If you can imagine cheeks that are softer and squishier than the Pillsbury dough-boy's tummy…

If you've ever touched spun angel's hair or encountered liquid blue eyes…

If you have heard the highest, liltiest voice in the world ask, "How's your day?"  Or answer a most delightful and engaging, "Yes!" to any number of questions (which I keep asking just so I can hear this beautiful sound over and over)…

If you've watched a bundle of ruffles and lace running daintily behind big brother, Gavin, and cousin, Hunter, and yet have the least possible interest in anything they are up to…

If you've seen a giggling, happy girl who has caught  some one "misbehaving"  suddenly stop in her tracks, furrow her brow, point her finger and with great authority declare, "No!  Time out!"…then surely you have met Guinivere.

Guini is our 3rd grandchild (3rd time IS a charm!), but was our first granddaughter, full of goodness and grace and girly above all.  "NO!  Let go!" is how she interprets my favorite Matt Redman song, "Oh, no, You never let go."  Guini makes the whole family smile. 

Happy birthday, my little Guini-muggins, our sweet princess.  You really are our own family royalty and we, mere pawns, are thrilled when you are passing by on important kingdom business but stop to hug and cuddle for a  moment and pat us on the back and let us know you love us.

You're two, now, princess.  Take advantage of it!

Love, Nonna

NOTE TO SELF:  Learn to say "yes" like Guini does – a lot more and with her unabashed enthusiasm!

Busy week.  Finally read my daughter's blog from Monday and I loved it.  I told her these are not only words of encouragement, but of faith.  Check it out here: http://www.tarapowers.wordpress.com   

Believe me, she has seen the good, the bad and the ugly.  She honored us greatly by choosing to remember the great treasure of life.

I hope everyone who reads this has some one who will look into their life and believe everything about them that God believes.  Blessings, Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Gift some one with words that will bless, encourage and ignite hope!  Watch for the opportunity…

Guini will be 2 in a few days.  Gemma is almost 2 months.  We started with 2 rough-and-tumble grandsons and now we get to enjoy the "girly" thing.  Guini thinks she is "running with the boys" as she chases after them with her hands up near her shoulders, flopping daintily as she takes the tiniest strides in her summer sandals.

Granddaughters are wonderful, amen?…Jeanie

My husband, Dave, is finally blogging.  Check this one out.  Maybe you have to know him, but it cracked me up!?!

When Rocky & Jovan announced their pregnancy the week of Father's Day, brother-in-law Tristan got busy and put together a Conan-O'Brien-esque photo compilation of what their child could look like using various mix & match features from both of their faces.  You can see Jovan's eyes and hair with Rocky's eyebrows and nose, Rocky's teeth in Jovan's smile. 

Now – Rocky and Jovan are, and I don't think I believe this just because they are my kids, really just gorgeous people.  They are good-looking on their own, but put them together and they are just beautiful squared!

This can't be a true representation of my upcoming 5th grandchild, surely?  As long as he/she's beautiful on the inside…

Looking forward to grandchild #5, Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Don't let Tristan get his hands on any current pictures of me that he might "age" or something so I'll "know what is in my future"…EEKS!

Gavin and Guini are spending 4 days with us while their parents are at the Life 2007 conference in Florida.

Gavin found, as soon as he settled in, one of those individually-wrapped fortune cookies on my counter, compliments of Aunt Stormie's many take-out orders.  He loves them.  He opened it to eat and with great care retrieved the little piece of paper from the center, furrowed his brow and pondered, "Hmmm…what does this say?"  Before I had a chance to read it to him, he deciphered the message himself: "Oh, it says, "Gavin's gonna get candy! candy! candy!'  Oh, ok."  He continued crunching, content to have received a prophetic word of a good future.

You know, I actually had to look, as if somewhere, wherever they manufacture these random wisdom-bits, perhaps, indeed, there had been a cosmic declaration meant only for my grandson – that the very strong desire of his heart was being answered and somehow that cookie was on that counter at that moment to confirm his destiny.

Though I didn't see the same thing he did when I read the the tiny slip, I can verify to you that yesterday Gavin did, most assuredly, get candy!

Try this for fun: when our family gets together for Chinese take-out, we read our fortunes together, but end all with this phrase, "in the bathroom."  It does interesting things to the meanings!  Blessings, Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: "And now here is my secret…it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, for what is essential is invisible to the eye." – The Fox's secret in The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.  Believe beyond what my eyes can see…

I was thinking about how blessed I am to be surrounded by so many friends who are very creative and artistic.  Marie does it all, but oils are her true medium. When I visit Audrey's house,  or Amy Jo or look at my watercolor pears by Heather, when Judy comes to town and shows me her current works, or I've watched Pearl sculpt and mold huge theatrical sets and then cut tiny geometric pieces of paper that fit together to create an image or I use the antique desk Lisa painted with an English countryside and castle, -when I look at my "collection" of Kurt Weber's caricatures – I am just like, WOW!  These are really my favorite artists in the world!!!

Dave made Gavin an easel for his birthday this month, so I hope we are encouraging the next great generation of artists.  My favorite additions to my collection last summer were by the grandkids.  I think I could put their stuff up against a lot of displays in any modern museum in America.

Anyway – I have some art from almost all of my favorite artists and once they die, I will be really wealthy…unless I am already dead.

Create, dear ones, create!…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF: Make my home a reflection of all the people I love the most – even the ones who haven't yet discovered the artist inside.  Surround myself with their expressions of beauty.  Let it rub off on me, too.

Ode to the father of my children.  When you proposed to me all those many years ago, you told me you wanted me to be the mother of your children and that you wanted to be the father of my children.  How prophetic and forethinking you were.  I have loved sharing these 5 children with you.  You were a "daddy" in every sense to them in all the raising years.  You never relegated child-rearing to me alone, but changed diapers and wiped noses and listened to hours of nighttime prayers of blessings over neighbors' dogs and aunts and uncles and world peace and whatever else small children find of concern to share with God.  You got down on the floor and taught the kids Bible stories with visual aids ( – Star Wars guys representing the disciples, or rolled and fringed newspapers representing palm branches).  Your life has been lived to bless the children God gave you.  I know of no prouder father or grandfather.  I know of no other man who loves his family more deeply or forces as many people to watch videos of his kids leading worship.  You are truly awful with devotion!  I am so glad I got to come along for this ride. (pictured above: Dave and all 5 on Father's Day 1987)

Ode to my father.  (pictured: me with my mom and dad, 1960)  For Christmas, my dad "filled out" a book for me, A FATHER"S LEGACY – A Lasting Heritage for Your Children, Your LIfe Story in Your Own Words (J Countryman, $12.99 SRP).  I love this book with my whole heart because of all the understanding and insight into who I am it is giving me. The book is pretty cool because it divides questions over the course of the 12 months of a year, questions a child might ask a parent, and my dad answered them especially for me.  This book has been part of my cherished reading for 2007.  I keep it handy and read about this man, who is so integral to my very existance, often.  It tells me his favorites: scripture, food, leisure activity (Philippian 1.2, Mexican, golf in Ft. Meyers, FL).  It tells me the answer to things like: What was your favorite room in your house as a boy?  And why?  And – did you ever get into fights with other kids?  He did – several times, but a most memorable one was with Harley Race, who was later a USA wrestling champ.  Dad described it as 15-20 minutes of "fist-fighting" anger.  He doesn't record it in the book he sent me, but family lore says dad beat the stuffing out of Harley Race at that time.

There are questions about which teachers influenced him the most and what were his childhood fears.  He answers inquiries into his first kiss (everyone – the gril and her sisters and his friends – were expecting it so he complied) and when he fell for mom.  He answers about the things he'd do differently and what he knows to be true about life.  His description about his favorite Bible hero, Elijah, is, in so many ways, self-descriptive. 

Not all of the questions and answers are world-shaking, but they are all pieces to a complex puzzle.  Everyone should get their father a book like this so he can say all the little things we may forget to ask and will one day wonder about.

"What would you change about my childhood if you could?" is a question the book posed on behalf of the receiving child.  My breath caught in my throat for a moment and I read his answer

And you are a wonderful dad and getting better all the time!  By the end – I think you'll be perfect!  I love that I am your daughter and I recognize that the song in my heart and all the singing I did that you described in this book – came from the song of your heart.  Thanks for the book, dad, and the music –  and thanks for the final words in the book of advice you wanted me to remember, for this will carry me all the way to my end: "Make Jesus Lord of all."  Happy Father's Day, dad!

Ode to my children who are fathers.  How is this possible?  They grow up and have children of their own! 

Tristan and Stephanie gave us our very first grandchild.  We all have to laugh at them a little bit because when they got married, they weren't going to have any children.  So, yes, we're smug – and so delighted they changed their minds, because they have now given us THREE beautiful grandbabies!  And Tristan is such a gentle and loving father.  You can actually see the love his kids have for him when they look at him.  Tris, you are a great daddy – I really admire this in you.  (pictured, Dave with Hunter and Tristan with Gavin, with Uncle Rocky, Dec. 2004.  Guini and Gemma weren't here, yet)

Dave and Tara produced Hunter Magoo and that boy not only adores his father, but respects his word, his look, his instruction.  This will be a blessing for Hunter all the days of his life.  The trust Hunter has in his daddy when Dave thows him 12 feet in the air (I know because our living room goes to 15 feet and Hunter is pretty close to the top) and catches him ("Again, daddy, again!) is a sight to behold.  Hunter trusts Dave because he can.  You are an amazing daddy, Dave.

Rocky.  Uncle Rocky.  He is adored and loved by all dogs and small children.  They follow him like a pied piper even if he doesn't notice and is basically dragging them as they cling to his ankles.  So, here it is Father's Day and I bring up Rocky.  Why, you ask?  Because we just found out that Rocky is going to be daddy!!!  Yea!  It's true!  Rocky and Jovan have just let us know and we are excited.  Congratulations, Rocky – on becoming the father of Jovan's children.

Happy Father's Day to my 5 most important men.  Happy Day, my sons, my papala and my lover!

Happy birthday, Dave – son-in-law extraordinaire. (pictured: Dave as a little boy I did not yet know…)

June 16, 1981 was a really monumental day in my life, I just didn't know how monumental at the time.  On that day, far away in Minot, North Dakota, dad was proposing to me (we were married about 5 weeks later) – my dreams were coming true!

And YOU were born that day, too!

The first time I heard your name, "Dave Powers," it was Rocky describing you.  Rocky, who is not given to being easily impressed, was raving about you, excited to get to work alongside you at a worship conference.

"Oh, Dave Powers is so awesome," he was telling me.  "He is just an incredible worship leader."  Immediately, I liked your name.  I liked that Rocky had found some one he looked up to. 

Over the next few months, getting acquainted with you, I must admit, I really wished Tara could go for some one like you.  I'd hope that the two of you could meet sometime.  I never wanted to be one of "those" moms who stalks some cute guy for their daughter, but I was like, "Lord, – help me out here…this works for me…whaddya think?"  I am so glad to know that God was way ahead of me.

I am so pleased that God gave you as a son to us, that the very day we were committing to a life together, you were born – a gift for our future, Tara's dreams coming true, too.

You were an answer to much prayer.  You were the fulfillment of the clear vision God had given me concerning Tara's life and the man she would marry and the joy and delight he would bring to our family.  You walked in and re-ignited some lost passions and time-weakened dreams and became one of us, as if we'd never known a time before you.  You consecrated our new home with worship and your voice from those early days continues to echo in my memory – the many weekends you'd spend here, your time off from the ministerial internship, guitar in hand…We could see God's hand and blessing on you so clearly, we felt honored to offer this man of God our couch and a blanket.  You did drive me a little crazy with all the questions and inquisitiveness, but you drew me back out of a self-imposed exile and honored me by receiving what little I had to offer.

And the coolest thing of all: you and Tara did meet and you were exactly everything she had always hoped for – yea, God!  Thank-You!  And I am pretty impressed with myself for seeing it, too.  (Trust your mother, girls.) 

You're a good son.  You're a constant blessing to us.  You're a godly husband and father.  We couldn't love you more if you'd been born into our arms that day.  We thank God for you, every single day, we thank God for you!

Happy Birthday, Dave, love you so much…mom

NOTE TO SELF:  Get Dave over here with a guitar again.  It's time to hear the new song…

Tredessa was born in Kokomo, Indiana on the most beautiful sunny day in 1983.  Every year I tell her that and I hope as I tell the story, she realizes that I did fully believe at the time and continue to believe that God spoke a special blessing on that day and that the whole world was just coming alive in life and beauty and rejoicing at her pending birth (pictured, Dessa and me when she was 2 1/2 weeks old).

Happy Birthday, Tredessa! It's good I can see it that way – that beautiful day of your birth, in spite of the fact that you were considerably late and my water broke a full 2 days before you arrived (at a church softball game, no less, which your father did not want to leave until it was over and I was young and compliant enough at the time to agree…you're wondering who I was back then, aren't you?).

But when the doctor said he'd go ahead and induce, the clouds parted, the birds sang wildly and the sun made all glisten.  The colors were more vibrant than I ever could remember.  My third baby was coming.  Would it be a boy?  We still didn't know.  I wasn't fearful of the unknown like I had been having Tara, my first.  I didn't have the apprehension that came from Stephanie being 5 weeks early.  Now I was an old pro.  My track record had proven I could do this and I felt ready.  And there was just such anticipation and happiness surrounding your coming.  I can't explain why, but the sense was – something special was about to take place

Finally.  At 7:40 pm, you showed up all on your own (Haha! Dr Wachob!), interrupting a Scrabble game between your father and I, which I am certain I was winning, and everyone in the room said, "Wow, look at all that hair."  And just like in Little Women, it has been said of you your lifelong, "Her hair is her…true glory."

At the time, of course, we didn't know that you'd be the middlest of the Rhoades kids.  But any excuse anyone ever makes about their life because they are a middle child just doesn't hold water in light of who you are, the place of importance you hold in the family, the example of both servant and leader you display in everything you put your hand to.

What I like about you.  I often tell people who wonder: Tredessa is a treasure, full of rare and beautiful gifts.  But she isn't obvious or flashy (which is so self-serving), so not everyone gets to see that.  But for the person who will take just a moment to look for it, they discover great, great riches and are never the same.  You've never needed the applause of many friends, but the friends you have are deep and true.  You are one of the most intelligent people I have ever known, but you assault no one with it, only offer it as needed to bless.  You listen, not quick with words.  You observe, you learn, you evaluate, you discern.  Then when words come, they are powerful and life-giving and true.  All of your siblings have the greatest respect for you, and their spouses, too.  I think that says so much.  You are a peace-speaker.  The nieces and nephews look to you as a para-parent and their lives are well-documented because of your care in photo-taking and movie-making.  You're creative and thougthful (were you 10 when you made dad the Star Wars bookends for Father's Day and he cried?), you're humble and spiritually powerful (I will never forget the night you came in to my bedroom – you a teen-ager, me a mother grieving over a child heading down the wrong path, and you, with great authority, prayed a prayer of faith that caused the enemy to flee).  If you weren't my daughter, I'd be trying to figure out how to be your friend – because you are an awesome woman, my treasured Dessie. (pictured: Tredessa, age 6)

The first time we ever got our hands on a video camera, you were almost 3 and I am so glad we have the the footage of you.  Given your time to "perform" for the camera, you chose to tell us everything you'd ever learned from the Word of God.  Every sentence began, in preacher fashion, with these words: "And the Bible says…"  And it is easy to see that those very words represented the foundation of the life you live so selflessly before God today.  You have chosen to live your life poured out based on the Living Word of God (Jesus) for Him and for others.  Tredessa, you have great favor with both God and man.  i know this because I am looking out the back door – the sun has burst forth, the chimes are singing in the breeze, yesterday's raindrops are sparkling like confetti, the flowers are vibrant and the grass is lush.  The heavens are apparently celebrating your birthday, too! 

I love you, Dess…Mom

NOTE TO SELF:  When I grow up, maybe I can be just like Tredessa… (pictured:  Tredessa with "her kids" at her home away from home – The Home of Refuge in Venezuela)