Having Some Irish March MADness

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I was hoping my Ancestry DNA test results would be back, and I'd know whether or not I am part Irish, but alas, I'm still waiting... I do have a temper, love green and my hair was strawberry blond as a child.

This has NOT been my favorite week. I was thrilled to have most of my children home last weekend, but I was dealing with a sprained/tender ankle, and then on Monday I woke up sick. Apparently I've caught the mean virus that has been going around our Harbor town. Because I have asthma, colds always go straight to my lungs. I managed to get through my shift on Monday at the store, and Bible Study Tuesday morning (hope I didn't spread my germs friends!), but then all my energy left. I have spent the last four days on the couch next to my "I'm sick" stash; Kleenex, inhaler, diffuser, throat lozenges, cough syrup, Tylenol, water, tea, OJ, Chicken noodle soup, etc.

Photo source: Pinterest

Of course my orange furries have been keeping me company but my coughing scares them. My coughing fits are so bad my husband had to sleep in the guest room. To say I'm "under the weather" is an understatement. Boo.

Since the March Madness Basketball tournament is in full swing,  in the spirit of the game and my grumpy mood I made my own MAD list:

1. I am MAD I had to cancel my hair appointment~I was SO ready for my hi-light touch-ups!
2. I am MAD I've had to miss two of my work shifts which forced my friend to cover for me.
3. I am MAD I had to miss MOPS this week. It was going to be a great meeting.
4. I am MAD that I don't have enough energy to take my doggie for a walk even though it finally stopped raining. We're both going stir-crazy!
5. I am MAD that my husband's travel schedule is crazy right now~HE needs some couch time and I miss him.

OK, enough grumbling... I am thankful for my cozy house and Wi-Fi. While I've been sequestered in my home I've passed the time reading, knitting, and enjoying the Spring Home Tour 2017 that was put on by 22 bloggers, "Country Living Magazine" and HomeGoods. I've gotten quite inspired!

http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/spring-home-tour/

I've also been binging on Victoria, the PBS series.

PBS.org

It's SO good! I've watched four of the seven episodes. If you loved "Downton Abby" and "The Crown," you'll love this too. Great scenery, characters, costumes. The actress, Jenna Coleman is really good in this role. Here's a fun fact; her natural eye color is brown but they went to a lot of editing trouble to make them blue. Why? In real life were Victoria's eyes blue?...

Speaking of eye colors, the combination of my blue eyes and my husband's brown eyes gave our four children beautiful eyes. The youngest two have rich brown, our oldest daughter has hazel, and our first-born son has green. My Grandma Grace often said "eyes are the windows into a person's soul."

Mitch's eye photographed by Sarah at Simple Joys

St Patrick's Day always makes me think of green beer, which makes me think of our wedding post-reception party. WHY? Our wedding was in June and at the time Michael worked at a restaurant. They had a leftover keg of green beer that hadn't been tapped, so he got to bring that to my parent's house. After our country club reception a bunch of close friends came back to my parent's home and we continued the celebration. Doesn't every June bride toast with green beer? I even finally got the Chi Omega candle ceremony that happens when a "sister" gets "pinned" by a Fraternity Boy. If you were Greek in college, you know what I mean... Michael didn't go to Ball State but he was a Frat boy and he was DEFINITELY worth waiting for. I am one lucky wife!

Due to this nasty bug I won't be celebrating with green beer or my favorite Reuben sandwich. I might have to go through drive-through for a Shamrock Shake. My fingers are crossed that I'll be well enough to work Sunday. In the meantime, let's think Happy Irish thoughts!

The Shamrock image at the top of the page can be printed off to color (if you find yourself sick and bored today too...) http://www.allfreeadultcoloringbooks.com/st_patricks_day.html

Here's an Irish saying I found to cheer myself up:

PHRASE:	Beidh biseach ort go luath
PRONOUNCED:	beg bishock urt guh loo-ah
MEANING:	You will be better soon

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishphrases.htm

I LOVE this Old Irish Blessing! You can listen to it sung by a choir. Beautiful!

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. May God be with you and bless you: May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortune, Rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. May the road rise up to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home And may the hand of a friend always be near. May green be the grass you walk on, May blue be the skies above you, May pure be the joys that surround you, May true be the hearts that love you.

Hopefully you are well and will have a restful weekend with friends and family!

Grateful for Grace, and In His Grip,

xo Jane

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!

Looking Back...and a Five-Year Blog Anniversary

Our front porch in Whitley Hills, Fall 1997

Five years ago this month I wrote my first blog. Back then I didn't even know how to add photos. I still struggle with the techie side of blogging and I'm not a consistent or talented writer, but over the last five years, I've penned 315  posts. My hope is that as I process the ordinary, daily things, that you might be encouraged and learn some new things too!

Five years ago this weekend I was saying goodbye to the town and people I loved in Gig Harbor and moving to Illinois.  Windows and Walls was written as I said goodbye to our yellow house in Whitley Hills.

Quite a lot happened in a span of five years: one son married, lots of graduation ceremonies were attended (one high school, three college, one graduate school), I packed, moved and lived in lots of places (a Colonial in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the basement of a friend's home on Raft Island, a studio apartment near Horsehead Bay, a pretty rental on Fox Island and now to our dream home in downtown in Gig Harbor), we said goodbye to our beloved dog Sadie and rescued our adorable Sydney,  Zoe the cat ran away and found herself a new owner, Tigger stayed chubby, our other boy got engaged, Mike changed jobs and I found my passion working at a baby boutique called Charlie Barnes. We said goodbye and hello to dear friends and our church.

We learned lots of lessons during our two years back in the Midwest.

Through it all...through all the changes, tears, blessings and moves, God was there and God was good. He showed us grace and mercy and love. As I sit on my deck overlooking my gorgeous Harbor town, I try to remember not to hold on too tightly to all we've been given. Who knows what the next five years might bring?

In His Grip, 
Jane