Jan's Saab Story..

Did I mention, I have one other baby.. it's my car..

I am a Saab Convertible fan.. and this is my second one. Isn't she lovely!

This is the first picture I took of Saab Convertible #2, she was on her way to the Saab dealer. I had only had her about 2 days. It ended up being nothing, but I gotta tell you, this really wasn't what I had in mind for her first picture!

I think her first picture should of been with her top down, in the sun.

I decided a while back that a Convertible was a perk I would give myself, since retirement does not look to be on my horizon, as far as I can see....so I can drive home from work with the top down, when the sun is out, in the summer.

It is my version of an evening cocktail! It makes me feel good. What do they say, it's five o'clock (commute) somewhere!

Nothing between me and the sun..I can pretend I live someplace warm, and not so wet.

I have had few "top down" days with her at the end of last summer, but I am hoping we get some sunny days this summer. After all, I live in Western Washington, and sunny warm days are not what people think of when they think of the Seattle area. Notice those lovely green fir trees all around her while she is sitting up on that tow truck here at the farm, rain.. yep... that's what makes those tree's so green!

Don't get me wrong, as a Christian I know I own "things",(actually God owns them, and lets me use them) ..they do not own me...but my little green car is one of my more favorite things, that I do get to have for now.

I know it is just a thing, and not comparable to the real important things in my life..God, Family, Friends..so for now, I am thankful for this one extra "thing" that doesn't own me.. that is fun to drive!

The Twin's

"E"lise and Trevor..

What is really funny, is we really don't call them the twins. They're "Elise and Trevor"

For a long time they thought they just happened to share the same Birthday.. if you asked them if they were twins, it was a reaction along the lines of ..dah, no?!

SEATTLE ROCK N' ROLL MARATHON....

What do you think about doing a Marathon or a 1/2 Marathon,whatever that is?

I must admit, I really am intimidated by the thought of it. I found out by accident while I was a captive audience of my dentists' dental assistant, as she was busy cleaning my teeth, and I could only.. well you know, listen.

She was very enthusiastic about the first time ever Seattle Rock N' Roll Marathon! She had signed up, and said "you should sign up too!" She said it is June 27th.. plenty of time to get ready... (I think she meant train for it).

To quote the material from the Rock N' Roll Seattle, Tukwila to Seattle: "It's a running block party as live bands play every mile along the two routes and thousands of high school cheerleaders motivate participants to the finish line"

Ok, so now I know know what a "1/2 Marathon" is.. it is a 13.1 mile foot race, the full Marathon is 26.2 miles...you have got to be kidding me? Could I possibly (walk/run/crawl) the 1/2 Marathon? I certainly am not ready to consider the 26.2 mile marathon!

I am like..well not exactly young, and I have a huge fear of failure, even in a marathon. But, the idea really is hard to let go of.. I like the idea of local bands every mile, wouldn't that be so cool?

They say that 45% of the "projected" entree's will be participating in their first marathon.. I could be one of those 45% projected entrees.. anyone else interested???? Lets think about this Ok?

Oh, Gotta go..have a date with the elliptical, time for Biggest Loser!

End of the Weekend...

My goodness, I am so glad this weekend ended, as I think I ate my way through it!

What can I say, it was my daughters Birthday weekend, and you would of thought it was mine...eat here, eat there.. Friday afternoon through Saturday night.

My work is about to open a gym, and I have my first weight in tomorrow, via email.. (honor system...do I really have to tell them the truth?)

I know, they will know the truth when it really opens, but for goodness sakes it was s'posed to be in December, and now it is going to be mid March. I quit my old to expensive gym last summer.. and the results are not good!

We have an elliptical, and you can count on me putting in a full hour on it on Tuesday nights..me and "The Biggest Loser" ( a show about people who are very..heavy.. losing weight in a competition) spend that hour together, faithfully!

I was being really good and doing the elliptical or the treadmill at least 4 times a week.. and than when I started working the overtime more..well, guess what got bumped.

The worst part is, dang if my clothes are getting a bit to snug..and my soft section is getting even softer..we have passed the "muffin" top middle, I am just becoming the whole muffin.

Those of you who are young and still have your figure without the added bumps and rolls, be thankful!

Happy Birthday to Tamis...38!!

It was just about ( almost, exactly to the hour), 38..(correction!) years ago today.. that my life changed completely. I was young, and married and our first child was born on 2-20-1971, just after 11:00 in the morning. A beautiful little girl was born to a young (unprepared for parenthood) married couple.

Tamis is now a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a nurse. She has many friends, who are old friends and new friends in her life. They are young and they are old.

She is funny and smart and creative and witty, and loved by those who are related to her and many who are not related to her as well.

We..those who are fortunate to be very close to Tamis; her husband, her children, her parents, her sister's family, ( and her pets!)... all cannot imagine a world without her..so all I can say is ...

Tamis, Happy Birthday to You!

This is one of our "pasture ornaments". Yes, that is really what the horses have become for us. This one is our strawberry roan Paint mare, her name is "O Heavens To Betsy".

She is actually a "crop-out" quarter horse ( all you paint people know what I mean). This just means her dam and sire (Ida Skip) were both quarter horses, but she had to much white, and is a Paint. So she is a purebred Quarter Horse fully registered as a Paint.. does that make sense?

She is now 13, I have had her since she was 6 months. I will add some other pictures later to let you see her up close. I just like the flowers in this picture!

Just a thought...

I was reading someone's Blog, and they commented on when they knew there was a God...that got me thinking.. because I remember when" I knew that I knew" God is real.

Yep, I had one of those "ah ha!" moments.

When I was little, I really felt like I knew there was a God.
I don't know why, because even though when we (my 3 siblings and I at the time, my little sister wasn't here til much later) were smaller, our folks would drop us off for Sunday School. I don't remember going to church with them ever at that time. I don't remember anything about the Sunday School either, just being dropped off to go.

My epiphany (don't you love that word, I do!) ..was when I was a teenager, and I was searching within, trying to figure out all that heavy stuff . .. you know, like.. " Why am I here? How did this all get started?"

And one night outside when I looked up and saw as clear as could be , a human face smiling down at me from the sky, it was as clear as a bell!
Now of all things to see, but a face..on the Moon, smiling no less...ain't that just something? To this day when I look at the Moon, he is still smiling down, as clear as a bell!

Never had a doubt since!

Thank You God!!!

Sweet VALENTINES day!

Is everyone out there getting all romantic with flowers and Chocolate?

My husband is more into Valentines day than I am. He always gets a card, he used to buy flowers and jewelry..I really didn't like spending the money on that.

Somewhere along the line he was very well trained to not forget this day (I don't think it was me)! I told him no cards, but he already had one. He thought someone had come in the house and stolen it, yes the card. This was because he knew he had put it in a certain place on his dresser," right here, I know I put it right here". I helped him find it, where he really left it, which was not on the dresser, right where he thought he left it...that's my Honey!


We are going to a catered dinner at our church. They always do something fun for Valentines... and Taproot Theater will be there and is doing the "Diary of Adam and Eve"... I bet Adam gave Eve all sorts of beautiful bouquets of flowers before they went and ate that dang apple.. after that "thorn bouquets" and hard labor...what was she thinking!

Anyway, have a good one, hug someone special, let them know they are loved!

Saturday in Snohomish..

It was very strange this morning, I woke up at 5:22 AM, and sat up looking at the clock "I 'm going to be late for work! Wait, what day is this? Saturday, don't I work Saturday? No, I don't.. oh good, go back to sleep.."

I have been working a lot of overtime lately, and the days can blend together. Don't you hate that? I hate when the days blur together, and you are in that rut, you know what I mean, I know you do...

It just seems sad, when you get this far through life, and you are always looking ahead to something far off, and not looking at the one day that you have .. today. I look back and think, how much time have I wasted on the wrong stuff, and the wrong priorities. When will I learn to "stop and smell the flowers" as they say.

I have grown kids, who are smart and talented and are also good parents with good kids, and good husbands...how fortunate is that! I want them to know how much they mean to me, and I don't know that they will ever know how much. We are so different, sometimes I think they can't "read" me like I wish they could.

Despite my parenting challenges, they still overcame in their own lives. I was raised a certain way, and may have mimicked some parenting habits from my early viewpoint of a parents roll.

I thought I was being better than my parents at some things, and in hindsight look back with total shame. I could of done so much more, "We" could of done so much more.

See, now I need to stay focused, right? I have today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not a guarantee.

Jan, stay focused, trust God, he gave you today, and enough strength for today.. don't worry about the "what' if's???" ..this call's for faith!!!

This all started with the emphasis on one thing.. today..what if it was the last today.. do I really want the last today to be the same blur as the ones before it? Hmmm.

OK, I am done ramblin' on..Good Night...

It's a New Year..with a rough start...

I would love to see this year be full of "good news", wouldn't you? I mean everyone has a job, and isn't worrying about loosing one.

Where our politicians were really looking out for the whole country, and not their special interests. Where the so call "stimulus plan"( that my grandkid's will be paying for) was really stimulating the economy now and soon. And not stimulating the interests of a bunch of crooks (politicians) .... pork! Give me a break...remember we are talking about an $825+ Billion Stimulus plan..

"According to a preliminary report by the Congressional Business Office that suggests it may take longer than expected to boost the economy. The government would spend about $26 billion of the money this year and $110 billion more next year, the report said. About $103 billion would be spent in 2011, while $53 billion would be spent in 2012 and $63 billion between 2013 and 2019."

"Overall, about one-quarter of the entire $825 billion recovery package would be devoted to activities crucial to governors, mayors, and local school boards - making them among the plans biggest beneficiaries. "

I know, I know, don't get me started...ok back to original thoughts..
Yes, a year where every business in the Seattle area needs new office furniture.That would be nice for Gavco Enterprises...
Where the price of hay is less than $18.00 s bale for good hay, and the horses won't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from( well it has not come to this yet, but it could!)

A year where, all the kids are safe and can just be kids and not grow up to fast, and cancer is cured. Where my Mom is guaranteed one more year, and than some ( per the agreement she claims to have made with her maker)..

A year where I know that those I love, have found the only road to eternal life, the one less traveled, and promised by the one who paid the price so we can walk it.

Oh, yes, and the year that I could realize, that some day I may get to retire!!!

I am dreaming, I know...but a person can dream, and pray!