“For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
Before one of them came to be….” – Psalm 139:13-16
I have read these verses a million times. Always in reference to my children, particularly Mitchell, and God’s handiwork in creating them and His knowledge of them and how many days they would grace this earth. It has always been such a comfort to know of God’s intimate knowledge of them from before their conception.
But today as I stare at my 47th birthday (how the heck did that happen????) I read the verses from the perspective of God’s creation of ME. I crawled up in His lap, let Him give me a birthday hug, and then read these verses from His word from this new vantage point. And it actually brought me to tears. He used His very own hands to create me, to form me, to “knit me together”. The same hands that He still uses to shape me, to mold me, to change me. Every detail was from Him. Every quirky detail. Even my left ear that sticks out a little 🙂 He made me and put me on this earth for a very specific reason for a very specific amount of time. And even though I don’t know how many days that will be, I can live out the purpose of loving Him and loving others every single day of my life. And the people He has placed in my life….wow….I can’t even say how thankful I am!!!! And I will love them with all my heart for the rest of my days. So far, He has given me 47 years worth of those days. And if He chose for this to be the last one then I would join Him as one of the happiest girls leaving this earth, grateful for every experience, person and opportunity that He has given in those days.
Thanks to all of you who are helping me celebrate this day. It has been overwhelming and I am way beyond thankful. Thanks for making every ordained day such an honor and privilege and such a crazy, fun ride. You are His hug in my life every single day. The heart that He created is full and overflowing. And it loves Him and you with everything in it…..
( And speaking of age, my grandma just called to wish me a happy birthday. She and her friend Dewitt just walked over a mile! Not bad for 91 and 98! Grandma, I’m over half your age now….hope I have as many amazing ordained days as you and use them as well as you do! xoxoxo)
Happy Birthday, Jana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Somethng is coming in the mail this week and we hope you will enjoy. Thanks for all the encouragement you are to Mom J and me. We love your blogs and the way you communicate to your readers. Clearly you are a godly woman and your love for our Savior is such a blessing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
Loads of love.
Mom and Dad J
Love you, Papa. Thank you! Big huge hugs to you and Mama J until we see you in one short month!!! xoxoxo
I still think in the days of Pony Express…takes a week or two to see the messages. Loved your blog today. Way to go…
Here is a recipe that family members have called from the East Coast, California, maybe even Tasmania:
MOM’S BISCUITS:
2 cups flour 5 tsp. baking powder
l tsp. salt 6 -7 TBL. shortening
Stir together then add enough milk to make it like dumpling dough.
Here goes:
This recipe has been requested from all over the United States…I was taught to make them by a Negro Cateress who came in to help with special dinners when I was 18 and working here in Yakima as a maid.
MOM’S BISCUITS:
2 cups flour 5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt 6-7 TBL. shortening
Stir together then add enough milk to make them like dumpling dough. DO NOT KNEAD OR ROLL!!! Pat out on a floured surface, adding just enough flour to be able to pat them out. Cut with biscuit cutter then roll each side of the biscuit in melted butter.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Add butter and jam.
I am going to send these one at a time since my computer is arguing with me today.
My famous pickle recipe:
MOM’S PICKLES:
1 large jar Kosher Dill Pickles (Vlasic)
Drain off and discard all of the liquid.
Cut pickles into chunks and put back in pickle jar.
Heat together…just to boiling (Do not boil)
3 cups sugar 1 cup vinegar
2 buds garlic 2 tsp. Whole allspice
Cool
Pour over pickles and let stand for 10 days.
The following are very fattening and yummy so take them to a potluck so someone else gains weight!!
ESCALLOPED POTATOES:
2 lb. bag frozen hash browns 1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 medium onion, minced 1 pint Best Foods Mayo
Mix all together. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Use 9″ x 13 Pyrex dish.
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE INGREDIENTS.
This is a great dish to cook all night and take on a company or family picnic:
CROCKPOT BEANS AND SAUSAGE:
1 16 oz. can each:
Navy beans
Chili beans
Butter beans
Dark red kidney beans
Drain off juice from 2 of the cans.
Add:
1 28 oz. can B & M baked beans 3/4 cup diced onion
1 lb. Kilbalsa sausage 3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 TBL. Gourmet spicy mustard 1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Kraft Hickory smoke barbeque sauce.
Slice sausage and then cut slices in half. Combine all ingredients and put in a crockpot…stir for 2 minutes to insure good mixture. Turn crockpot on low and cook for 9-10 hours.
Try not to sample too many times…the smell is out of this world.
This recipe is a favorite with the relatives here in Yakima.
LIGHT CHICKKEN POT PIE
2 cans of 10 3/4 ounces reduced fat and sodium cream chicken soup
1 cans of 15 ounce can Veg-All mixed vegetables (drained)
1 1/2 cups cooked, diced chicken
1/8 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp. thyme
Black pepper to taste
1 pie crust
Combine ingredients and place in pie crust in 9″ pie pan. Cover with pie crust. Slit top. Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool for 10 minutes.
Truly, truly there will be NO left overs.
Please tell Brittany that her Great Grandma would love to be at her wedding and perhaps she can at least serve the piclkles!!
Love you. and again Happy Birthday
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog?
absolutely! thanks for your note! glad you enjoyed the post…