Switching Gears

I’m alone in my little studio apartment. I flew back to the Northwest Sunday. For the past 6 weeks I’ve been in our Glen Ellyn home enjoying my summer. I’ve puttered, taken walks & bike rides, gone to the community pool, taken the train to Chicago, hung out with three of my four kids, sipped wine, but most of all I’ve been enjoying time with my husband.

As soon as I was on the plane I felt a shift. I am now on my mission to allow our youngest a wonderful senior year of high school. I’m no longer in my two-story plus basement home with access to the convertible, my bike, my man…

I am now in a small, cute studio with my beautiful daughter, Northwest weather, a cook plate, water that won’t stay warm and a car that smells like apple cider vinegar due to a spill during “the move”.

I had a bit of trouble shifting gears when riding my purple bike, Violet. I suppose I need to give myself a bit of time to make the switch to this current situation. I trust God, but that doesn’t always make it easy. I’m thankful for dear friends here in the Harbor and a calendar that is suddenly full, but I’m still having a hard time.

Not only am I wishing my husband lived here so we could experience Sarah’s senior year together, but I’m mourning the loss of our puppy dog Sadie. Having her put down last week was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done (ranks up there with moving.) Tears come when I least expect them.

I’m aware that I need to give my emotions a bit of time to adjust to this change just like my body is adjusting from Central time to Pacific time. I know spending time with girlfriends will help me shift back to Harbor Life. For now, it's time to go to bed. Maybe I’ll unpack my suitcases tomorrow…

Terrific Tuesday: The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, August 23, 2011
Outside my window...we're having a thunderstorm and it's raining hard. Good thing I pulled the car out and put the top up on my husband’s convertible before it started to pour.

I am thinking... about how much FUN I had in Chicago yesterday with my friend.

I am thankful for... my time being “home” in Glen Ellyn this summer.

From the kitchen...after I go to the grocery; tacos tonight, steak & corn on the cob tomorrow, whatever my college boy wants on Thursday and Friday it’s my birthday so dinner out?!

I am wearing...distressed jeans from Forever 21 and a patterned top I’ve had forever.

I am creating... hopefully a tidy home and lists.

I am going…to get my hair done-yay!

I am reading...More Than Words, Stories of Courage by Susan Wiggs, Sharon Sala and Emilie Richards.

I am hoping... my doggie Sadie doesn’t go to Heaven this week. She’s barely eating and is going downhill fast. The Vet thinks she has a tumor on her spleen and we’re just taking it day by day before we have to “make a decision”.

I am hearing...my son's music on his Mac, thunder, my dog pacing.

Around the house… I am NOT looking forward to going down to the basement to do laundry. Due to the remodel on the house next door that sat empty for five years, we’ve had two mice come in the basement!!!!

One of my favorite things…laughing with a friend so hard that we cry.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning, errands, spoiling my sick doggie, catching up with my daughter-in-law when she gets back from her trip to Colorado Springs, taking T.J. to the dentist, dinner out, celebrating my birthday, packing,and flying back to Washington for the school year.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

(My oldest & youngest before Sarah left to fly back for her senior year-and our sweet dog Sadie.)

To join the fun, visit Peggy at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading!

In His Grip, Jane

Family Friday: Remember to Check The Pockets!

(Picture source: I’m an Organizing Junkie!)

Last week I took a drive over to Indianapolis for a few days with T.J. and Sarah. We had a fun visit catching up with my sisters,my Mom (Grandma) and the extended family. I even got my childhood birthday dinner; bbq ribs and angel food cake with chocolate whipped cream icing-thanks Jill!

The best part about relocating to the mid-west is that I’m now only a 3 hour drive from my Mom. I had hoped to get over to see her more than once this summer, but since we’ve only had one car here I had to wait for Mike to leave on a business trip. Besides visiting, I wanted to be available to help my Mom around her little home. She lives in a modern 2-bedroom in my childhood hometown while she waits patiently for her new assisted living center to be built.

Mom needed help going through her closet. My wonderful mom tends to save things. She had LOTS of clothes that were either out of date or the wrong size. After a bit of tough love/persuasion, we filled two huge garbage bags with clothes to donate to the Goodwill. As we were folding pants, jackets and suits to bag up my mom kept saying “remember to check the pockets!”

What exactly were we looking for? Well…kleenex. Yep. My mom tucks a tissue in every pocket of everything she wears. We found a boatload. (She also found $5 which was way more fun than wadded up kleexex.)

(Source-http://www.kleenex.com/FacialTissues.aspx

Besides the hunt for kleenex, the other rather humorous event during my stay was when I opened up the hide-a-bed to put on the sheets and discovered a silver tray under the couch cushions. Why was she storing/hiding the velvet wrapped tray that I remember her buying last fall when she came to visit me? Apparently she couldn’t find anywhere else to put it. Hmmm.…

Lessons Learned: Family is precious; spend as much time with them as possible, you’re allowed to be quirky when you’re over 80, no one needs 10 pairs of khaki pants and black clogs, and remember to check your pockets!

“Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6


Is your Mom a tissue-tucker?

In His Grip, Jane

Wednesday Word of the Day: Skeptical

I was skeptical. I had been invited across the street for a “Girl’s Gold Rush" Party on Sunday after church. I’ve always wondered about those shops in strip malls that claim they’ll give you cash for gold. I had never heard of a Gold Rush party, but the Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s sounded good and I wanted to socialize with my neighbors since I’m still a newbie.

I headed over empty-handed, had a cocktail and met some new people. I also watched the expert studying jewelry and handing out checks. As I was leaving I decided to grab the invite which described what gold brought cash…

For a while in college I liked gold jewelry, my wedding and engagement rings are gold, but I’ve always been a silver girl. Among the list I saw the potential; men's jewelry. I found Mike down in the basement watching golf and casually asked him if he had any old gold jewelry. He said to bring him down his little wooden box off his dresser.

Hubby was awarded many rings and pins for being an “all-star” in the company (which shall remain nameless) that he worked for three jobs ago. I went back to the party and was the caboose on the gold train.

The nice gal checked my loot with a magnet (fake gold/metal sticks, real doesn’t) and looked for the inscription, etc. It turned out all my stuff was fake; Mike’s rings and pins were 10 k.

Jackpot! I was the big winner of the day! I came home with a check for over $800 (enough to pay the first month’s rent on the Studio apartment in Gig Harbor) and $20 in cash for being the winner of the day.

The Encarta dictionary defines skeptical as being doubtful, tending not to believe or accept things but to question them. I was skeptical about the whole money for gold concept, but now I believe. Now I believe, thanks to my handsome hubby…

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Do you doubt that God has your best in mind, even when things aren’t going the way you’d hoped? I know the past year has had me asking God, “really?” quite often. It is comforting to know that He is working out a plan for our family as we bounce back and forth between Washington and Illinois. Even a simple invite to a party that I was skeptical about resulted in financial help for our rent.

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” Job 23:10

Lessons Learned: Don’t always be skeptical, real gold is not magnetic (and most of mine is), jewelry is definitely a girl’s best friend, and GOD is good, all the time...

In His Grip, Jane

Terrific Tuesday's Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, August 16, 2011

Outside my window... are workmen. Yep, they are RIGHT outside my side window building the garage. Weather-wise, it’s beautiful; sunny and about 79.

I am thinking...what fun it was to take a road-trip to Indy last week and see my family. We ate out at Don Pablo's.


I am thankful for... my son Mitch getting a teaching job here in Illinois!

From the kitchen...Sarah will be gone, Mike’s traveling so maybe the frozen Lasagna?

I am wearing...khaki shorts and a blue & white striped tank top.

I am creating...I’m going to put black chalkboard paint on the drawer-fronts of my little wooden Ikea organizer that’s in my craft room. The chalkboard paint on the pantry door turned out great but I’ll have to blog about the details another day…

I am going… to O’Hare later; Sarah’s flying back to Washington.

I am reading...All You Need To Be Impossibly French, by Helena Frith Powell

I am hoping...Sarah gets all our stuff moved into the studio apartment and figures out the changes in her class schedule.

I am hearing...the dishwasher, my boys talking about soccer (Arsenal fans) and workmen next door.

Around the house…we have had a sweet newlywed couple staying with us for several days while they waited for their apartment north of Chicago to be ready. Today is moving day for them!


One of my favorite things…eating at the Texas De Brazil Steakhouse in Chicago. After going to the Art Museum we had my b-day dinner a couple weeks early-yum! I got these really cute flower pins at Forever 21 that I can pin on my sweaters and Sarah can wear in her hair.


A few plans for the rest of the week: go to the pool, take TJ to Naperville, have a bible study reunion with my “Esther” group, clean the house and I hope I can go see The Help.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

(Mike & I in front of The Bean in Chicago.)

To join the fun, visit Peggy at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading!
In His Grip, Jane

It's a New Week! The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, August 8th, 2011

Outside my window... it started out sunny but currently it's raining (and my husband left the top of his convertible down at the office...bummer.)

I am thinking...how much I’ll miss not being able to go for bike rides when I leave at the end of the summer-“Violet” will stay here in Glen Ellyn.

I am thankful for... my daughter Allie arriving safely in Costa Rica. She's already having a wonderful time and feels God's presence.

From the kitchen...We’re having chicken, asparagus, and I’m going to try a grilled Romaine salad with a citrus vinaigrette that I saw on the Food Network.

I am wearing...black shorts and a black & white tank top, bare feet.

I am creating... a wall of my kid's art down in the craft room/office.

I am going…to take my two youngest and visit my Mom and sisters in Carmel and Indianapolis tomorrow through Thursday.

I am reading...I finished Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman (loved it!) and went back to Under the Tuscan Sun.

I am hoping... my son Mitch and his wife Amy both find jobs soon that they will enjoy.

I am hearing...rain tapping on the windows, thunder rumbling, and my dog walking in circles since she's nervous about the storm.

Around the house… it’s still a bit disorganized since my messy kids are here and Mitch & Amy are settling in. The bamboo blinds I ordered for the kitchen arrived and I found some bedding on clearance at Pottery Barn.

One of my favorite things…my black-velvet, lavender-filled eye covering I wear when it’s too bright and I want to sleep. It feels good and it smells good!

A few plans for the rest of the week:besides our road trip to Indy, I plan to take my daughter to a beauty school in Naperville for a facial-it’s super affordable,hopefully I will decide on a bedroom paint color, we need to head to Chicago before Sarah leaves next week, and I have a pillow sham on hold at the Geneva Pottery Barn.

Here are pictures for thought I am sharing...
(We took a drive up to Grayslake where we lived from 1994-1997.)

We saw our old house-it was blue/gray when we lived there.)

(Third Lake where we swam.)


(We ate at our favorite places; Pat’s Pizza and Dog ‘n Suds.)

To join the fun, visit Peggy at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Since I’ll be out of town Wednesday, I might not be blogging again until Friday. Thanks for reading, and have a good week!!

In His Grip, Jane

Family Friday: Look Out Costa Rica!

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

Knowing helps. Thanks to a voice-mail I found on my cell phone this morning, I know that my daughter Allie has arrived safely in her new home-away-from-home country of Costa Rica. Allie and her best friend of 13 years are taking advantage of a wonderful opportunity, and will be student teaching this fall at Lighthouse International School in Escazu.

Whitworth University has a satellite campus down in Costa Rica. It is about an hour from the capital of San Jose’. It used to be a hotel and now it can house 30 students.

The girls are at the campus for a little while and then will be moving in with a host family in the city of Escazu. It is an upscale city with lots of restaurants, modern shopping, and even an IMAX theater. It’s known for its scenic outlooks and appears to get more rain than San Jose’ (Growing up in drizzly Gig Harbor hopefully prepared them for the upcoming rainy season.)

I love that they’ll experience a new culture, live with a retired Abuela (grandma) and Abuelo (grandpa) who speak Spanish, but get to teach in an English-speaking school. My musically talented girl brought her guitar; I hope she’ll get lots of opportunities to play for her class. Allie has spent much of her teacher training in the early grades but this time she’ll be with 6th graders.She has a big heart for kids and loves science and reading.

Thirty years ago I student taught 3rd grade at the elementary school in Carmel Indiana that I had attended as a child. I lived at home with my Mom and Dad. Most of the staff knew our family. I remember my mentor teacher, Millie Spilly, was terrific, and I enjoyed my class. Not quite the student teaching experience my daughter is about to have...Except for crossing the border into Tijuana and up to the Canadian border, I never traveled out of the country when I was young. Would I have gone if money wasn’t an issue and the opportunity arose? Probably not. I grew up quite the homebody-I was even afraid to go to sleepovers! Thanks to my hubby I have traveled to Mexico, Canada and Europe twice. I might even live overseas someday...

Allie has been on mission trips to Mexico and Jamaica, camps in Canada, school in England and spent time with friends exploring Europe. I admire my adventurous daughter. Where did she get her fearless spirit? (Probably partly from her Air force-brat Daddy who lived all over the place but mostly from our Lord who challenges her to “go and make disciples of all the nations.” Matthew 28:18)

I’m so proud of the young woman my oldest daughter has become and whether or not she ends up becoming an elementary teacher, I am excited for her to have this semester “abroad”. We sent her with a can of Mace Pepper spray, lots of prayers and all our love. Her adventure begins!

Look out Costa Rica! Here comes Senorita Allison Grace Carver!!

In His Grip, Jane

Wednesday Word of the Day: Anthropomorphic

I love Winnie the Pooh. When my four were all little we spent HOURS watching the Pooh videos. Last Friday I took my two "littles" to see the new movie. Seventeen and nineteen are not too old to enjoy all that Winnie the Pooh has to offer. We laughed and learned. The voices were almost identical to the originals and the adventure was new. Of course the story began with a rumbly tummy…

What is a rumbly tummy and what is a Pooh? Well, Winnie the Pooh was created by A.A. Milne back in 1926 and the boy in the stories, Christopher Robin, was his son’s name. Pooh is a lovable teddy bear whose tummy is always rumbly and hungry for honey. The stories are classics and the videos that Disney produced are delightful. Pooh has lots of friends in the Hundred Acre Wood where he “lives”. The forest is modeled after a real one in England called Ashland Forest. I love the British accent that Christopher has in the movie.

When I taught first grade we did a Pooh dance in the spring musical so I know all the words to the song. I can also tell you the T-I-G-G-E-R cheer. Did I mention I have a cat named Tigger?

I was hunting down some Pooh facts when I came across a word I wasn’t familiar with; anthropomorphic. The Encarta Dictionary defines it as "attribution of human characteristics to nonhumans". Well that explains why I love Pooh and his friends so much-they really are like people!

I asked my husband which Pooh character he was like. I stumped him. I guess no one had ever asked him such a deep question.

I am a blend of ALL the Pooh characters.
Pooh: I’m silly and often hungry,I love honey, I like wearing red and I love my friends
Rabbit: Although I’m not a great gardener I do like order and can be short-tempered
Piglet: I like pink, I worry too much and often get scared
Kanga: I too am a mother who tries to be patient
Roo: I'm easily excitable
Eeyorre: Yep, I have my gloomy days and sometimes see the glass half-empty
Owl: I love books and need glasses but I don’t pretend to be wise
Tigger: Give me my morning coffee and I’m cheerful and bouncy (and I’m the only me!)
Christopher Robin: I always played pretend as a child and loved my stuffies and dolls
(Gopher wasn’t in the new movie and I can’t really think of how I compare to him…)

My youngest has all the stuffed animals, the books and even a hand-painted Pooh toy box. I have the feeling that when she becomes a Momma, her little one will have a delightful Pooh-themed nursery.

I don’t want to spoil the movie for you by telling you everything that happens, but let’s just say the anthropomorphic animals reminded me once again, about compassion and friendship.
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:10 (This also applies to losing your tail…)

Lesson Learned: Friends are even more important than a rumbly tummy and you’re never too old to enjoy Winnie the Pooh.

Which Pooh character are you most like?

In His Grip, Jane

It's a New Week: The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, August 1st, 2011

Outside my window... it’s sunny, sticky & warm.
I am thinking...a year ago yesterday my oldest son Mitch was getting married.
I am thankful for... my older daughter trading in her lemon car and finding a Jeep Liberty she loves.
From the kitchen...last night was spaghetti with homemade meatballs, tonight we’re having chicken and veggie bobs on the grill.
I am wearing...my Java Jane t-shirt and floral boxers-I haven’t gotten dressed yet.
I am creating... pots. I’m copying a blog idea. Mike spray painted clay pots I got at a garage sale black, and I’m going to stencil our house numbers on them and fill with flowers.
I am going…to Ikea and Woodfield Mall this afternoon with my kids.
I am reading...Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
I am hoping...I can figure out a part-time job when I return to Gig Harbor for the school year. My teaching certificate expired so I need to see if I can renew it if I intend to substitute teach.
I am hearing...the air conditioner but otherwise it’s peaceful and quiet. The dog must have fallen asleep, otherwise she’d be barking.
Around the house… lots of wedding gifts have been delivered here for a couple my son is friends with and they're stacking up in the basement. I need to finish hemming curtains, do some laundry and mop the wood floors with my Shark.
One of my favorite things…Matchbook E-magazine. I LOVE it! It’s preppy, classic and informative.
A few plans for the rest of the week: welcoming my oldest son and his wife and finding room for all their stuff, going to the pool to try to get a “tan”, possibly going to Chicago for an outing, and choosing a paint color for my bedroom.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

(This is Tigger after he spent the night outside in an old, deserted doghouse during a thunderstorm. He is NOT an outdoor kitty anymore and he was NOT happy about it.)

To join the fun, visit Peggy at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

In His Grip, Jane