A Night at the Opry

Last night Bill and I got the pleasure to go up to Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale, FL, to see dear friends, Jean Shepherd and Benny Birchfield perform.
Jean is known as the Grand Lady of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and has been a member since she was 17 years old, when she had her first million selling record. She's now 76 years old, so that tells you how long she's been a member!
Benny played banjo and guitar for The Osborne Brothers, but then later on, became best friends with and guitar player for the great Roy Orbison. In talking with Benny last night, I found out that Roy died in Benny's arms after a day of flying model RC planes.
Benny and Jean have been married for almost 41 years and have 10 children and 25 grandchildren....just a precious couple that I'm so honored to know.
Here's a few pics of our time with them and the band members last night, just hanging out and catching up.
And by the way - I'm TALL standing next to Jean....lol

Benny and Jean just having a little fun after the show

A few pics of the stage band that opens the show, then later played with Jean

This ole boy playin fiddle never ONCE lifted his head...lol

Benny and Janelle backstage before the show

Benny and Bill backstage before the show

Dave, Ray and Bill before the show

Leigh Leigh Gets Married

Yesterday Bill and I were honored to be invited to the wedding of a beautiful girl, Leigh Anne Walter, who I've known since she was 2 years old. "Leigh Leigh", as we always called her when she was little, was a BEAUTIFUL bride, despite the dark skies and rain that began to fall as the ceremony began.
I have known the 4 Walter girls and their brother Nathan, practically all their lives - they grew up with my kids, and I just can't ever imagine NOT being at the wedding of any of them!
Below are pics of the wedding, and also some of my lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time girlfriends, who I haven't seen in ages! We had SO much fun just hanging out at the reception, dancing, and catching up on things.
God's richest blessings to Leigh Anne and Tom Smith! You are a beautiful couple, inside and out...

Alise Walter, Sister of the Bride
Lauren Walter, Sister of the Bride
Jenny Walter Hassan, Sister of the Bride
Ashton and Claire - Jenny's kids
Mark Walter with Leigh Anne
The first dance for Mr. & Mrs. Tom Smith
Sue, Jann(mom of the Bride)Me, Etta, Lenise and Val
Girlfriends I've had since about 1984
SO wonderful seeing them all!
Jann, Me, Etta and Lenise
Val and Me.....aka "Mutt and Jeff" :)
Etta and Me...aka "The Crud Sisters"
Lonnggggg story....lol
Lauren, Claire and Me
I used to have Lauren on my hip like this ALL the time.....and it seems like it was only yesterday!
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Smith!
CONGRATULATIONS LEIGH LEIGH!!!!!!!

The Gift of Restoration

Today was such a great day! In emailing back and forth between my long lost friend that found me this week on Facebook, we planned to have a phone chat today, and anyone that really knows me, knows I LOVE to talk....a LOT!
Our phone "chat" turned into a marathon call, which I anticipated it in being, and we just picked up right where we left off the last time we spoke, which was in 1980.

I am so grateful to our Lord for the gift of restoration and the gift of such a true friend, as I have in my dear, precious Angie!

That's TWICE in the last two years that the Lord has done this very same thing for me.....on my 48th birthday, I had an email from my sister Angie, who I had not seen or heard from since February 1972. She too, had found me via the internet - I'd been doing a lot of genealogy on my daddy's family and would always post things with my maiden and married name, and that's where she had seen how to contact me through email.

Two Angies that were vital parts of my life and I thought I'd lost forever - one a sister, and one who was as close as a sister, are now back in my life once again, and it's one of the greatest gifts that my precious Jesus has bestowed upon me.

Thank you Lord, for your neverending love and promises of hope!

Finding a Long, Lost Friend

Today I had the most wonderful thing happen! The daughter of my best friend in 8th grade, found me on Facebook!
I had moved to Memphis to live with my daddy, stepmother and sister Angie that year, and developed a very close friendship with a girl named Angie as well. We were stuck together like glue most of the time, and after I moved back to Florida, we lost touch for some time.
In 1978 after I got married and went on my honeymoon, we drove up to Memphis to see my daddy and I was able to contact my friend Angie, who had since gotten married and had a two year old daugher, Mandy.
It was Mandy, who found me on Facebook today - she said her mom was over and they were on the computer together and just happened to do a search for me and WALLA - there I was! The strange thing is that I was just looking for Angie around that same time last week, but couldn't remember her married name!
I sent her an email and am excited to hear back from her...
Thank you Jesus, for this reunion!

Janelle

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It seems like we were just ringing in 2008, but in a few short hours, this year will be just a memory.

As I look back on my life, I think about the events from this past year:

• I turned 50!!!


• My Sarah had her 7th "real" birthday on Feb. 29


• Dude graduated from Basic Training


• Bill and I were married 5 years


• I quit my "real" job and am now staying at home to focus on my folk art


• I was accepted into TDIPT


• I started a blog

God has surely blessed me in so many ways! He's given me new friends, He's enabled me to share with you, teachings from His word, and I am so grateful for those blessings.

I so look forward to seeing what God is going to do in my life this coming year!

Happy New Year Y'all! :)

Janelle

Spreadin the Love

Carla of Country Road Primtives honored me by giving me this award - thank you Carla, and I'm sorry it took me so long to post!

Here are the rules to follow through when you receive the award:

1.Post a copy on your blog.

2.Mention who gave you the award.

3.Pass the award onto 6 others.

4.Leave a message on their blog letting them know the award has been bestowed upon them.

So here are the 6 that i would love to give this award to:

1. Cookie of Curds n Whey

2. Jen of The Prairie House Primitives

3. Lea of Farm House Blessings

4. Peanut of Country Folk Keepsakes

5. Pam of Goldiloo Woodworks

6. Tonya of Back Porch Pickins

My dear friend Lily, has passed on this award to me, and I'd like to do the same for those who have been such important people in my life...

Now here's the rules:1.) Copy and put the Award Logo on your Blog

2.) Add a link to the Person who awarded you

3.)Nominate 7 blogs who haven't received the award yet

4.) Add links to those blogs on your blog (say that 5 times fast!!)

5.) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!!

Here's my picks:

http://twogotolugo.blogspot.com/ My Precious Sarah and SIL Jon

http://curds-and-whey.blogspot.com/ Cookie

http://todwellinprimitivethymes.blogspot.com/ All the Girls in TDIPT who have inspired me

http://tailsfromthedogpatch.blogspot.com/ Patty

http://www.peachstreet.blogspot.com/ Jamie

I'll get to name the other ones later on - storms are upon us right now, and I best be getting OFF this computer! :)

Janelle