Friday Favorites, This and That

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Psalm 90:2

Happy Friday! Today I have some favorites to share with you and an update on what's been going on around here. The view above was taken from the beach at Pt Ruston. Looking at our Mt. Rainier is always a favorite of mine. Here are five other current favorites:

Worship Song:  I discovered  "My Feet are on the Rock" by I AM THEY while listening to Spirit 105.3 in the car. It's SO good!

Beauty product:
Don't judge, but before my daughter's wedding this Summer I discovered the "Tinkle" razor while watching a YouTube video. It is a very safe, gentle way to remove facial hair. They are sold on Amazon and come in a 6-pack. It's not just for eyebrows; use it for anyplace you want a smoother surface. (My Mama passed on her Norwegian furry cheeks.) Make-up applies easier on a smooth face. The name is goofy, but it's a really cheap, helpful item!

Healthy thought posted on a local fitness chalkboard:
"Don't diet and work out, nourish and train." Isn't that good?

A favorite funny moment on a recent flight:
I think my fight attendant forgot he was pouring me wine, not juice... What do you think?

Favorite gift-book for the expectant Mama:
I found The Very Hungry Pregnant Lady while roaming around "Aunties" bookstore in Spokane, but it's also available on Amazon. My daughter, who is almost 37 weeks pregnant could TOTALLY relate to this hilarious rendition of the classic story about The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This might become my go-to shower gift!

My husband has been traveling a LOT for work and a few weeks ago I finally got to tag along when he went to Scottsdale. Arizona is one of my favorite spots to go for sunshine. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. It was quite a Native American cultural experience. I filled up on as much Vitamin D as I could and hope it will keep with me through the rainy PNW winter season.

I've had a chance to see my Spokane kids this Fall and my baby girl has had two wonderful baby showers. Sarah has been "nesting" downstairs and at the same time, our kitchen is completely torn up for an island remodel. I will show before and after pics when it's finished!

Yesterday at our MOPS meeting we were focussing on friendship. (I love being a Mentor Mom and I have made SO many dear friends due to that ministry.) I am convinced that women of all ages need community! I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my tribe of girlfriends to get together with, do bible study with, and call for encouragement or prayer. I hope you have a small group of close girlfriends too! I highly recommend looking into mops.org or a local group called Village 253 if you are a young Mama.

If you are an empty-nester it can be difficult to make new friends if you've moved to a new location. Try to put yourself out there. I experienced being new in 2010 when we had to move back to Illinois for a time. I made a few acquaintances that really helped my loneliness by joining our village Newcomers club, a Bible study, and asking a neighbor to go on walks with me.  It only takes courage and a smile to begin a friendship.

The countdown to our grandbaby's due date is in 23 days!!! WE CAN'T WAIT!
Thank you for stopping by See Jane Learn. Wishing you a fun Fall weekend.

In His Grip,
xo Jane

MOPS: The Gift of Belonging

What a great Core Team to serve with!

Being a Mom is the biggest blessing in my life, but I would never have survived and thrived raising my four if it weren't for my tribe of Mom friends. One of the BEST places to connect with Mamas is MOPS. Yesterday was the last MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) gathering for the year at our church, and once again I am thankful that I get to be a part of this awesome ministry.

My love of the MOPS organization began almost twenty years ago when my husband’s job

was forcing our family of six to move across the country. I did NOT want to leave the

Midwest and attempt to find community in the little Pacific Northwest town of Gig

Harbor, Washington. I had already moved once from my childhood hometown in Indiana

to Illinois and had made new friends while helping to lead a Mom’s Bible Study group.

The weekend we flew out West to house hunt, we visited Chapel Hill Presbyterian

Church. We knew we'd found our "church home," now I just needed to find some new friends!...I slipped their bulletin in my purse and pulled it out to reread when

I returned to my Illinois kitchen table. I saw a paragraph describing MOPS. A place to

hang out with other Mamas with childcare? Maybe even make a new friend? Yes please...

I quickly called the long-distance phone number and asked to be registered.

As I explained to the kind, understanding coordinator (thanks Randi!) that we’d be moving to the area right before school started, not only did she make me feel welcome and encouraged in our conversation, but she even recommended a fabulous preschool for my youngest daughter.

"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

My first MOPS meeting back in the Fall of 1997 is such a happy memory for me. I met

so many women who helped me acclimate to the Harbor town that didn’t even have a

Target.  Maybe it wasn't such a terrible place after all! I began to feel like I belonged.

My youngest daughter thrived in her Moppets class and her teacher (love you Shelli!) became one of my best friends. At each meeting there is either an informative speaker, video, or hands-on learning activity followed by time to listen and chat with the others mommies at the table.

I was asked to take on the role of discussion group leader (DGL) and the

following year served as the DGL coordinator. We’d only lived here a year when my

husband had a very serious injury falling off our roof onto the cement driveway while

hanging Christmas lights. The moms at my MOPS table and the other DGL’s provided

meals, childcare and prayer. My family was well-loved and cared for.

I occasionally run into the women I met that first Fall in MOPS at the grocery, or Target

(yes we finally got one in 2002!) and it is a joy to catch up and talk about our lives and

families.

It’s been my privilege to continue participating in the MOPS ministry in the role of a

Mentor Mom. Our group currently has eight mentors, one for each table/DGL, and they

are some of my closest friends. 

Our mentor group this year.

My part-time job at a local baby boutique, Charlie Barnes Kids,  allows me to easily bring up the MOPS ministry to new-to-town and expectant moms and invite them

to attend.

What have I learned over the past 19 years thanks to MOPS?

* We all long to be “known” and have a need to belong...

* Love is often a hug and a hot dish delivered to your door...

* There are many different styles of parenting and we can learn from each other...

* Public speaking and leadership skills are learned by practicing...

* Being a Mommy is the hardest, most rewarding job in the world...

* Lots of women meet Jesus and plug into the local church because of MOPS...

MOPS is my “happy place!” I get to give encouragement to younger women as they

experience the joys and struggles of motherhood and try to point them to Jesus, serve God at my church, and whenever possible, snuggle babies! 

If you want to know more about the organization, go to MOPS.org. If you live in the Harbor and are interested in registering for next Fall (the childcare is fabulous and fills up fast!) go to the form on the Chapel Hill PC.org website. The theme for next year is "free indeed."

Have a Happy Weekend and to all you Moms out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

In His Grip,

xo Jane

Thinking About Purpose

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Today I've been thinking about why I'm going into this new year without a lot of changes. It's a good thing; same family, home, job, ministry. Sometimes things or people are for just a season and other times we're called to things because God has a purpose for us. I am resting in the knowledge that right now I'm where God wants me. Here's what my journey has looked like so far:

God knew me before I was even conceived, stayed with me even when I didn’t know or follow him, and all the while He’s been working out the path of my life.

photo source:inspired2prosper.com

Being the youngest of three girls in a family of teachers helped me when I became a teacher of First Grade, Preschool and Kindergarten. I had excellent role models.

Things I learned as an Early Education teacher helped me as I became the Mommy of four children. Chaos? Yep. Practicing reading, figuring out homework, organizing schedules, teacher conferences... So many things that go along with education. 

Choosing to stay home  during most of my children’s growing up years and choosing to teach part-time for several years allowed my family the gift of my time and attention, and it's helped me to value and understand Moms who stay home and those who choose/have to, work outside the home. As long as parents and children are thriving, either option can be good.

My love for mothering and babies has led me to a ministry I love (MOPS-Mothers of Preschoolers) and a part-time job at a baby boutique called Charlie Barnes.

I’m able to chat with new-to-town couples and connect them to local resources because I was once that new person and I have a heart for those trying to put down roots in new places...

Conversations occur with customers as I wrap their packages about aging parents and I can listen and relate since my Mama just turned 90 and has had to deal with lots of surgeries and changes...

The love I have for all things “baby” helps me assist shoppers in choosing that special gift. I get to snuggle and adore babies and toddlers. How sweet to get my "baby fix" since it's not yet my time to be a Grandma. It's especially rewarding when I get to celebrate with expectant parents by peeking at their Ultrasound results and then wrapping up a pink or blue present to be opened later. Such joy!

I have the privilege of working for and with young women who put up with me being old enough to be their Mom.  Since my four children live out of town, I get my "young people fix.” 

I believe my purpose is right where I’m at; loving on my husband and home (and furry babies), parenting long-distance, being available to help friends and neighbors, and loving on the young families that I serve at work and at church. Until I feel led by the Holy Spirit to pursue a different direction, I think I’m in my spot and it's all part of my ongoing story.

How about you? Do you know your purpose? 

In His Grip,

xo Jane

If you want to read a bit more about God's purpose for all of us, check out this link.

What I Learned in October

Here are some things I learned last month:

1. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is still thriving. Our two coordinators recently flew to Louisville, Kentucky for MOMCon, the MOPS national convention. I had attended a convention back in 1998 in Denver and still have amazing memories from that trip. Were any of you there? Thanks to technology, I was able to stream all the large group talks given by fabulous Christian Mom speakers. I was familiar with many of them from blogs and books I've read, and spending my weekend immersed in their encouragement felt like I was there! This Mentor Mom is going to start saving her pennies to attend next year's MOMCon since it's in my childhood hometown of Indianapolis!

2. Even guys like collections. Throughout our marriage, my husband has put up with my collections, many of which have come and gone. Two of my favorite items I collect are antique aqua Ball Jars (I went to Ball State!) and white pitchers. Now that we've down-sized, I realize I need to quit collecting and "edit" my belonging. My husband has a collection...shower heads.

Yep. He keeps a stash and switches out our shower head occasionally. The zip lock bag moves from house to house.

3. I appreciate the sound of English words better than American words. One of the books I recently listened to on Audible was A Little Love by Amanda Prouse. I enjoyed the accent of the narrator, and here's a few reasons why the English vocabulary sounds better:

"edit my belongings" vs. purge, "load the boot" vs trunk (besides, aren't trunks located on the front of an animal?), "it's rubbish" vs. trash. See what I mean? Their words just sound more classy. Great book by the way. 

4. You can find out your blood type when you donate. When I asked my doctor's office if they could tell me my blood type, they said it would  cost something like $90 to do the test. The nurse did tell me that if I donate blood to a blood bank, I can find out for free. Sounds like a win-win...giving and getting.

5. Now I understand why pastors where robes. I attend the modern service at Chapel Hill so our pastors are usually wearing casual clothes. I never really questioned why pastors wear robes in traditional churches (or mine on certain days such as one we call "Saint Andrew's Sunday".) After our pastor brought up the topic, I did a bit more research here. The purpose is so our focus is on the message, not the man/woman or their personality delivering God's word. It also reminds the people of his/her special calling. The robe is not meant to set him/her above the congregation, but to set them apart due to their unique office as pastor during the Lord’s Day worship service. 

6. It's not just a musical, it's a possibility. A couple years ago when my man and I were still living in Illinois, I convinced him to watch Fiddler on the Roof with me. I had never really watched the whole musical. Well...this fall WE got to play matchmakers and connect two single friends we know and love. Guess what?! Five weeks after their first date, they are engaged and a wedding date has been set. I love happy endings, and I love how GOD knew all along they were meant to be together.

Photo courtesy of Bing

7. We should have taken the course twenty years ago. We've been taking the Dave Ramsey course at our church called Financial Peace University. Oh my... He.    Is.    Wise.

Using biblical principals, Dave teaches how to handle money. If only we'd taken his course when we first got married. Now, we're working hard to change our behaviors and correct past mistakes and move forward. If you haven't heard of it, I recommend you check out Dave's website and buy this class for couples getting married. 

I'm linking up with Emily P. Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. What have you learned lately?

In His Grip, 

Jane       Thank you for stopping by See Jane Learn.

xo