What I Learned in February

The view from my mailbox

Let's look back as we head into March. Here are some things I learned in February:

1. The Pacific Northwest has actually had some of the best weather in America. You've probably seen the news or are experiencing the nasty winter most of the country is living through. The school where my Nashville daughter teaches has been cancelled at least eight days due to ice and snow, my family in Indiana is SO COLD, and then there’s Boston. 

2. Good things come to an end. T.V. shows and football...

Parenthood is officially over. I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't caught up. If you did watch the finale, did you like the way it ended?

Pic source~NBC.com

Football season has ended. The Seahawks. Were. So. Close. I love our Hawks and despite not liking the way the Superbowl game ended I am a proud 12th Mama!

3. When your daughter gets her wisdom teeth removed, several things might happen:

Maternal instinct kicks in and you wake up every four hours to see if she needs more pain killers or ice. Since you try not to eat much solid food right in front of her it's an excuse to have an hour date with hubby for dinner. Couch time means movie time. I’ve watched more movies in the last 24 hours then I have in the last months. So far we’ve watched: Four Christmases, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Divergent, Vanity Fair, Belle, Willy Wonka~”Life had never been sweeter…" and now we have Stuart Little on. "That's no mouse, that's my brother."

4. Pinterest is actually helpful for more than dreaming and pinning. I had some Mom friends over for a Valentine Party and we packed care packages for our college daughters. My contribution was woven felt hearts and homemade scrub and they said I was pretty crafty. Yay! I can follow directions!

5. Food Network and HGTV are super motivating! I watched an episode of the Pioneer Woman and made her scones and Cowboy quiche for my friends. Yummy!! 

6. Twice this month I’ve wished I was more like Mary. The first had to do with the Mary in the bible parable of Mary vs. Martha. I am doing a bit better about being consistent spending time with God in the morning, but I still need to learn to have my priorities in order. The second Mary was Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey. She was super excited when she got her new shorter haircut; she felt beautiful and powerful. I, on the other hand, decided to get a new haircut and it turned out to be quite a bit shorter than I asked for expected. Even though I’ve received some compliments including a few “it makes you look younger” comments (my personal favorite!) I am still sort of missing my longer length… 

Picture source~Bing

7. This month ended with my husband and I attending a powerful “celebration of life” service for the son of our friends. Such an amazing life Aaron squeezed into 26 years and his story has touched SO many. Listening to one of the ICU nurses speak I was reminded how grateful I am for health care professionals who can give care and keep from “falling apart.” I am not able to separate my emotions from anything. Thankfully God can figure out things I can do even though I cry...

Every minute of life is precious and is a gift. It's all about love and knowing God is writing our stories. 

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." 

Romans 12:9-10 (NLT)

I'm linking up with Emily P. Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. Please join me. What did you discover during the month of February?

In His Grip,  Jane xo

Thanks for stopping by See Jane Learn!

Countdown to Easter...

On my living room wall

Spring is coming. I've seen it's evidence in nature as I've taken walks over the past few days. (Remember, I live out in the Pacific Northwest. Sorry if you're still buried in snow!)

There are flowers sprouting up (Crocus and some Daffodils), Rhododendron bushes and trees have buds. Our grass desperately needs mowing but our groundskeeper, my hubby, has been under the weather so it will have to wait.

Last night after I finished working, we joined the Mardi Gras crowd at our local restaurant to celebrate "Fat Tuesday" and I feasted on Cajun fish and chips and a Hurricane cocktail. (Having just recovered from a NASTY bout with the flu, my hubby had iced tea and a few nibbles of Pita bread...)

At Tides Tavern

Although it was fun to wear colorful beads and masks and pretend we were in New Orleans, my heart was heavy and far away; across the ocean where 21 Egyptian Christians were beheaded for their faith by Isis, and in California where a friend's son passed away after years of organ transplants and surgeries. HARD things. SAD things. And that's just some of what is going on in our world...

This was on my chalkboard two years ago...

How can I eat fries when others are grieving? How do I reconcile a Good God with horrific and sad news?

The native Christians of Egypt are referred to as Copts and there are many living here in America.
My Nashville daughter teaches at an Egyptian Christian School.Her school hasn't had class yet this week due to snow and ice (it's the South~they don't "do" winter well.) I know it's an extremely heartbreaking time for all. She loves the people and testifies to their faith.

At the UCLA hospital, the dear Mama of the young man that passed away is praising the Lord and thankful her boy is in Heaven and perfectly healed. She has taught all of us how to persevere during incredibly HARD things...

Thankfully, believers know that Easter is coming. HE has already won the battle and evil doesn't' win in the end! We'll all be rejoicing together on Easter Sunday. Even the World acknowledges that Easter is coming...

Target is getting ready.

Today is Ash Wednesday and we have 46 days until Easter.

Dictionary.com defines LENT as:

noun

1.

(in the Christian religion) an annual season of fasting and penitencein (public display of repentance) the preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting 40 weekdays  to Easter, observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and certain other churches.

During this Season of Lent, people often choose to "give up" things like sweets. Others "take on" daily activities such as a special devotion or volunteer work. Whatever is chosen, the purpose is to help us remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Have you considered how you'll spend this period of time leading up to Easter Sunday? 

Please join me in praying for the Egyptian Christian Church around the world, and the Moss family here in the Harbor. God IS good, all the time!

In His Grip,
Jane xo            Thanks for stopping by See Jane Learn.

About Me

Hi! I started writing this little blog in late June of 2010. It was my way of processing a BIG change in our family’s life; moving from the state of Washington back to the Midwest. We now live back in the Pacific Northwest an hour south of Seattle in a charming small city called Gig Harbor. We recently found our dream home right downtown and settled into “Carver Cottage” in September. Location, location, location. It's true!

For those of you who don’t know me, here are some random facts about me: I’ve been the wife of Michael for 31+ years and we are now empty-nesters. I'm mom of four twenty-somethings (two sons, two daughters.) They’ve all attended Whitworth University and the baby girl will graduate in May of 2016. Our kids including one daughter-in-law are scattered from L.A., to Nashville to Spokane. I LOVE it when they come home!

The whole family on the Whitworth Campus.

I’m a pet mom to a rescue dog and fat orange grumpy cat, and former preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade teacher. I LOVE babies and get to spend several days a week working at a fabulous baby boutique called Charlie Barnes Kids.

I grew up in the town of Carmel, Indiana and am the youngest of three girls. The “Story Girls,” as we are known, all got our desire to become teachers from our Mom Barbara, who was an amazing 5th grade teacher for YEARS! She is now the unofficial “Mayor” of her Independent Living Facility. 

I love the Lord and am learning how to be and make disciples. When I’m not working or walking Sydney, I enjoy spending my time mentoring Mommies at Mops, attending bible study, having friends over around my table, reading and sipping a yummy coffee drink or glass of wine.

I just noticed I’ve written 300 blog posts. That sounds like a lot to me and yet my writing has become less frequent. Perhaps that means I’m busy and flourishing? Or perhaps I need to become more consistent...

God always seems to take my daily situations (good or bad) and turn them into life lessons, so that’s what I try to share here at See Jane Learn. My hope is as you read you’ll smile and be encouraged. Thank you so much for stopping by and please feel free to subscribe or contact me!

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

In His Grip, 

Jane

xo