Life Lately

Sweet Gracie enjoying God's world.

Happy Earth Day! I hope this finds you well. In our little corner of the world, it is raining today. It's pretty much the first rainy day we've had all month. The local weatherman said it's one of the dryest Aprils on record. I'm not excited to take a rainy walk but I am grateful that the pollen is getting washed away.

Here are some things I've been learning lately:

Earth day is having its 50th anniversary. I didn't know Earth Day existed until I was a freshman in college at Ball State University. Apparently, I was introduced to more than just beer and sorority life. Oh, and my elementary education classes.

The dog I rescued seven years ago really thinks she's a therapy dog. Sydney, our Australian Kelpie, never leaves my side. Like NEVER. When I get up to use the bathroom, she comes with me. When I go downstairs to do laundry, she follows me. If I go on the back deck, she wants to come too. If I'm sitting on the couch, she's under my feet or beside me. The ONLY time she isn't by my side or behind me is when we go on walks. Then she leads me. 

Sometimes it drives me crazy that she won't leave me alone. (I bet some mamas of littles can relate.) Other times I appreciate her loyalty and remember that she thinks it is her JOB to make sure I am looked after... Sydney reminds me of a scripture verse that is a good one to remember during this pandemic.

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

I'm thankful God is always with me and I want to walk in trust just like my cat Thor does on our skinny railing.

Sometimes you just need to turn it around. Literally! For two weeks I thought my sewing machine was broken so my mask-making project screeched to a halt. It turns out, I was putting in my new needle backward. Ugh! If we're grumpy or discouraged, maybe we can flip our mindset around, "Pollyanna-style." Let's try to be glad and look for the good! 

CURRENTLY:

Reading- Secrets of Willow House, the first in a series by Susanne O'Leary. I recently finished The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry. It was SO good!

Watching- "Murdoch Mysteries" on Amazon Prime. We're on season one and there are 13!

Photo source

Needing- My diffusers going and candles lit. I'm going to need to order more Young Living essential oils soon and another citrus soy candle from Target. My Anthro-candle-diffuser-oil recipe was not a big hit with my husband, so I'm not using it, but maybe you'll enjoy it.

I really wanted the "real thing" so I went onto the Anthropologie site to possibly order a Capri Blue Volcano candle, but after shipping it would be over $40!! I just couldn't do it. 

Creating- I am finally working on photo albums. I will have to write a whole other post on that.

Loving- Playing games and laughing with my adult kids on Zoom (hopefully once a week.) The other thing I'm loving is our new downstairs bathroom color. We Mike painted it a pretty pinky-peach called Embrace. It looks a bit like pink grapefruit and goes good with the new shower curtain I picked from Target. 

Thanks for stopping by to read "See Jane Learn." I hope you're safe and well and making the best of this STAY AT HOME season. 

In His Grip, 

xo Jane

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24

While We Wait

The Story sisters (back in the day) in our Easter finery!

Hello and Happy Holy Saturday! This day represents the hard day of waiting and wondering between the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and the glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. My bible study friends and I agree; we are thankful we wait in hope and know how the weekend's story ends.

 Last Easter we were in Spokane with most of our family and worshipped at Summit Church.

While we wait for the Coronavirus to stop spreading and the stay home order to lift, we wait in hope... hope for healing, vaccines, our economy's recovery, the simple gifts of going to the grocery without fear and attending church in person. Personally, I can't wait to spend lots of time with my grandbaby and her Mama and be allowed to travel so I can see my other three kiddos and my Indiana family.

Gracie and Grandma

Story sisters all grown up.

This Holy Week has been filled with sunshine here in the PNW and we've enjoyed our deck overlooking our Harbor town.  Slow mornings with coffee and the Word, walks with Sydney, puttering around the house and yard and connecting on Zoom have filled my days. I appreciated what I heard on Rachel and Dave Hollis's "Rise Together" podcast, where she talked about ten years from now and what memories her children would remember of this COVID-19 quarantine. They are working on making sweet memories with their four children. I will remember having lots of time with my normally-traveling-sales-manager hubby and Zoom happy hours with my four+ kids. I will remember waving to ALL the people walking by our house each day. I will remember attending church in the living room, and going to bed each night with a "Sleep on this" message from my pastor and a beautiful praise song on Instagram from Natalie Grant and her husband.

While we wait, be blessed and know that

"He is not here; HE IS RISEN, just as He said."

Matthew 28:6

Thank you very much for taking the time to read, "See Jane Learn." I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Easter!  We will get through this, together. Stay well and wash your hands!

In His Grip, 

xo Jane

P.S. Below are some of my favorite bloggers for you to check out. Enjoy!

Emily Lex

Thistlewood Farms

Nesting With Grace

Making it in the Mountains

The Inspired Room

My 100 Year Old Home

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24

Life Lately

Happy Sunday! I hope you are well, hunkered in with a human or pet you love and trusting that our World will eventually be restored.  It is hard to believe that it's only been 11 days since our Washington State Governor mandated that groups over 250 could not gather; causing churches, schools, concerts, and sports to screech to a halt.  On March 15 all gyms, restaurants, and bars closed. The phrases "flatten the curve" and "social distancing" became common in our vocabulary. The numbers continue climbing, people are falling ill and dying, and the country of Italy is the epicenter of the Pandemic.

I've been sheltered in place for practically the whole month. The last time I gathered with friends was the first Tuesday of March. My traveling husband came back from a business trip to New Jersey with a cold and shared his germs with me. Not wanting to compromise anyone else's health or be more susceptible to the virus, I've stayed home except to drive to Target pick-up or to take Sydney on her daily walk.

Besides Target, we've done a couple orders from Amazon and used pick-up at Fred Meyer grocery. My husband has done a couple run-ins to small stores for a few items. Since I am officially over 60 I might do the early shop for seniors tomorrow.

I have seen my youngest daughter and grandbaby a couple times because they too have stayed away from others. This baby girl is the best entertainment there is!

Here's what I've been up to lately:
In the kitchen:
I love to bake, and even though I shouldn't be eating many carbohydrates that seems to be what I'm creating in the kitchen. I tried my hand at homemade French bread, whipped up an apple pie on 3/14 for "Pi Day," and I'm currently baking chocolate chip cookies. Don't judge.

 

Watching:
I binged on a new Netflix series called Virgin River and can't wait for the second season. Each night we enjoy several episodes of Father Brown. (Also on Netflix but only until March 31. Boo!) There is a new show on HGTV called "Unsellable" and it features twin sisters up North of Seattle. I love their finished product.

Photo source

Photo source

Reading:
I start every morning with my Lysa TerKeurst devotional, Embraced, then I do the "2020 Lent, His Love Endures" on my SHE READS TRUTH app.

The last book I enjoyed before our library closed was a Jenny Colgan novel called The Endless Beach. It's hard to find available books on our library app, so I'm splurging and looking on Amazon.

Friday night I finished The Nantucket Inn by Pamela M. Kelley and I've been making a list of books I'd like to get for my Kindle.

Knitting:
Some special young women that are friends with my daughters are expecting which gives me a reason to stay busy knitting some newborn baby hats.

A project I'm avoiding:
I have set up a table downstairs and dragged in the bins of photo boxes and albums I need to go through. As of today, I still haven't started. Perhaps when the rain returns this week I'll be ready to dive in. 36 years of marriage + 4 kids=LOTS of photos and most of them are poor quality!

Diffusing:
I love my essential oils! I was given a Young Living starter kit and diffuser for my end-of-summer birthday, and every morning I get it going right after I get my Keurig going. My favorites are orange, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and stress relief. An order is on the way, and then I will let you know if I indeed re-created the scent of the Anthropologie candle I adore.

Walks:
I'm thankful we've had a break in the rain and quite a bit of sunshine here in the PNW. It has made getting outdoors for my daily walk even more delightful. I'm glad we're still allowed to leave our homes to get out in the fresh air! I can choose to walk through the woods, on a trail, through a neighborhood, or downtown near the water. How lucky am I? I especially feel peaceful when I'm in the forest across the street or looking across the water at Mt. Rainier.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."

 Hebrews 11:1

I know Mt. Rainier is there whether I can see it or not, and God is with us even though there is a lot of fear in our world right now. Years ago I wrote another blog post called "Seeing is Believing." 

I appreciate seeing (reading) about how God is working through His people during the pandemic.

I found this faith article that talked about so many good things going on in the world right now. 

What have you been up to? I'd love some good fiction book recommendations. Stay well, and thank you for taking the time to read "See Jane Learn!" 

In His Grip, 

Jane

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24