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Thursday, August 30, 2012

T-minus 24 hours and the Carver Clan will be heading out with our two youngest to take them to college. The boy?... Hasn’t packed a thing. The girl?... She’s been almost packed for about a month.

We’ll be taking two cars, one mattress, lots of tubs, bags, suitcases, and duffle bags. I was also informed I must bring some cleaning supplies to tackle the house that my boy will be moving into with seven other guys. They’ve been there all summer. I’d better bring gloves.

My baby girl is super excited and a little nervous to have this next chapter of her life begin. This Mama is a bit apprehensive and wondering if she’ll be wearing her dark sunglasses all weekend so no one will see tears. My hubby has planned a bit of a get-away to celebrate/keep my mind off becoming an empty nester. Isn’t he sweet?!

It’s time. Some of my best friends have just done the drop-off. It’s going to be an emotional weekend. The last 18+ years since Sarah arrived have been incredibly wonderful and often hard. I always said being the Mama of four was fun but frantic. My youngest child has grown into an amazing young woman. She’s ready for Whitworth.
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

It’s time. Time to let her go, date my husband, get in shape, study God’s word, drink wine with girlfriends, make some $, write more, organize my blog, read great books, clean the garage, and possibly get a puppy. But first, we must pack, load cars, take Tigger the cat to "camp" at the Women's Prison, drive five hours, eat steak at the Wolf Lodge in Coeur d'Alene, move one into a dorm and another into a house. After hugs it’s time to take a vacation and mark the end of an era.
Let the launch begin!

Favorite quote of the day said by my son as he tried to add one more class to his schedule: “I don’t want to take a class with 70 girls, or do I?!...”

In His Grip, Jane

Launch Photography at Cape Canaveral by Ben Cooper www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Photos.htm


Friday, August 24, 2012

Surprise! It's a Girl?


It was an innocent mistake. They apologized. But...the child we are sponsoring from World Vision is not the boy that our original paperwork described. For years I've been sending little packages to Zambia filled with cars, balls, and other small items a boy might enjoy. We received thank you letters which never revealed anything was amiss. 

I don't remember how it happened, but something didn't seem to fit after receiving a photo last fall (a skirt perhaps?) I contacted World Vision and after months they were finally able to identify the fact that our child was indeed a female, not a male. Surprise! 

I wrote an apology to Mwangala, but am not sure if the meaning was "lost in translation"... 

She's not our first "surprise girl". After three planned pregnancies we were given a surprise blessing of baby #4. We decided to find out the gender ahead of time so we could figure out where to put the crib. The ultrasound was  correct; we got a precious baby girl who shared a bedroom with her big sister.

I can't imagine our family without our sweet Sarah. In exactly one week we'll be driving that surprise baby girl to her dorm at Whitworth for her freshman year of college.

Besides putting together packages to mail Sarah and her brother to show they're loved, I'll also be sending Mwangala care packages. This time they'll  contain girlie-type items. I hope she'll know it doesn't matter to us if she's a girl or boy but that she's always been prayed for and loved from the other side of the globe simply because she's a child of God.

In His Grip, Jane

Photo Source:thenewparentsguide.com

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I Flunked...Now What?


I found myself in the middle of a “spiritual” conversation with someone I love and it didn’t go as I’d hoped…

I left feeling like I'd earned a big fat “F”.  

I’ve been a believer for about 35 years. That’s a lot of time to study, hear great sermons, participate in classes, read books. I thought I could defend my faith.

I understand that sometimes beliefs are rejected and at the time I tried to do my best.  If I could have a do-over I would make sure I shared that God is LOVE. I’d give examples of proof that the words of the bible were given by God. I’d ask better questions. I’d bring up the beauty of God’s creation and the amazing human body. I’d share my hope for the future and what God has done for me in the past. I’d talk about answered prayers and witnessed miracles. I would be bolder.

I’m glad God doesn’t give grades. Someone else will perhaps step in where I left off in the kitchen conversation and have the words that will change a heart.

It is WAY easier to share with strangers or seekers than with people we are close to, don’t you think?

“Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19

This time around, I wasn’t successful. Thankfully, Jesus knows our hearts and gives second chances.

In His Grip, Jane

Friday, August 10, 2012

Bacon is a Love Language

I've sent my oldest daughter off before. I've watched as she's waved and headed off to Kindergarten, summer camps, choir trips, mission trips, college, England, and even a semester in Costa Rica.
This time though, it feels different. This time, she's moving to California. It might be for just a year, but it's probably the last time she'll live with us. She's all grown up, has a degree, and is ready to see what God has in store for her.
Twenty three years have flown by since she could fit in this kind of cute romper.

She will always fit perfectly in her Daddy's arms no matter how old she gets or where she goes.
Her little sister is SO going to miss her. The two of them just "get" each other. Their quick-witted banter could compete with Rory & Lorelai Gilmore.
As her Jeep heads south, my role as her Mama might be changing, but two things remain; I'll always be her prayer warrior and I'll ALWAYS make her bacon when she comes to visit!

Do you make your children something special to show them how much they are loved?

In His Grip, Jane

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Countdowns on Carver Corner


                                                            Source:whoneedsacalendar.com
Happy August! It's a busy time here at Carver Corner. I returned from a trip to visit family in the midwest and now I have a month of countdowns...
Our oldest son and daughter-in-law just celebrated their second anniversary yesterday.  We are counting the days until our boy hears if he is hired for a  teaching job in Chicago. They’re loving life in their hot apartment near Loyola University. 

In a little over a week our oldest daughter is moving to California. That was a surprise since her original plan was moving to Seattle to substitute teach. Sunshine trumps rain! God shut doors and then opened an opportunity for her to be an intern. She responded to His call and now she'll get to live and work with one of her dear friends from Whitworth.
                                                         
Only three more weeks and our son who is interning in Hong Kong will fly home! He has learned so much about the business world, a new culture and himself. After much prayer and wise counsel he came to the conclusion that he wants to major in business management and leadership instead of international business with a focus on the Chinese language. He listened and obeyed. Rather than spending fall semester in China, he’ll return to Whitworth. His little sister is thrilled and this Mama is SO happy he’ll be returning this month instead of in January.


Our "baby" girl has exactly one month until she moves into the dorm and begins her college adventure. 

Thirty days and we morph into “empty nesters”.  It has been twenty six years since we've lived as a couple rather than as a family. We're looking forward to new adventures. (We know our house will stay neater.)
                                                     
                                                                    (Source: Psychcentral.com)
Besides spending this month enjoying my girls-helping them shop and pack, welcoming home my traveling boy, and taking two kiddos to college, I need to continue to listen and determine how I will spend my time once our house on the corner is kid-less. I feel called to be a  Mops mentor again this year and to participate in Women’s bible study. Part-time work is definitely an option (private tuition x 2 is pricey!) but what will that look like? Teaching?... Retail?...  Perhaps there will be a surprise just around the corner. My sweet hubby did mention plans for a road trip up to Whistler following the college drop-off.
Do you have countdowns or changes happening in your family? Are you listening for a new call on your life?
 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27
In His Grip, Jane