickname.

Why on earth, you ask?





We have an opportunity to go to the Nascar race to cheer on the new driver of the Interstate Batteries race car. His name is J.J. Yeley. He drives the #18 car. My hubby and I thought it would be fun to take the 3 older children to a race but I insisted that it must be a race with a hospitality tent. That meant we would either go to the Fontana race track or Vegas. We were too late for California so we have to go to Las Vegas.

The reasons I insisted on a tent are:

1) the crowds at a Nascar event are ROUGH, not your average homeschool group
2) we will be served food and pop
3) if we get tired we can go to the tent and rest and watch the race on the TV
4) they have nice pork-a-potties (that's what my children call them)
5) in case of rain we can take cover!
6) we will most likely meet J.J. Yeley and Joe Gibbs, they usually come to the tent for a while and sign autographs. I especially like Joe Gibbs. He is a man of great character and of Christian faith and he is not afraid to tell you so!

I have only been to two races in my life so I only consider myself a mild redneck. My husband thinks I'm a big redneck because I don't wear ear plugs and I usually watch the whole race. I have to admit, I love the speed of the cars and the roar of the engines.

I have warned my children that while we are touring Las Vegas that if at any time I scream "close your eyes" they must obey immediately and not ask "but why Mom?".

I would appreciate your prayers. Lauren had a fever on Wednesday and Thursday and now has a nasty cold and I have been sick with an upset stomach for two days. It is rather difficult to do laundry and pack for 7 while hunched over in pain and in bed most of the day. I'm worried about Sarah who will be staying with friends and those who might get it while we are traveling. The supplies are in the car; garbage can, wipes, paper towel and ziploc bags....use your imagination.

See ya when we get back. Ta Ta.

Tagged Again!

Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:

1) Renewed Day by Day
2) Montana Maiden
3) Irish Hills
4) Dominionfamily
5) Just Janet

Select Five People to Tag
1) Donna
2) Amy
3) Diane


Feel free to ignore this tag if you want. :P

What were you doing ten years ago?

I was 29. I was 7 months pregnant with my 3rd child. My first daughter was 2 1/2, my second child (my only son) was 18 months old and I was a busy mama! I stayed home a lot and cared for my babies. We were living in our first home.

What were you doing one year ago?

Trying to lose weight. Pretty much the same stuff I'm doing now.

Five snacks you enjoy

1) Poore Brothers salt and vinegar chips

2) brownies

3) diet Coke

4) ice cream

5) yogurt (relieves guilt)

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics

1) Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

2) Jesus, Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood

3) Brick House by The Commodores (hehe)

4) September by Earth, Wind and Fire (it's my sister's fault)

5) Hymns and praise songs

I had to have a little fun with that one, sister Cindy and Cindy @ Dominion Family.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire

1) give plenty to my church and the needy within

2) help out a few family members, give gifts to other family members

3) put an addition on our house (kitchen)

4) buy a 'date' car, something that doesn't' hog gas and fit 8 people. ;-)

5) travel

Five Bad Habits

1) I drink way too much diet Coke

2) creating and maintaining piles around the house

3) sitting at this computer

4) not making my bed in the morning

5) procrastinating

Five things you like doing

1) exercising (love/hate relationship)

2) baking sweets and fresh breads

3) drinking diet Coke

4) watch my children play happily

5) shop, yup, it's true

Five things you'll try not to wear

1) big hoop earrings

2 ) jean mini skirt

3) bows in my hair

4) Keds

5) tight jeans

Five favorite toys

1) iPod nano

2) Bosch

3) computer

4) hair brush and curling iron (?)

5) the laundry machine

While you're at it...

Please pray for this precious little girl.

Her name is Candace

Pray! Pray! Pray!

A new baby is on his way!


Amy will most likely have her baby today!!

Her hubbie posted that they were going to the hospital.

Be sure to pray for them :-)