Happy Birthday, Janiece!

I thought it was 15 years but according to her blog, it must have been 16 years ago today that Janiece's sister, MaryLee and I gave her a party at the Midland Mall. I always felt bad that she got jipped by having a birthday the day after Christmas. It was too easy for givers to hand her one gift and say it was for Christmas AND her birthday. So for her sweet sixteen, I took a few of her friends to the mall ahead of time. We each picked a different store, bought her a gift, wrapped them in the car, wrote a clue as to where she would find it, took the wrapped gift back to the store we got it from and asked the clerk if she would keep it behind the counter until the "birthday girl" asked for it. I don't remember if she asked at any wrong stores or if it embarrassed her to do this, but I thought it was fun, even if she didn't! lol! Either way, I'm sure it was a day she will never forget.

Happy Birthday to my friend's bratty li'l sister, who soon became: 1/3 of our church youth group, lead singer of the Northern Lights, my friend, my confidante and wife of my husband's college friend - how cool is that?! Hope you have a fabulous day!

P.S. Janice, I had plans to do a post before I read your blog (just so you know you weren't an afterthought :) and I'm sorry the only pic I have of you includes Jerry, but I guess he IS your other half...anyway, I'm on the road posting on Tony's laptop, thus the lack of photos. And last but not least, I haven't called you yet b/c I was waiting until you were out of bed. Now my kids are being LOUD!

Another Blogger

Please help me welcome to the world of blogging someone who has become a very dear friend to me in recent years...(drum roll please!)...Jody Johnson. I have been looking for a reason to use this lovely photo and now just seems like the right opportunity. Of course, the man wearing the bow tie is none other than her husband, our associate/teen pastor and FCA's principal, TeenRev!

I am looking forward to reading her innermost thoughts and ponderings. I've already learned through her ABC post that we both have a habit of popping our toes. But that's not the only thing we have in common...we are both PKs, both babies of our families, both play the piano and sing, and the list goes on. She has been a wonderful source of inspiration to me since we've lived in the area. I thank her for listening to all my sorrow, my whining and complaining and for answering the phone even when the caller ID shows that it is me and most definitely means a very LONG phone conversation! (I only hope she still answers the phone after she sees this post and the photo :)

You can view Jody's blog here.