What I Learned in May~2016

Here's a  look back at what I learned in May, besides the fact that my Loft sneakers totally match the furniture at the Davenport Tower Hotel in Spokane, Washington...

1. That tummy roll of mine that seems to have inflated the last several years has an official name: Meno Middle.

Anyone else out there in their 50's who is wondering what that roll is that won't seem to go away?Yep, another lovely side-effect of growing older. 

Photo source: alovelyflock.com

2. Preschool Art Tip:

When I substitute taught Preschool this month I learned that if you add a tiny bit of dish soap to paint (especially red paint) it will wash off hands, tables and clothes more easily. This tip was shared by a wonderful veteran teacher, Mrs. Rohn, who will be retiring next week. She looked at the mess I was cleaning up after our fun Ladybug project and realized she'd forgotten to add the soap...I'm amazed I escaped without getting ANY paint on my clothes! I forgot to snap a photo, but the project was a lot like this:

photo source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipLcwEhp3yk

3. Siri can be a nutritional coach:

I've talked about my love of Pao's donuts before. They are the BEST! One afternoon I was almost ready to pull through the drive-through for a snack, but decided to ask Siri how many calories were in a chocolate frosted cake donut. When I received the answer (370 calories!!) I was able to gain enough self-control to just drive straight home. I obviously need to talk to Siri more often so I can lose the "meno middle," (See above.) Update: after my doctor visit this morning (I've been sick in bed for over a week) I said to heck with Siri, Meno middle and calories and got myself a donut on the drive home. #sorrynotsorry

photo source: commons.wikimedia.org

4. One of my issues has a name in the dictionary:

Do you sometimes have trouble making plans, choosing paint colors, or ordering at restaurants? If you do, you might have Decidophobia!

(Decidophobia is, according to Princeton University philosopher Walter Kaufmann, a fear of making decisions. He coined the term in his 1973 book Without Guilt and Justice in which he writes about the phenomenon at length.) Wikipedia Dictionary

5. My budget won't allow me to dress like Reese Witherspoon:

Have you heard of the new line called Draper James? I consider myself someone with grace and charm, but obviously I don't have the right clothing budget or paycheck to order anything from her new Nashville store. Even her sale items are out of my reach! Sorta, kinda, fun to look and see what I would order if I could...

photo source:http://williamsonsource.com/witherspoon-opens-store-in-nashville/

6. Nashville is coming to an end:

The series "Nashville" came to an end this month. I did NOT like how it ended, but apparently the writers wanted to leave us hanging in case another network picks up the show. You can read about that here. 

My daughter who lives in Nashville is also ending her adventure. She moved there two years ago without a job and made quite a fun life for herself. She made SO many dear friends, loved her first grade teaching job, was very active in her neighborhood church, and enjoyed ALL that Nashville has to offer! 

She felt God calling her back to the Pacific Northwest so she's obeying. She'll be helping to plant a new church in Spokane, and hopefully she will quickly find just the elementary school that needs her experience and heart. She'll be in the same town as her younger brother, sister and sister-in-law; let the shenanigans begin! Stay tuned for updates~the sisters will be doing a cross-country-camping road trip to move her back!

When she arrived back in 2014 after our cross-country road trip

7. I have very compassionate family, friends, co-workers and employers:

I have been a bit like the character in The Grouchy Ladybug for the last week, while I've battled this cold/infection. I haven't had the energy to do ANYTHING. My husband has waited on me "hand and foot," my sweet friends have sent me texts and brought by flowers, and my work associates have been totally understanding when I've called into work sick. I am thankful! 

8. The world thinks I have four independent adult children:

Our baby girl graduated from college, signed a year lease on a charming wouldn't pass code apartment, and is interviewing for jobs. For 30 years we've given our four love and roots and wings and $ and now they are all living life under their own roofs, not ours. They are independent adults, but they're still my babies!

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living, 

My baby you'll be."

Robert Munsch

I'm linking up with Emily P. Freeman at Chatting at the Sky.

What did you learn in May?

In His Grip,

jane

5 Favorites on Friday

photo source:http://www.usatipps.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/indianapolis-speedway.jpg

Happy Friday Friends!

Here is my list of favorites for the week:

1. Have you seen the Happy Chewbacca on You Tube? Oh the joy of simple pleasures! She's adorable! We all need to learn how to be entertained by silly things and laugh at ourselves...

   Photo source:https://comicbook.com/popculturenow/2016/05/25/megan-fox-wants-to-play-kitana-in-a-mortal-kombat-movie/

2. I really like these shirts : I'm excited that I stumbled upon a sale this weekend for a cute baseball-style t-shirt. They are all cute but I chose the green yoga pants one. The blog, The Handmade Home is always good!
       

3. This fun coloring book by one of my favorite bloggers is available on Amazon for pre-sale. If I was going to purchase myself an adult coloring book, this would be the one... It's on my wish list!

photo source: http://theinspiredroom.net/2016/05/26/home-decorating-coloring-book/

4. My favorite spot to hang out in Spokane is the Davenport Tower Lobby. It's so fun to sit in front of the fireplace sipping a Starbucks or a cocktail. My dreamy "home" away from home. Added bonus...my sneakers match the Jungle decor!

5. My Tuesday morning bible study life group is the BEST! I love the women who have become like family; we are sisters in Christ! It's been such a great year of study, prayer, laughter, challenging each other, and friendship. 

Not pictured: Jean

Besides the favorites mentioned above, my favorite MOMENT  last week was watching my baby girl graduate from Whitworth University. She went through a lot to finish her degree and she persevered and did it! We also had a blast eating pizza, toasting with Champagne, and playing board games afterwards at her very own apartment. 

Mike and I are so thankful God provided a way for all four of our children to receive an education from a wonderful Christian University. Three teachers and one soon-to-be counselor making an impact in the World!

Do you have any fun plans for your 3-day Memorial Weekend? Since I'm a born and raised Hoosier, I'll have to tune into the Indianapolis 500 mile race on Sunday. If I feel better, I'm headed to a Mops end-of-year celebration tonight. I am excited to have my youngest coming home tomorrow for a short visit and possibly bringing her kitty (Mimosa, the Grandkitty I haven't met yet.)

(If you hear barking and toenails scraping wood floors coming from Carver Cottage, you'll know Sydney isn't adjusting well to the furry visitor.) Fingers crossed...

Don't forget to honor and remember all our service men and women who have lost their lives to protect our freedom! GOD Bless America!

What are your favorite things lately?

In His Grip,

Jane

Love "Sick"

It’s a bit of a pattern... My body reacts to stress. Here are some examples:

First High School crush? I broke out in hives. 

Years ago when I was in college, my busy days of attempting to balance studies with Chi Omega Sorority life? I ended up with Mono and had to come home for a month causing me to graduate in August instead of May.

Fast forward to the time I coordinated our women’s retreat. I developed walking Pneumonia that lasted most of that fall.

In 2010 we were getting our house ready to sell and relocate to a suburb of Chicago. I thought I was dealing with the stress...my tummy had other ideas. I suddenly had severe on-going pain and many tests were run to try to determine why it hurt and why I couldn’t eat hardly anything. Perhaps counseling was what I needed, not hospital tests! On the upside, I did lose 15 pounds. Unfortunately, they’ve returned...

I haven’t had a cold or been sick for almost two years. I’ve taken my vitamins and washed my hands and wiped down my grocery cart handles. I clean my house with antibacterial products, let in fresh air, and get moderate exercise. But alas, I find myself with a mean bug this week; headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, and hacking cough. The last two days I’ve been snuggled on my bed or on the couch with hot tea; reading or catching up on recorded shows.

Did I literally get this “bug” from my youngest daughter over the weekend, or did my body finally realize that I have just launched my last child into adulthood?

Four children... All grown up and out on their own with college diplomas...Even though we’ve been empty-nesters now for four years, we came home Monday after the graduation weekend realizing that our kids will never live under our roof again. 

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

Another transition... 

Did you know it’s possible to feel proud and filled with joy and yet also a bit sad all at the same time?

In His Grip,

Jane

Photo source: http://www.reloveplanet.com/2012/11/life-lessons-from-winnie-pooh.html

Thank You Whitworth!

"I always pray with joy...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:4,6

The Carver family Era at Whitworth University has been eleven years and is about to end. We are headed over to Spokane this weekend to celebrate our youngest child's college graduation. All four of our children have attended the same college. Crazy, right? I am obviously the school's and my children's biggest fan, as evidenced by my collection of Whitworth apparel and items. (Not shown are the Pirate Mom and Dad license plates on my car...) Twice I've been given the opportunity to act as a Pirate Mom and speak to incoming freshman and their parents about why Whitworth is such a great school.

This family adventure began back in 2005 when our oldest son Mitch started college and chose a small private school we'd learned about from our Pastor, Mark Toone. (He was and is currently on the Board of Education.) Back then, it was still a College, but in 2007, when our daughter Allie started as a freshman, it became a University.

The graduations began...

(Mitch-class of 2009/English Major)

(Allie-class of 2011/Elem. Ed.)

Keeping with tradition, T.J. also wanted to attend Whitworth and he attended 2010-2014. He's just completed his first year of graduate school in a new WU counseling program. Last, but not least,  Sarah started her Whitworth adventure in 2012. Although she spent her Sophomore year here at Tacoma Community College, she returned to complete her Art Education degree and will graduate this Sunday!

(Tim-class of 2014/Theology major)

(Sarah-class of 2016/Art Ed.)

Four times of moving excited kids into the BJ (Baldwin/Jenkins) freshman dorm... Different off-campus homes to set-up, and LOTS of wonderful friends to meet and become like family... Oh if only we'd known all four would end up in Spokane at the same University we might have bought a little rental home they all could have lived in!!

Lots of long road trips over to Spokane to attend Family weekends... Hanging out in the "Hub"... Stock-up shopping trips to Fred Meyer and Costco. Coffee dates at La Petit Chat Bakery and dinners out at The Elk, Twigs, and The Flying Goat... So many fun memories were made over the years!

Greenbluff in October

In the "Loop"

We are Pirates!

The gang at The Elk

The tradition of a steak dinner at Wolf Lodge in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho will continue this Saturday night. We make the trip when they start college and when they graduate. It's fun to see our name in the guest book in years past... This will be our 8th trip or maybe 9th!

Four Pirate graduates. Thirty-two expensive tuition checks written and parent and student loans to be paid. There have been several years when we've had more than one child on campus at the same time. Four times (plus Mitch's Master's) of sitting in the Spokane Arena for hours to hear our child's name read so we can cheer as they walk across the stage. (My tip; bring a book or Kindle to read.)

(Mitch earned Masters~2010)

Prayers shot up for finals and relationships... The blessing of both our sons meeting their amazing wives while at Whitworth...

(Daughter-in-laws Amy and Katie)

And so, our baby girl will be walking across the stage for her hard-earned diploma this Sunday. We'll be there to cheer for our fourth and final Pirate. 

Adorable photo taken by Olivia Strohm Photography

We're so proud of you Sarah! You are lovely and talented inside and out and loved by SO many! You will be the best and most compassionate High School Art Teacher ever!

We're so grateful for the blessing that Whitworth has been to our children and our family! Thanks to their friends and the nurture of Professors, each of our kids has become an improved version of themselves. Besides the fabulous education of their chosen field of study, they've gained confidence and the ability to connect with adults of all ages. Theology has been learned and tested, they became mission and outward focused, and above all caring and loving adults. 

The school motto is "Education of Mind and Heart" and I believe all eight of our family members have received that! Thank you Whitworth! 

This Sunday afternoon, I'll be the Mama holding a hankie, possibly wearing sunglasses to hide the tears and cheering loudly for my beautiful daughter, Sarah Michelle.

In His Grip, 
Jane

We will return for TJ's graduate ceremony next May, so I guess it's not actually our FINAL Whitworth weekend!

That Trip to the Beach

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge –that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18

On Mother's Day weekend, since are four children couldn't come visit, I thought a road trip would be fun. That is why, on a sunny, warm Saturday morning, we packed up the car to drive to the beach. We threw in an overnight bag thinking maybe we could find a dog-friendly rental.

Yes, of course we took our dog Sydney! She loves to run and the thought of her on an open, sandy beach sounded perfect. 

Our adventure began with a new leash for Sydney and a Starbucks for me. We gave our puppy an anxiety pill and headed off. It didn't take long for things to go downhill rapidly. Traffic. Drool. NON-STOP DROOLING DOG.  Our under two hour drive had almost reached three hours due to heavy traffic, when we pulled over for a bathroom break and discovered she'd gotten sick in the back. Drool and now throw-up covered most of my car interior. Did I mention my Rav 4 is leased? We had put our desires first without thinking about the consequences or what was BEST; Sydney would have enjoyed the Puget Sound beach that was a 15 minute drive from our house!

Our destination was Seabrook, WA. It's a Sunset Magazine Idea Town with cottage rentals, a little center with market, shops and a restaurant and miles of sandy beaches. It was charming, but smaller than we expected. We walked around and even participated in the Savor Seabrook seafood and wine tasting event at the Town Hall~with our dog! Apparently it was the place to be, since we ran into our former neighbor and congressman Derek Kilmer.

After our walk around town it was time to take Miss Sydney to the beach. Have you been to a Northern Pacific beach?! The temperature on the coast is always cooler and WINDY! We'd forgotten that, and dressed in shorts since it was hot when we left our house. Thank goodness we brought fleece pull-overs!

The view was magnificent and Sydney had about ten fun minutes running around until we just got too chilly.

After finding out how expensive one overnight with a dog would be, we went to a little wine bar to have a snack before heading home. (Sydney stayed in the car.) We even got to watch the Kentucky Derby while we sipped and nibbled and relaxed. The drive home was tense and very slobbery, but only two hours. I have such compassion now for parents of carsick, crying babies on long drives...

My souvenir from the day (did I really want a reminder?) was a  wooden tray with votive holders and a car interior that took a long time to clean.

Safe to say we will NEVER, EVER, take our dog on another road trip except to the Vet or maybe the quick drive to the Fox Island beach. It was a long, exhausting day, and yet the peace I experienced gazing out at the beautiful ocean God created made it all worthwhile.

"Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary." Isaiah 40:28

In His Grip,
Jane

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Hi Friends!  This is a BIG week for our family. Our baby girl will be graduating from college in exactly one week. More about that on another day! It seems like just yesterday we were posing for her high school Senior prom!

Since I want to be a person who chooses joy, here's my latest list of "things I'm loving right now":

I love discovering something fun and random on a drive. On the way home from our Women's retreat earlier this month, I spotted something colorful out my window. Luckily my friends in the car are also spontaneous, so we drove closer to see what was happening. A small private school was celebrating "May Day" with an old-fashioned Maypole Dance. It's "roots" are definitely not Christian, but so pretty and festive! These families were having fun and also enjoying a pot-luck picnic lunch. I was reminded of a time when I was a little girl and my teacher had us do a Maypole dance for a program. That was a LONG time ago!

I love being a part of the MOPS ministry at my church. If you know me, you know I've been a Mops mentor for years. When I moved to the Northwest back in '97 I was involved as a Mom and enjoyed being a DGL (discussion group leader) and then on "Core" as the DGL coordinator.   I adore the relationships I have with the Mamas who range in age from 20's-40's, my fellow mentor moms who are all my dear friends, and then of course there are the babies, toddlers and preschoolers... We gather twice a month at church during the school year to hear speakers that talk about relevant subjects and occasionally do hands-on projects.  I'm so impressed by how talented and smart these young women are and the variety of careers they have, or are taking a little break from, while their children are young. There is no right way to "do" motherhood!

"MOPS International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church. If you want to learn more about MOPS, check out the link at Mops.org.

I love that I have not one, but two part-time jobs that are fun! I get to enjoy the retail world at Charlie Barnes, and also substitute teach preschool at my church. Both allow me to hang out with little cuties and wonderful adults.

I love the "app" First 5 from Proverbs 31. It's free and it's a wonderful way to spend the first five minutes of your day focusing on God. There's a great wrap-up video every weekend too. Right now we're in ACTS and I love that our church is in ACTS too. Double-dosing can be a good thing!

I love this quote: "God never asks us to give up anything without offering something far greater in its place." (Wendy Blight from Proverbs 31 First 5)

This Potluck Recipe is a winner: When I need to bring something hot and yummy to a breakfast/brunch, my go-to is always this hash brown casserole. It's easy and always polished off at Mops gatherings.

Our rose bushes have started blooming! Thanks to previous owners, we have 12 rose bushes. The first rose of the season is one of my favorite colors and is SO fragrant! Since I love having cut flowers in the house, I can save a bit of grocery money when our own "free" flowers start blooming.

I love the way my four kids spoil me. I didn't get to SEE them on Mother's Day, but I got to talk to ALL of them and cards have been arriving. I laughed when I realized how this card was addressed. I bet it made the mail carrier smile too! I AM Mama Sama!... (I also answer to Mom, Mama Bear, Momma, Marmie~depending on which child is writing or talking to me.)

Even though I often wish my daughters and sons were still under our roof, I'm thrilled that they are all thriving!
"Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago. I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don't you recognize it?" (GWT) Isaiah 43:18-19a

What are you loving right now?

In His Grip, 
jane