Hi! I'm Jan, the third of three daughters. At least once while growing up, I heard my parents jokingly comment that my dad never got his dream of a baseball team. Instead, he ended up in a household full of females, even the dogs and cats were girls (except the one male kitten we got to keep once). As a consolation, he got away with never having to buy a modern dishwasher since he already had three good ones!
They named us each three-lettered nicknames so Dad would remember how to spell them, or so they said (and I believe it!). That may have worked for him, but not so much for me. All my life people have been trying to add letters to my name...Jane, Janet, Jeanett, or Jean. I have received mail and phone calls for Pam, Sam, and Juan. Twice I have been mistaken in documentation as a male student with the German name Jan. It gets frustrating having to correct people, especially teachers and employers!
Earlier in life, I envied people with classic longer names for a professional persona but also got to have nicknames to make them extra special. But then I grew to realize that my name did make me extra special, too. Who else could claim all the hassles mentioned above?! I've only met one or two other "just-plain-Jan"s in my life. In addition, my mom gave my birth-given nickname a nickname. She affectionately called me "Janner". God bless her! 😀
But what's in a name, anyway? There's more to us than just our name. Most of my life I have been a "preacher's kid" ("PK"), so that has colored my world in many wonderful ways. Most importantly, it introduced me to Jesus Christ at an early age and protected me from many harmful things in this world. Although I had that protection and Christian guidance, I still have made my mistakes and unfortunately failed to live for Christ every step of the way in my life. Obviously, I've not been exempted from the deception, disappointment, defeat, and destruction that come from choosing my own will over God's. Thank God, though that he is the God of second chances, third, fourth, and endless chances! I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV)
Today I find myself in the same life stage as my Dad and older sisters--a senior citizen! The journey to this point has been challenging, but full of grace and blessing. Through it all, I have often thought, "God has prepared me for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) because somehow God always brings it all together to use for His divine purposes.
As a graduate of Taylor University with a BA in Religion/Christian Education, I've had years of wonderful experiences in Christian ministry at home and abroad. Later, I taught English as a Second Language to refugees and immigrants at a refugee settlement agency. That led me to return to school to get an MA degree in English/TESOL at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. The years of interacting and working with people from around the world have left me with great respect for cultural diversity. I have left pieces of my heart in Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico as well at the International Institute of St. Louis. Beautiful people everywhere!
My first marriage dissolved after fifteen years; however, a few years later, with my second marriage, came the fulfillment of my life-long dream to be a mother. At the age of 50, I became a foster mom, and eventually an adoptive one five years later. What a special privilege and honor it has been to have each child in my life! After working part-time for years as an ESL teacher at the community college and as a Spanish teacher at a Christian school, I am now a stay-at-home mom and a substitute teacher as needed.
My favorite activities are volunteering in the children's ministry at church, maintaining relationships with my former foster children, spending time with family, listening to the news, and playing Ruzzle on my phone. I love contemporary Christian and Latin music genres. As an animal lover, I have four rescued pets--three lab-mix dogs and a black cat. Given a choice, I'd choose a relaxing day at the St. Louis Zoo or an entertaining evening at The Muny outdoor amphitheater in Forest Park.
Oh, my! Is this too much information?! 😵
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