Around the Block for Love

If you're as old as I am, you might remember the movie starring Haley Mills called "That Darn Cat!"

Tigger Duncan Carver is MY darn cat. He decided to go on another adventure last week. The weather was pretty so our back door was open. It is time for us to figure out some kind of screen door...

I didn't realize he was missing until breakfast. He must have snuck out before I locked up the house for the night. In between work and errands I hunted for him, called for him, texted my hubby to pray and hoped he hadn't wandered over to the forest. He'd been gone about 24 hours when I decided it was time for some intentional searching. I printed out fliers with "big boy's" photo and our info and started going door-to-door around the block.

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Luke 15:4

If you're a parent (of a human variety or pet) you probably go to great lengths to show your love. Runaway Bunny is a another great example of a parent's love for their child, picture-book style.

It was a Friday night around dinnertime and most of my neighbors were out. Obviously they had more exciting Friday night plans than I did. I made some new acquaintances and unfortunately went to a house containing people and a yappy dog which will require extra grace in order for me to follow the command: love your neighbor.  The sweet grandma on the corner might not have realized that telling me about cats due to raccoons was probably NOT what I needed to hear...

Guess who was waiting for me in the driveway? Apparently Tigger just needed to know how much I loved him and what was I willing to do to prove it.

How do I love thee? All the way around the block! 

Feeling a bit worn out and a tad guilty.

 You and I also desire to know we are loved and cherished. Sometimes it only takes something little, like when my hubby makes me a pot of coffee or smoothie in the morning, or I receive a text or email from one of my four kids in the afternoon.

Sometimes it's something BIG like when God proved how much he loved mankind by sending Jesus.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 

My four kids didn't always make wise choices, but I LOVED them anyway. I ALSO tested my parent's love back in the day... "Dear Mom, I'm sorry I used to hide Boone's Farm wine in the bushes outside my bedroom window when I was in high school. Thanks for putting up with me and loving me through my wild years! Love, Janie xo"

I'm headed up to Port Townsend this weekend with my Chapel Hill sisters for our women's retreat. I know it's going to be a special time connecting with friends and hearing from the Lord. Last year our theme was Restoration and my sweet Sarah got to go with me.

My kitty cat must have discovered this year's theme: 

"Be Free!" 

How about you? Have you had to prove your love lately? Have you felt loved lately?

In His Grip,
Jane
xo

Have a great weekend friends, and thanks for stopping by See Jane Learn!

Photo sources:http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/04/drinking-the-bottom-shelf-boones-farm.html
sharethefiles.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaway_Bunny#/media/File:RunawayBunny.jpg

A Stone's Throw

We live directly across the street from Grandview Forest and the Civic center. The expression, "a stone's throw" describes how close we are. Other than the occasional litter around our mailbox, it's a fabulous and quiet street. 

a stone's throw

 a very short distance: The apartment is just a stone's throw from the sea."Is your house far from here?" "No, it's only a stone's throw away."

My sweet college girl was packing up the car to drive back for summer school on Monday and I was waiting for her on our front porch. I could see and hear a young man on a riding lawn mower attempting to mow around the huge city water tanks. I say attempting because from the sounds I was hearing I believe he was mainly plowing over sticks, dirt and rocks. While Sarah popped in the house I was putzing around; singing and dancing (kind of normal for me.) 

I was about to straighten our American flag when I suddenly heard a loud noise like a gunshot and then a crackling sound... It took just a second to realize what had happened. A rock had shot out from under the riding mower across the street and hit our GLASS front door.

Yes. It traveled through a chain-link, no-tresspassing fence, across a street that cars drive on regularly, up our driveway and porch and hit our door. It missed me by inches. 

The bible mentions stones often. (David used a stone to kill Goliath.)

17:49 "Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground."

Jesus talked about throwing stones in the New Testament when the scribes and Pharisees wanted to kill a woman caught in adultery; "Let him who is without sin among you throw the first stone." John 8:7

Joshua 4 talks about memorial stones. I WILL remember this particular stone...

I am confident that the young man hired to cut weeds, sticks,rocks grass did not intend harm on anyone. It was an accident. I try not to dwell on the what ifs. I'm so glad Sarah and my doggie Sydney had gone inside. Thankfully, God protected me from what could have done some serious damage.

We are very glad that the people who remodeled our home choose double-pane glass that doesn't shatter. It's still holding strong as we wait the 7-9 days for the new door to arrive. We're closing the door gently and keeping a sheet on the porch in case it falls... The City of Gig Harbor agreed to pay for our new front door. Yay, tax dollars working for us!

Since I've been "worrying" about having my basel cell surgery on my nose in early June, having a rock almost hit my head has put that in perspective. Yep, I'm a thankful girl.Have you had any "close encounters" lately? In His Grip, Jane xoThanks for stopping by See Jane Learn!definition source: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/a-stone-s-throwphoto source: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/uploads/images/David-and-Goliath-vba.jpg

What I Learned In April

Happy May Day! Isn't it just like God to remember how much I LOVED the Lilac bushes we had in our Fox Island yard and surprise!! Our new back yard has a beautiful Lilac Tree. We were SO excited when the flowers started to bloom. I'm linking up with Emily P. Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. Here are some other things and lessons I learned throughout the month of April.

1. She said yes! The most important thing I learned this month is that my #3 child is loved by another woman besides his Mama. Yep. My son asked the love of his life to be his wife and she said yes. I have a lot of memories of my boy flashing through my head and heart. How could 23 years have flown by so quickly? I DO know I raised an amazing husband-to-be and I'm very excited to have another daughter-in-law!

2. A Cat door changes everyone's life. Tigger is 14+ and we FINALLY installed a cat door for the big guy. He now can go from his "Man Cave" downstairs on the chair to the garage where his "bathroom" and food are located. We don't hear a lot of grumpy complaining from him. If you don't have one, get one!!

3. Now I know how to order my iced tea! My dear friend who grew up in the South taught me a new term last week; "Half-cut." Now when I go to McDonald's or Chick-fil-a (They just opened one in Tacoma! Who wants to go with me?!) I can order a half-cut sweet tea which is 1/2 sweet tea mixed with 1/2 regular unsweetened tea. I have my own version of this for cola when I go to restaurants; 1/2 regular and 1/2 diet coke. Yummy. Even better tasting than Coke Zero. I'm not sure if I can call it "half-cut coke." Thoughts?

4. Earth Day continues. Did you celebrate/recognize Earth Day? I first heard about Earth Day in college when I was attending Ball State University in Muncie Indiana. (The Ball Family made it's fortune making Ball Canning jars.) I Remember being at a big event outside on campus and I was wearing my tan skirt and sandals that I loved. I think it was 1980. Fast forward to 2015. I sort of forgot it was Earth Day last Wednesday. It was a work at Charlie Barnes day for me.

I did my part when I picked up all the litter on the street in front of my house. I don't want to sound bitter or judgmental, but why do people leave the park/skatepark which is across the road and dump their fast food wrappers and BAD beer cans (PBR anyone?) and energy drink cans all around our mailbox and yard?! I think it's time for me to ask the city if they can place a trash can near the park exit. Here's a sampling of what I picked up in one day and threw in my recycling. Take that Earth day advocates!

5. I was not born with the "card-playing" gene. A couple weekends ago we invited good friends over for dinner and card games. I tried. You have to understand, I've never been good at card games. The whole strategy not to mention remembering rules had me practically breaking out in a sweat. I WANT to be smart. I WANT to be a good teammate. Obviously I was born without the gene that helps with card games. I found this book on my shelf; time to study!

6.  THE cookie is in Procter. Best. Cookie. Ever. Go to the Metropolitan Market grocery store bakery and order "the cookie." It is huge and warm and has chocolate chips, chunks of chocolate and roasted walnuts. It is SO good!

Source: You Tube

The saddest news I learned in April was the Earthquake in Nepal. I'm praying for that part of our world. What did you learn in April?

In His Grip,
Jane
xo
As always, thanks for stopping by See Jane Learn!