What I've Been Reading Lately~May Edition

I love to read! You probably can guess that due to my blog title, "See Jane Learn," that I grew up reading Dick and Jane primers. My taste isn't as sophisticated as many of my friends and children, but I read whenever I'm free.

Do you read only one book at a time or do you have several "going" simultaneously? I'm usually taking turns between one fiction novel and one or two non-fiction books. I buy, borrow, download and use the Library book app called Overdrive. I thought I would share the books in my pile this month.

Non-Fiction:

I happened to read a review of Popular in USA Today and the premiss of the book hooked me. The author is only in high school and she wrote a memoir of surviving middle school and following advice from a book written in the 1950's. I haven't finished it yet, but every chapter makes me smile.

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook was recommended by one of my pastors. Each chapter covers a different subject and has suggestions for practice along with scripture. I'll be opening up this for a very long time.

I first saw this adorable book while visiting in Indianapolis and regretted not buying it. I saw it again at Auntie's Bookstore while in Spokane and it now sits on my coffee table. It uses pictures out of all the vintage Golden Books while addressing situations of real life. Two examples are; "Break bread together every day." "Dress up and go dancing...any kind of dancing!" I pretty much agree with everything in this book and think it would make a cute graduation gift.

I love The Nesting Place! My hubby took my hint and gave it to me for Mother's Day. I follow Myquillyn Smith's blog, Nesting Place and her advice is spot on. She adheres to "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful," and she even has some advice for renters. (Which comes in quite handy since we've now been in this rental home 2+ years.) This book is a treasure. Put it on your wish list, hint to your hubby, or buy it for someone you love.

Fiction:

I just downloaded this Novella, A June Bride, on my Kindle Cloud. Mary Beth Whalen is a Christian author, and mom of six and I follow her blog. I've read her four previous novels and a new one is coming out next week called The Bridge Tender.

Last on my pile is a paperback romance that I picked up at an airport when my kindle app wasn't working. It's called The Devaney Brothers (Ryan & Sean) and takes place in Boston. Sherryl Woods has written lots of books that take place on the East Coast. (Remember me mentioning I didn't always have sophisticated taste read classics? A good romance book can be a fun escape!)

Right now I need to get my pile of books set aside and begin packing for our church's women's retreat. It's going to be a wonderful weekend spent with my daughter and lots of friends and the only book I'm bringing along is my favorite, The Bible!

Happy Reading!

In His Grip, Jane

About this Mothering Thing...

If you are the parent of college age kids you will relate. If your kiddos are little, well...they grow up! 

My kids have become young adults. Our third child of four recently graduated from college and yet to me he’s still "my boy.” OK, he’s 6’4” and has a B.A. in Theology, and he’s 22; but he’s still my boy! Visits home require washing dirty clothes, making cookies and tacos, and picking up a growler of the man-cub’s favorite craft beer. (I was a bit concerned when a flyer from his trip to Europe LAST SUMMER fell out of the pocket of a pair of shorts I washed...let's pretend he really hadn't worn them since then.)

Being a Mom of kids in their twenties is hard stressful different. Maybe it’s not so much the physical exhaustion of non-stop action and interrupted sleep, but it’s emotionally tiring. Here are a few ways that mothering changes, yet stays the same...

You never stop hoping that your kids are safe. We Mamas just want to protect our offspring. I appreciate knowing that my children have arrived at their destination when they're traveling. This past weekend I had the recent graduate driving to two Oregon cities for a concert and a friend's wedding...my oldest son going from Chicago to Indianapolis for the 500 race, and a daughter driving from Nashville to Raleigh, North Carolina to visit a friend. Yep, they are kids-on-the-go and I was relieved to receive the “I arrived text or phone call.” I chose to believe the saying that "no news is good news"~for the kids who were too busy to touch base with their Mama.

Play dates happen. Years ago I was the Kool-aide mom who hosted slumber parties and had the sport court. Then my kids had friends with boats and trampolines that were way cooler than what our house could offer so they didn't always spend time at our place. Thankfully that changed as they left home for college. I’ve been fortunate to be able to open whatever home I’ve resided in to our kid's out of town friends. It is not labor-intensive like when you have a kindergarten classmate over. We’ve supplied the air mattress, hot tub, meals, conversation or games, breakfast with coffee, and Wi Fi. We LOVE having our kids invite friends for a night (or Thanksgiving, or winter break, or a weekend.)  It is really fun to get to know who your kids spend their time with. 

Daddy-son time is fun... As I drove home from work and approached our house I was greeted by a wonderful sight. My Man and my boy throwing Frisbee with our Sydney hanging out with them in the street. The biggest change was our current puppy isn’t obsessed with Frisbees so she wasn’t chasing them. Dads talk best with their kids when they’re doing something. Throwing a baseball or Frisbee, shooting hoops, playing a round of golf, sitting in the hot tub; all those activities are a safe time to engage in conversation with their kids. As I write this my man and boy are at the movie theater, enjoying the new X Men movie, popcorn and each other's company. Hang out together and conversation will follow.

Kids grow older, but family time needs to remain a priority. We laugh, we talk about future plans, we reminisce about fun memories, we listen to all the new things that have been happening and we challenge each other to follow God’s calling on our lives. I am grateful for kids who enjoy coming home and spending time with their Daddy and I and their siblings. In two weeks at least 5 of the 7 in our immediate family are heading to Minnesota for a family Reunion on my husband's side. Intentional time together is priceless.

Like I said, parenting changes as they grow. My former mothering questions used to be along the lines of; Will she ever sleep through the night? Will he be potty trained by the time preschool starts in the fall? The answers were yes and yes.  

Is my recent graduate really supposed to go on a mission trip to Myanmar at the end of June? That is still being determined. Will my youngest figure out where and who she’s living with since deciding she’s returning to Whitworth in September?  (Remember, I have four kids so those two examples are just a snippet of the things I’m praying about right now...) 

I have to trust that my kid’s current “unknowns” will also be answered when the time is right. As I was looking up the subject of parenting adult children, I came across a wise quote on a Focus on the Family article.

"Your parenting in the flesh is over," It's time to parent him in the Spirit. Pray for your son and trust God to do what you cannot do — and He will." 

This mothering thing changes as our children grow. Diaper changes and carpooling? Not anymore... Praying for my children? Yep. All the time...

How are you adjusting to this mothering thing as your children grow?

In His Grip, Jane

Attention: You're Not Cool

I thought I was SO cool as I flew home from attending my niece’s wedding in Indiana. That feeling only lasted for a while... Here's a picture of the cute couple.

There are no direct flights to Indianapolis and so the cheapest flight I could get took me through L.A. on the way there and Phoenix on the way back home.  I forgot my I-pod and decided the fee for Internet would be worth it on my long travel days. (I think it was $5 on Alaska and $8 on Southwest.)

Last month I got to use Mike's upgrade and sit in first class. While sipping my free white wine I watched everyone walk by and wondered if they were envious of my spot. I felt special. Sort of cool.

This trip I was just like everyone else; waiting my turn to board, squeezing in, ordering my Diet Dr. Pepper. On the Indy to Phoenix flight I was in the Southwest "C" group. Translation: you board last and you WILL be only able to find a center seat. When I left Phoenix I got to board with the "B" group. Translation: it is more likely you might be able to get an aisle seat or sit near the front.

I saw a spot in the second row and I quickly snagged it. The only problem was the overhead bins near my spot where all full so I had to put my carry-on suitcase a few rows back. My seat-mates were nice and didn't talk too much.  I even got to swap magazines with the young Mama next to me. Of course I gave her my business card for Charlie Barnes, the baby store where I work.

Wi-Fi on a plane is cool! I happily checked emails, “talked” to my hubby, perused  Facebook, wrote a blog post, caught up on some blogs and even checked out Pinterest all while listening to music on Pandora. Almost like being at home even though I was thousands of feet up in the air.

I thought I was so cool getting to disembark quickly after a nice man passed up my carry-on. I hurried toward baggage claim because I knew my hubby was waiting in the cell phone lot. I am always a fast walker. Just ask my husband. I was half-way down the terminal, heading into the women’s room before going to baggage claim when I heard an announcement over the P.A. that caught my attention. 

“Passengers who just arrived from Phoenix” (oh, were they going to announce which number our luggage would be on?) “you might have left some personal items on the plane.” My brain engaged. I looked down at my carry on and noticed the front laptop storage space was EMPTY. 

They were talking to me!! I hadn’t grabbed my Macbook that I’d stashed under the seat during landing!

As I raced back to the gate I had to walk by ALL the passengers who had sat further back on the plane. They totally knew the blonder than she pays to be lady must have forgotten something. 
Who was cool now? 

I am so grateful that my laptop was waiting for me. I am thankful for the announcement over the P.A. that caught my attention. I’m glad this travel story had a happy ending. They say pride comes before the fall. I guess I will learn not to think I’m “all that” just because I got a good seat and had Wi-Fi on a plane. 

Proverbs 11:2 "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."

I’m reminded of a Scott Krippayne song. It's called, I'm Not Cool, and I think it's my theme song. I used to drive my daughter crazy singing those lyrics. "I'm not cool, that's OK. My God loves me anyway."

God loves me SO much that He even used an airport P.A. system to get my attention so I wouldn't lose my expensive computer. 

Acts 9:6 "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Pay attention, hurry back to the gate and ask for your laptop.)

God is deeply involved in every aspect of our lives and he also wants to get our attention. How has he gotten yours lately?

In His Grip, Jane

Speaker photo source: photobucket.com