Happy Birthday, Jana

Every once in a while, I plan to use this blog space to celebrate the significance of a life.

Tomorrow, my friend Jana Miller, is having a birthday. She is probably not all that excited about the actual event; watching the year roll around again is always somehow startling.

Jana shares her name with me, which is just one of the many reasons
why I like her. :-)

She was one of the first people I met when we moved to Tyler, and I liked her instantly.

She is a wonder to me--she is raising 6 children (aged 5 to 20), she is/has home-schooled them with creativity and diligence, she is a a beautiful decorator and seamstress (her house and garden could be in a magazine), she is a great cook (and makes a delicious homemade wheat bread and chocolate chip cookies), she has the gift of hospitality, she loves her husband, and she looks like she just turned 30.

Her best characteristic is her gentle spirit and her deep and very personal love for her Lord. He lives in her in very visible and lovely ways.

If you're out there, Jana, I hope you have a wonderful birthday with friends and family. The list of people who love and admire you is very long, and our family is certainly on that list.

I love you, friend!
The other Jana (or as they say in New Orleans, Jay-nuh!)