Noticing Nails

    "Then they nailed him to the cross." Mark 15:24 

      I am so thankful that my two college kids and their friends made it safely over the mountain last night for break and that tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I booked my "baby"girl and I a mani-pedi appointment today to spend some mommy-daughter time together. The topic of nails always reminds me of an incident that occurred back in 1996. I can flash back to that day like it was yesterday...
      We lived in Grayslake, Illinois and I'd spent the day weeding my garden and playing with my kids. That evening my hubby and I attended a BBQ with his co-workers. I think I was the only stay-at-home Mommy surrounded by confident, fashionably dressed women. I glanced down at my hands and realized all my stubby little nails were filled with garden dirt. I remember standing in the hostesses' laundry room trying to clean them with a nail file as my emotions swung from almost tears of embarrassment to laughing at the ridiculousness of it all...
      I didn't have my first professional manicure until the day before my wedding (back in June of 1983). I've always been a nail biter and although I tried acrylics once I couldn't financially make that on-going commitment. After that BBQ incident I began to notice nails, and take better care of mine.

     Nails tell a bit of about a person, almost a bit of a story. They can say, "I'm naturally low-maintenance, trendy, classic or willing to spend time and money at a nail salon getting fills or polish." They might also say "I've been doing yard work or I'm a busy Mama without much time..."

     Polished nails just make me feel finished. The nails that I am most thankful for though aren't mine; they're the ones used to crucify Jesus. They were used to make a new covenant with God; the nail scars say, "IT IS FINISHED!" John 19:30

Have you noticed nails lately?...

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

In His Grip, Jane

Smitten With Sydney

"God places the lonely in families. 

He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." 

Psalm 68:6a

I am convinced that Craig's List and God are totally connected. We searched online for a home to rent when we were moving back here from Illinois last March. This pretty place met all our criteria (except close proximity to town) but it also met some unspoken perks that God knew I would LOVE; water view, wrap-around porch, friendly neighbors, a large bonus room for the treadmill where our kids and their friends can hang out and even a hot tub!

Our second Craig's List "score!" is our new pet. We've wanted to adopt a dog since our youngest graduated from high school this summer. We've  been on the Prison Pet Partnership waiting list and I've also been looking at Craigslist and Pet Finder. We even drove to a place in the boonies called Castlerock a few weeks ago to meet some dogs but we just didn't feel they were supposed to come home with us.

I am happy to say we are now the proud new "pet parents" of Sydney (an Australian Kelpie Retriever Mix). Our kids asked how we found her and I'm convinced that God, who knows all, orchestrated it so we could be a family. 

As I hunted on Craig's List I was directed to a link for rescued dogs:

http://www.wagstorichesanimalrescue.org/. I spotted an adorable red young dog whose name was Sadie- the same name as our beloved dog that passed away a year ago and something about her sweet face seemed familiar...We made arrangements to drive to Yakima Saturday, met “Sadie” and we fell in love.We re-named her Sydney on our long drive home and also pulled over quite a few times since she kept getting carsick. Poor little thing.

Our adopted baby surely wasn't a "chance" happening. Sydney's list of good qualities is LONG: she's very sweet and affectionate, has an adorable and expressive face, she doesn't bark, she's mellow, wants to be near us, sleeps quietly all night on her bed in our bedroom, isn't driven by food, doesn't pull on her leash and most importantly she's getting along with Tigger the cat!

Our last dog had SO many issues that we were constantly being taught how to love unconditionally. Our new little "girl" Sydney seems to be the perfect fit for the lonely. our house is too quiet, missing our four kids like crazy Empty nest life stage. We get to spoil this fur-baby like crazy and we're having fun being "Mommy & Daddy" again.

Sydney isn't perfect but who is? (Actually Jesus...) She keeps slinking up on the couch or our bed when we’re not looking, she’s stubborn when we ask her to SIT and she does shed a bit.

I couldn't help imagining what some of our friends went through when they adopted babies and children from overseas. I am sure their worlds all changed quite a bit more than the adjustments we've been making.

If Sydney was a human baby I'd be reading her books about how thankful we are that God brought us together. I found some great titles on Amazon:

Sydney is thrilled that God initiated adoption. Me too!

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5

LESSONS LEARNED:

• Bring extra towels and an entire roll of bounty paper towels if you're traveling three hours in the car with a new pet.
• Stock up on Swiffer sheets- you'll be using them at least once a day even if your cat & dog both look red like the wood floor.
• We needed our doggie as much as she needed a forever home. 
• Trust that God knows our deepest desires.

Stay tuned: Tigger the cat feels compelled to give his side of the story...

In His Grip, Jane

Names, Names, Names

 I name inanimate objects and rename things to make them sound friendlier. Am I the only one who does this?

Here’s a sample of what I'm talking about:

Violet: my bicycle

Sophie: my car (a Sorento)

Noogie: a nicer way to say booger

Toot: doesn't that sound more polite than fart?

Blankie: yes I love my super-soft, cuddly blanket and admit to sleeping with it every night.

I have a ton more names and my children and cat have nicknames, but you get the idea… Fiona was the name I gave the mean fibroid that was attended to by surgery yesterday. "She" had made me feel puffy and not myself for quite some time.

While at St. Joe’s yesterday morning, preparing for the procedure to remove "Fiona", I discovered two new, fun things that made my hospital experience better!

Heated gowns Yep, they attach a hose and puff you up with warm air.       Delightful! I hate being cold.

Compression wraps for lower legs to ensure good circulation so people don’t get blood clots. Brilliant! Why aren't these available for long plane flights?

I am happy to report that thanks to the doctor’s skill and all the prayers from friends and family that all went well and I’m resting comfortably (while spending way too much time on Pinterest and Facebook).  

Fiona can now go back to being just the name of Shrek's wife.

Forgive me for getting a bit off track, let's go back to names... I've been learning so many things in my current bible study and one of them is the importance of names. In Biblical times, the changing of one's name was significant and used to symbolize the binding of a covenant. When God re-named Abram to Abraham (father of many nations) and his wife Sarai to Sarah (princess and laughter) it meant something. God would fulfill his promise to give them a son.

When we marry and take on our husband’s last name we are showing a new beginning and a desire to honor the marriage covenant. Yep, I went from Miss Story to Mrs. Carver 29 years ago.

It is exciting to think that when I arrive in Heaven someday, God will whisper in my ear the specific name he has just for me. 

“To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

Mr. C and I might be re-naming a doggie soon. There is a good chance we’ll be heading to Yakima to meet and greet a doggie whose name is currently Sadie. (Yep, that was our sweet Lab’s name that passed away last year.) Coincidence?Probably not.

Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”

I hope you have a great weekend and take delight in knowing that God remembers us and knows our names.

In His Grip, Jane  'God is gracious' 

Photo Source:ts ask.com 373 × 900 - PrincessFiona | Ask.com Encyclopedia