Naptime News

My Mom is taking a short rest, so I will catch you up on thoughts I’ve had since arriving in Indy.

The color of the week is brown. I had heard my family talk about the weather and the drought in Indiana and the Mid-west, but now I’m seeing with my own eyes. I left the green trees and yards of Western Washington and have arrived to brown. It’s against the law right now to water lawns here. Farmers have lost their crops. It is hot, sticky, and brown… Since I arrived in central Indiana two days ago it has rained twice but only for about ten minutes. I seem to bring the Seattle weather wherever I travel-ha! The rain also brought lightning and storm damage. But still…the ground is so hard that water can’t soak in. The government has declared this area a disaster; I pray that the farmers can recover in the future and look to God for their hope.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

I am too old for the “red eye”. In order to use free American Airline mileage points it took three planes to bring me to my destination. Seattle to Las Vegas, Vegas to Chicago (during the night)), and then Chicago to Indy. I thought Vegas never sleeps, but the airport stores do! Around midnight it's impossible to buy a snack. I also thought planes flying during the night were supposed to be dark and quiet “sleep friendly” flights. Not! They showed a movie. It’s a good thing I brought my Sweet Dreams eye mask to block out the light. I’m sure I looked ridiculous…It’s official-I AM a princess. Just like the fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea, I have the royal ability to know when I’m sleeping on an object. I just couldn’t get comfortable on my Mom’s couch when I awoke during the night. Then I remembered that she stored her pretty silver serving tray under the cushions. Interesting…

I don’t usually start my day with T.V. news, but when I got up to pop in the shower my Mom had the Today Show turned on. I saw what took place at the movie theater overnight and my heart and prayers go out to Colorado. Events like this horrible shooting certainly put my uncomfortable flights, the lumpy couch and the water shortage in perspective. May you find joy in the Lord today, and hug your loved ones...

In His Grip, Jane

Word for Wednesday: Catwalk

(My Porch)

I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs last night while watching an Army Wives episode I had taped. Does anyone I know watch the Lifetime series? I've been a faithful follower but I don't have anyone to talk to about it. I digress...A beautiful white house caught my eye and I had to find out more about it. I love discovering new bloggers to follow and Town and Country Living will now be on my list.I am a white house lover. My last house was white and I hope to live in another one someday-with black shutters…and a red door…

I found out the house I was coveting was in Geneva, Illinois. Geneva is a beautiful town on the Fox River about 25 minutes west of our former suburb of Glen Ellyn. It has a quaint downtown surrounded by farmland, neighborhoods and a big outdoor shopping mall. We house-hunted there but the commute would have been too long for Mr. C.  I wonder now if I ever drove by this pretty home?  The girl who took the picture used to have a friend that lived in the house. She mentioned the wrap-around porch but called it a “cat walk”.

Source: http://townandcountryliving.blogspot.com/2012/07/classic-white-house.html

I have a cat walk! Why hadn’t I ever thought to call it that?! Tigger, my big, fat, red kitty LOVES our porch. He spends all day walking around, looking out at the world through the safety of the porch rails (when he’s not sleeping in the sunshine or in the cool darkness under the porch.)

The definition of a catwalk is either a narrow walkway that is usually high (like a skinny bridge between two buildings or up above a theatre stage where the lights are) or the fashion runway. All the times Mr. C. has commented on my fast, less-than-graceful walk  I could have been learning the model-walk by watching my cat sashay on our porch, one leg in front of the other.

(source:dailymail.co.uk)

I’ve wanted a porch my whole life and God blessed me with a wrap-around porch/catwalk at our rental. It’s too foggy to see anything this morning, but normally the neighbors see me out on one of my rockers enjoying our view of the water. I sit, sheltered, watching the boats on the water, reading, or waving at people and dogs as they walk by. I am now and hopefully forevermore, a porch person.

“It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” Isaiah 4:6

Even if you don’t have a cat, I highly recommend a “catwalk” porch!

In His Grip, Jane

Friday Night, Lights, and Shining in the Darkness

It's July and here in the Northwest Summer doesn't officially begin until July 5th. Hopefully we'll begin seeing sunshine on a regular basis. School is out, graduation is behind us, and the Mama's were ready for a 

Friday night "on the town."  My girlfriends and I enjoyed drinks, dinner and celebrating a birthday at a local Japanese steakhouse where they cook the food right at the table. Even though we knew flames were coming as the chef poured oil and lit the grill with a match, when the dark room was suddenly bright with flames it got our attention. 

 I decided to pick up some groceries at Target last week while I was running errands and so I could save the 5% with my “red card”. (Do you have a red card? It isn’t a credit card, but a substitute debit card which takes your purchases directly out of your checking account after subtracting 5%. Every little bit helps- especially if you have tuition payments to a private University x two kids!) 


If you shop at a Super Target with a frozen food department like ours in the Harbor, you’ll notice that each section is dark until you walk by. Just as a person approaches, the lights switch on! Target’s goal is to save energy. We as followers of Jesus are given a different “light challenge”. When people glance at us, shouldn't we be shining from the inside out with Christ’s love so they want to look deeper and see what we have to offer?

I’m not talking about trying to win people's attention with fake smiles or personalities. I’m talking about making others feel welcome with genuine joy, kindness, approachability and a desire to listen. Anyone who lives  in the Northwest understands how welcome sunshine is and what a difference it can make to our outlooks.

Whether it’s the freezer lights at Target, the beautiful fireworks that we’ll enjoy on the 4^th, or the smile of a friend or stranger, let us be reminded to shine from the inside out. Won’t you join me in switching on your sunny love-light to all you meet? 

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:6

In His Grip, Jane