A WEDDING IN PHOTOS

Wow. I had no idea how long it would take to upload a mere percentage of the photos taken of Blake and Heather's wedding by my sister, Joan, a professional photographer (and home chef). Add to those the ones taken by the semi-neverwillbeprofessional photographer, me, of the reception. I gave up two days to post this blog. But, oh, it's so worth it.

I want you to feel like you were there with me or if you were there with me, I want you to re-live July 25th, 2014. What an amazing day of love, of marriage, of wonderful new family, of friends dear to my heart, of #family. Having my precious family, the people I love the most in the world, all together - absolutely priceless! My amazing U.B.,  my precious PAJ, my most wonderful sister, my heart - my cousin, Melinda, my sweetest little cousin, Marti LJ & precious Vince, my Annette, Uncle John, the boys, Frank, my most wonderful SIL, Eileen & my darling niece, Meghan, my nephew, Tyler, and his sweet family. And everyone else that I've forgotten to list. (I'm sorry) The entire day was such a blessing. My son, Blake, married the love of his life, Heather, my new daughter. She is such a great DIL - I knew she would be before they even got married.

I have Jana, my first DIL whom I adore and Clay, Craig & Morgan, Clay's precious girlfriend. Adding Frank to that equation and I would call myself the most blessed person I know. Ya know what I mean? So, here's the day in photos. Just a small number considering over 1,000 were taken by Joan (999) and myself (not 999).

Our new family, David and Barbara Hosler, Heather's folks. Precious people.

Oh, and the second row, our Craig and Sammy, our "new son".

I want to show you some of the decorations at the reception...

The Couple's Table

 What a big smile! A Michigan groom's cake.

Happy, happy Michigan fan!

Heather and Blake invited guests to highlight their favorite

passage in their Bible. Lovely!

 First Dance

 Father Daughter Dance

Mother Son Dance

That family #I LOVE.

Meghan, Marti, Melinda, me, Frank, PAJ, Eileen

and Joan!

I learned something new during the reception.

My precious son, Clay, breaks it out whenever The Wobble

is played. Evidently our new Sam does, too!

 Seriously?? What a hoot! I had no idea!!

 Line dancing took over.

 A selfie of Blake and two of the women with whom he teaches. 

So many of the staff at his school came to the wedding - they really love

this sweet boy and he loves them. It was a lot of fun visiting with them all!

Heather with Clay's girlfriend, Morgan, a bridesmaid.

A re-inactment of a photo taken at Blake, Hannah (Jones Brown) and Brat's 

8th grade graduation.

I just love this picture. Brittany (Stone Ishmael) was a bridesmaid 

and Blake's best friend since elementary school.

The End to a wonderful experience

and the beginning of a God centered marriage.

I hope you enjoyed the photos

and I want to thank you for reading my blog!
Sweet comments always welcome!!

I COULDN'T HAVE SURGERY UNTIL I FINISHED THESE!

If your mind works like mine does,

and I'm sure there are millions that do,

then you couldn't have had serious surgery

this past Monday, 2 days ago,

until the invitations to the shower

you were making

were complete.

And, in the mail.

That's how our minds work.

That and the fact that if the invitations 

weren't posted until yesterday

or any day after, they would be late.

So, they had to be finished

and in the mail 

bright and early on this past Monday

morning as I was driven to

the hospital in SAtown.

Knowing that I had a lot to do, 

not that I had a surgery - that news came later,

I never should have chosen 

such a time consuming design.

But, that's who I am.

That's who God made and

who's to argue with God?

So, last Tuesday when an unscheduled

surgery was scheduled for this past Monday,

one thought entered my mind.

THE INVITATIONS!!!

You probably know that my middle son, Blake,

is getting married to a most 

delightful young lady whom I adore,

this summer.

Her mom, who has become a fast friend

and whom I call Babs,

along with my precious DIL, Jana, are 

giving those two a couple's shower.

I had the invitations started before the surgery

news but they weren't far enough along.

Oh, no, not nearly!

I've covered the front of the invitation with 

patterned paper. 

Then I made little bitty envelopes

from which hand cut hearts

of all sizes spring!

And, of course, glitter.

A tag with "You're invited" 

was adhered to the front of the envelope

and the actual invitation was

glued to the inside after

I scalloped one edge.

The envelopes had their own tag

for addressing. 

Adhered with wash tape - I love washi tape!

 I love them!

Cute invitations

were complete and in the mail

on the way to surgery.

And surgery??

Went quite well, thanks. 

Post and pics to come.

God bless you for reading!

God bless you for

your input.

I love your spirits of support.

HI. MY NAME IS JAN AND.....

I'm standing at a podium in the middle of a small room and I introduce myself,

"Hi. My name is Jan and I suffer from IBS."

Did I expect a response?

From an empty room?

IBS is Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

It's not something one talks about let alone announce from a podium.

The choir loft?

In the line at the grocery store?

From the rooftops?

Over the P.A. system at Wal-Mart 

at the risk of  joining the photos of Wal-Mart shoppers?

IBS. A curse.

If you have a flare-up (flare)

you are chained to your bathroom.

If a flare comes at the wrong time 

you could miss your child's wedding,

your mom's memorial service,

your child's graduation from college,

the grand opening of a Dollar Store.

I had my first flare about five years ago.

That's a totally unacceptable experience when you're not at home.

My doctor put me on a hefty dose of a steroids

to get my flare under control.

.......And he kept me on it for.........five..........years,

assuring me that it was often done that way....long term.

He's a doctor, I believed him.

Slowly the skin on my arms became very thin

and they were easily bruised - blood bruises

like the elderly get on their arms.

It continued to get worse.

Oh, I called the doctor's office several times over those

five years and was reassured each time that

I hadn't been on the steroids too long.

It finally came to the point that I talked to my GP, whom

I trust implicitly, about three months ago.

She had me change doctors.

My new lower GI doctor is wonderful.

He weaned me off of the steroids in three days.

My arms started clearing up and 

the skin on my arms toughened up.

Yea!

At this point you're no doubt wondering why 

in the world am I telling you all of this.

Slow day.

Seriously, there is such an important reason.

It seems that the steroids built up in my body and started

affecting my behavior.

I wasn't aware of it.

Obviously, it got worse as time went on.

.....I have found out that the last year, okay,

probably two, have not been my years to shine.

I owe you an apology if I have ever acted whacked

or talked to you with an unacceptable attitude.

Hey, it could be any of many behaviors - 

I don't remember them.

I think my lack of memory has been my saving grace

in some ways.

It certainly hasn't been in a couple of instances.

May I suggest to those of you that feel you need

to bring to the attention of someone

you love, their behavior or your thoughts

of their mental stability, to do it in a 

loving way so as not to 
make them feel you are on the attack.

Be Jesus when you talk to them.

Be gentle, careful with your words

and most of all, talk to them with the love

you feel for them in your heart.
And, don't wait. Please, don't wait if
you love them. That is only harmful.

What happened to me twice before I even

knew there was a problem was not handled in that way.

Both situations destroyed me.

One friendship ruined,

the other wobbly, to say the least, for 

many months now.

I found out specifics of my behavior 

over the last year or two

from my sister, Joan, in a loving and positive

way last week in Florida.

She was kind and, though made me cry

from extreme embarrassment when

she gave me examples of my behavior,

talked to me like only my sister could.

Lovingly.

She started by telling me that she was

so happy that I was back to my "self".

I thought she was talking about my

arms so showed them off. 

But, no, she was telling me that she was

so glad that I was back to her "Jan".

I was honestly confused.

She explained that for the longest time

I hadn't been "me".

She even gave me examples that made

me want to crawl under the truck

(we were in my brother's pick-up).

Verbal attacks based on nothing, mood swings,

becoming a hermit, unquestionably whacked.

I did ask her why she waited so long to 

bring all of this up and she just didn't know......

I was so embarrassed.

I was mostly concerned that my boys

had been thinking that their mom was crazy.

No one else mattered as much.

No one.

When I talked to my eldest, he said that,

no, I had been fine for the last two years.

I had been so physically challenged.......

that's where I stopped him and steered him back

to my concerns.

That sweet boy forgave me for "nothing".

I shared and apologized to my daughter-in-law, too.

The steroids explained so much about

 the start of our relationship.

So glad to have an answer and her forgiveness.

(two down, two to go)

Even the Tank noticed my new behavior

without me having said anything.

The steroids took about six weeks to

work their way out of my body and

allow me to become myself again - to a point.

And, I feel the difference.

I'm full of the joy, the positive thoughts,

the anxiousness to "do",

and I'm happy. So joyful and happy.

I don't long to be the hermit I have become 

(let's take that one slowly - I don't do drama).

I'm me again.

I had seriously forgotten what it felt like

though I didn't realize that.

Confusing?? That's the real me, too.
However, I realize that it takes months for them
to completely work their way out of my system, 
but have been assured that any future "experiences"
will not be as horrid as the ones I've been
told about.

Again, if I have ever done anything odd or whacked

to you, please accept my apology.

This is the most effective way to get

"the word out".

If you feel the want/need to pass this

on to someone(s), please do.

I seek forgiveness.

P.S. Any comments? All and any are welcome. Anyone think this post could be any longer??

A REALLY HOT GUY, GUNS AND TOILET PAPER

When you have

a really hot guy, guns and toilet paper

you have a really fun wedding shower!

Hostess, Hannah Jones Brown, and

her mom, Annette Jones, gifted

Brat this amazing *grace* cross.

During all of the fun, I forgot to take

a photo of the gorgeous table

that Hannah and Annette laid out.

The red velvet cake was the

crowning glory!

"Did I forget to mention that you would be
the only guy here today, Blake??"
(That's so unlike me)

...This is Blake, my son, and
Brat's best friend, so it only made sense
for him to come.
And, I knew the ladies (and young ladies)
would enjoy having him there.

He really likes my best friend, Annette.

In fact, I think this might be his new fb profile pic.

Phyllis Fischer, Betty Harris and Kim Bolin
all delighted us with their presence
and delighted Brat with their presents.
(Oh, hush)

Jeanette Ricks and Rudy Shepherd...

I can only assume that Taylor has

walked into the room.

Yep! I was right!
Here's Brat's sister, Taylor, with her
most precious little boy, Skilyr.

"Blake. Stop.

I KNOW I told you there would

be toilet paper involved."

Groups of 3 with one of the group

being the BRIDE.

In this group, that'd be Blake.

(...the reason I wanted him to come...)

The wedding dress is made of,

you guessed it, *shhhhh* toilet paper.

Does anyone else think he's enjoying this just

a little bit too much?? Bwahahahaha!

(He was such a good sport!)

The stand out part of Amanda's

wedding gown was the sleeves.

Gorgeous.

However, I did hear some whispers

about a mummy. Just sayin'.

Some women were just born to be a bride.

Ginger's gown had a heavenly look.

So much so, that she reminded us of Mary.

You know, Jesus' Mary.

Remember, his mom??

Stay with me here.

Every bride needs bridesmaids!
And, Ginger's bridesmaids are
stinkin' beautiful!!

A sneak peek for all of my blog readers

of Brat's wedding dress.

Okay, not the real dress,

but it is the back up dress in case

something happens.

Good thinkin', huh.

Brittany is trying to look like one of those
professional models in the bridal zines.
You know, when they push their
shoulders forward? It's not a good look
on anyone.
I'll talk to her.

I'm as proud as a mom to tell you that

Abe, age 5, and my model,

came in as runner up.

His mom was my co-designer

and responsible for the shoes.

I'm thinkin' it was either the shoes

or the eyebrows (look closely)

that pushed him over the top.

Good lookin' bride, Abe!!

I think another element of Abe's bridal attire
that pushed him up to 2nd place was
his floor length veil.
(That was my idea. Is that bragging?)

I know you've been waiting for this moment
and may have even scrolled forward,
to see the Bride of the Shower.
Taylor Stone won the title.
She's a vision, isn't she?

I would be remiss if I didn't introduce you

to Taylor's designer, Elyce.

Where would a bride be without her designer??

I'm sure it's the camera man's fault
and Brittany isn't really sneaking in a nap.

Dig deeper!! There has to be wine in here!

No wine, but some fabulous placemats!

A darling Lucille Johnson creation,

an apron perfect for backyard bar-b-ques.

 The picture tells the story.

I'm a firm believer that the best gifts come
in the smallest packages.
That would be because this smallest of gifts
is from mwah.

Oh, real nice.

Brat couldn't read my handwriting

so Hannah had to help her.

It was offensive in so many ways.

(I'm kidding, ya'll:)

Abe kept telling me that THEY brought the BEST GIFT.
I think Brittany would agree!

And, to end the party,

some of the little faces that were there!

(There's a couple of big faces, too:)

And, last but not least..........I promised you some guns!!

The shower was a scream

with really good sports,

fun people,

cute kids,

great cake,

fabulous presents,

high fashion,

a really hot guy,

guns

and toilet paper!!

Thanks, y'all, for taking the time

to read my blog.

PLEASE leave a comment at the

bottom of the blog so I can get

an idea of how many are reading -

a lot of you send me emails or

comment on facebook, and that's

great! I'd just like an idea of

how many people I'm reaching.

I love you!! 

              Jan                         

also made of toilet paper