FYI – More than you could ever possibly want to know!

Edited 9 - 2010

Jeanie-in-a-Nutshell

Note to passers-by: There is no denying that this page and yes, even this blog as a whole, is a peek in to my world, a semi-secret coded map of my universe, and yet is in no way the whole, not by a long shot. Admittedly a bit of an autohagiography, any resemblance I might bear to some one who is perfect or has it all together or is just amazing is

p u r e l y & totally coincidental!

No perfection here. Just blessed beyond (waaaaay beyond) any deservedness.

{jeanie}

Lives in Colorado, where there are over 300 sunny days a year! Which, I need!

Married to Dave, best friend and lover for almost 30 years (we’re off to a good start)! We got married just less than 2 months after out first date, but before that we’d been friends who wrote letters across the miles! He is one of those men who just gets better with age. Oh yeah! Lucky to be in love with my best friend…

Familia: We raised 5 kids and lived to tell about it!! 5 grown children (3 of which are married to the best people ever!), 6 extraordinary grandchildren: Gavin-7, Hunter-6, Guini-5, Gemma-3 1/2, and Averi-3 and Amelie Belle who will be 1 in March. My parents still going strong for God, pastoring in St. Joe, MO. Incredible siblings and nieces and nephews and in-laws and family all over the states living for Jesus and going to the nations. So blessed!

Books that impacted me for life at the age of nineteen: Yes! by Ann Kiemel (because I wanted to be able to sing encouragement to people like she did), Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund (and everything else I have ever read by Anne – she has mentored/discipled me without ever knowing it)

FOOD Love: Italian, Mexican, Chinese, country-fried, Kalamata Olives, Bleu Cheese, seafood, Creole, turtles (the candy), anything with caramel, and TOMATOES! My true SOUL FOOD belief – breaking bread, enjoying even the humblest meal at a convivial table filled with love and laughter? The best meal you will ever eat. And may you have a lot of those in your lifetime!

Best question: What is God up to in all this? From John Eldredge’s book, Walking with God. Makes me look further than to my comfort and my way when things get crazy!

Foul of choice: “I Think I Love You, ” and “I Woke Up in Love this Morning” are 2 of the greatest songs ever and they are both by the Patridge Family. Really – you have to listen to them again! I also love David Cassidy singing “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat.” How cute is he?!? BUT MY FAV PATRIDGE SONG OF ALL TIMES?? ”It’s One of Those Nights”!! It was way more obscure, but WOW I love that song and my kids recorded it for me on youtube! My kids from Mother’s Day 2008:

UPDATE: they sang another one for Mother’s Day 2010, just a family room production, but it is my second-fav P-fam song and I LOVE it!

Half a century

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pictured: Jeanie Rhoades at one, and at 50

Greatest joys:

www.lilacphotography.com, dang I married a hot guy!

Mi familia: Time with Dave…the 5 delightful, energetic grandchildren…Tara & Dave, Stephanie & Tristan, Tredessa, Rocky & Jovan, and Stormie: The wonderful children God gave me – watching them live out His call on their lives through worship, missions, preaching and teaching, giving. I am learning so much from them…
Home. I found out that I was homesick for like 10 years. I love home…
Digging in dirt with my bare hands. Some people poetically call this “gardening.” And by the way, the ‘Chicken Soup’ people should watch out for me because I think I have a new series formulating: “Grace from the Garden,” because I really do find it there…
Writing. It turns out I am graphomaniacal, big-time! I LOVE to write: clattering on the keyboard or pen to paper. I am leaving words for my children and grandbebes. Words, the best of all I have, declared and decreed ~ w r i t t e n. “Words are all I have to take your heart away…”
The great grace and mercy of a God who takes time to bother with me. His Presence and His smile are my great life pursuits. I am awestruck to be learning that He is greatly pursuing my presence as well…

Love language:

Quality time and touch (the ones the book identifies). But also (the ones that aren’t in the book) the written word {letters, I L O V E letters!} AND song. I truly believe music and song are a love language for me. Everything and every person is a song to me and I am touched when some one has a song for me. I love beautiful songs…

Home decor style

Well, the HGTV website quizzes say I have a warm and vibrant color personality and have a “classic casual” style (meaning: “transitional ~ a mix of contemporary and traditional; usually updated, graceful and enduring.” Hm… Perhaps. My favorite magazines are