evergreen

A couple years ago I told a friend I wanted to live more honestly. Speak more honestly. Be more real with people. I had this strong desire after going through my Dad's cancer and death. What I think I wanted was to not lose touch with what really matters in life and living. What is at the core most important and true. I am still on that journey.

Today is the day many people make resolutions. My resolution is to continue on this journey of transformation in Jesus Christ. Seeking, resting, trusting, and following His light.

"grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"

1 John 1:17b

Happy New Year!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

fern

Since there has been so much snow and wind, I took some pictures in my "sun" room. This is one of my favorites. I suppose I can call it my indoor garden spot.

"God is light;

in Him there is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:5b

Grace and peace,

Jane

holly

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the

shadow of death

a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2

Grace and Peace,

Jane

iris

I found my CD of The Messiah and I'm rejoicing. Today is my Dad's birthday and he would have been 75. He could sing a hysterical version of "and I will shaaaaaaaaake" from the Messiah.

I wrote on my last post about listening to the Messiah while getting a root canal. I wonder if my Dad would have rather had a root canal than have to sit through the Messiah. He probably couldn't imagine the torture of the two at the same time. So, Happy Birthday Dad. I know you are enjoying good music this Christmas.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

kerria japonica

I can't find my cd of the Messiah. I am always amazed and encouraged by it and today would be a good day for that. A couple years ago I listened to it while I was getting a root canal. It helped. Today is a snow day and unlike a root canal I am looking forward to being "stuck" at home.

"Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight,

the rough ways smooth.

And all mankind will see God's salvation."

Luke 3:5-6

Grace and Peace,
Jane

autumn joy sedum

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end;

by His life he brings us gladness,

Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

-from the hymn Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

red berries

Oh, leave your sheep,

you shepherds on the hills,

leave fields and rocks, and all the care of flocks.

Your sorrow deep now change to joy that thrills;

come hither and adore your God,

your God,

your God who heals your grief so sore.

-a French Carol.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

greens

This prayer by Christina G. Rossetti is a good advent prayer:

Open wide the window of our spirits, O Lord,
and fill us full of light;
Open wide the door of our hearts,
that we may receive and entertain thee
with all our powers of adoration
and love.
Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

hydrangea

Over the past couple years I have become a fan of Luci Shaw's poetry. Here's one of her poems:

Salutation

Framed in light,
Mary sings through the doorway.
Elizabeth's six-month joy
jumps, a palpable greeting,
a hidden first encounter
between son and Son.

And my heart turns over
when I meet Jesus
in you.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

azalea

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low.

who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,

look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.

It Came upon the Midnight Clear vs 3

Grace and Peace,
Jane

brrrdhouse

I trudged out to my backyard today in search of something "garden" to photograph. In a short time my fingers were frozen and I was inside stomping the snow off my boots and pants. ergh.

So, how does a garden variety gal get through the winter and how does she see and appreciate this important time of rest and winter to the life of a garden?

Here's a poem by Madeline L'Engle to ponder:

Without any rhyme
without any reason
my heart lifts to light
in this bleak season

Believer and wanderer
caught by salvation
stumbler and blunderer
into Creation

In this cold blight
where marrow is frozen
it is God's time
my heart has chosen

In paradox and story
parable and laughter
find I the glory
here in hereafter

Grace and Peace,
Jane

icy rose bush

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. One of our family traditions is lighting advent candles. Yesterday we lit the first purple candle and read scripture about casting off darkness and putting on light. The weather today has provided a gloomy illustration for me of darkness and my desire for light. During Advent we remember this light that came into the world to take away our darkness. Let us live in the day because our salvation is near.

Comfort, comfort ye my people,

speak ye peace, thus saith our God;

Comfort those who sit in darkness,

mourning 'neath their sorrow's load.

Speak ye to Jerusalem

of the peace that waits for them;

tell her that her sins I cover,

and her warfare now is over.

-Joahnnes Olearius 1671

Grace and Peace,

Jane

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I'm getting ready for Thanksgiving. I've got a long list and after a good walk and proper caffeination I'm almost ready to tackle it. My Mom and my sister's family are coming here for dinner. Everyone is bringing something, so my job isn't too tough. I'm looking forward to being together.

Maybe a list of things I'm thankful for will be written as I go about my day today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

small leaf rhododrendron

Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good;

His love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Grace and Peace,

Jane

azalea

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying:

I have loved you with an everlasting love.

I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

Jeremiah 31:3

Grace and Peace,

Jane

another leaf.

I took this picture a couple days ago. When I look at my yard this morning, there are only a few colorful leaves left on some bushes.

On my desk pile of papers I found a prayer written by Mike for when he led worship. I think it's worth posting and praying this morning. Here's just a part of it:

We call on your strong name
knowing the truth of Your power and love,
poured out for us.
Strong enough for our trouble,
Strong enough for our rebellion,
Strong enough to complete Your purposes.

Lord hold us by the arm
and lift our eyes to the truth
Be with us again today.
Amen.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

red leaf

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5

Grace and Peace,

Jane

bittersweet

Last week my friend Cheri and I went looking for bittersweet in the woods behind her house. For some reason, there wasn't as much as usual. It was a beautiful day though to walk the trails.

Cheri is one of my long time friends. We had babies together (literally) and I always refer to her as "my friend Cheri-who-had-her-baby-in-the-car." It's her claim to fame.

She knows I like bittersweet and so in the fall she invites me over for lunch, good conversation, and a hike. I love the tradition!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

berries by church

"drink deep of God's pure kindness.

Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God."

1 Peter 2:2 (from the message)

I took this picture by my church last week. It was one of the last warm days of the year and I enjoyed wandering around the gardens remembering God's love of me.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

snow on purple coneflower

It snowed!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

another berry

"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption."

Psalm 130:7

Grace and Peace,

Jane

JoDee hat

Here's a picture of my JoDee hat. When Mike took me to a JoDee Messina concert for my birthday, I had so much fun that it seemed perfectly reasonable and necessary to buy this hat.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

pears

Since I don't like scary things, I have never been a fan of Halloween. But over the years my attitude has improved and I now sorta enjoy wearing my zebra print fuzzy cowboy hat (that I bought at a Jodee messina concert) and I hand out candy and drink wine (which helps my bad attitude). This year I even bought a t-shirt at target that says trick or treat.

We get 150+ trick or treaters so it's crazy! One time I asked a little boy what he was and he said, "a pimp"! ok.....interesting....how do you respond to that??

I am trying to embrace the madness. So, Happy Halloween.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

japanese anemone

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

Grace and Peace,

Jane

marigold

Yesterday at church we sang "In Christ Alone". I love it. I've warned my family that one day I will be raising my hands during this song so don't be shocked!

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all-

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

cosmos

A beautiful bunch of cosmos grows in front of Jamie's garden plot. I have seen people stop and stare. They were even on the news when there was a feature about community gardens.

Now that we have had frost they are starting to fade. But, seriously, they were something to behold.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

red tomato

Last Saturday we cleaned up our vegetable garden. We had a fun summer learning and are already planning next year. Even though our tomato harvest was a little disappointing, there are some still hanging on to the summer for dear life.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

red

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face."

John Donne (1572-1631)

Grace and Peace,

Jane

fern

"the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and His ears are attentive to their prayer"

1 Peter 3:12

Grace and Peace,

Jane

B

A couple days ago, my camera and I went to F. Meijer Gardens in search of fall foliage. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed wandering around taking lots of pictures. This picture of a B is part of a cool sculpture by Jaume Pleusa. This artist makes fascinating sculptures of people made up of letters.

It's Brooks' Birthday today (how can my baby be 23?) so I'm posting this B for him. This sculpture reminded me of Brooks because he loves letters, words, books and ideas. It's a big part of who he is. So, Happy Birthday my dear first born.

Grace and Peace,

Mom/Jane

maple leaf

"He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

Grace and Peace,

Jane

hydrangea leaf

Some of the lyrics of the song "Pink Light" on Laura Veirs cd Saltbreakers have been going through my head. Jamie gave this cd to Mike and I love love it. These words are just true and have gotten me thinking about why people (and I) can be unkind and the results of hurtful words and actions.

Sorry I was cruel

I was protecting myself

drifting along with my swords out flying

tattering my own sails

and I tattered yours, too

took you and wrapped you around me like a spell

o, how now the cold seeps in, o!

o, how now I cast you into the wind.

Grace and Peace,
Jane

cold aster

Yesterday, when I got home from church, I turned the heat on. I know that there's a part of me that feels more righteous the longer I wait to turn on that furnace. But it was 57 degrees in the house and I was cold! I don't know if I hesitate because it feels like I am giving in to fall and eventually winter or that the tough dutch part of me wants to be frugal and hearty. Anyway, our Sunday was warm and happy and somehow it was freeing for me.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

pumpkin

I enjoy the word "autumnal". This time of year, I love saying it and I try to say it as often as I can. I love the autumnal decorations, autumnal foods, and autumnal smells. I love the autumnalness of autumn.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

japanese anemone

" There's not a plant or flower below but makes your glories known;
and clouds arise and tempests blow by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from you is ever in your care,
and everywhere that man can be, you, God, are present there."

verse 3 of the hymn "I Sing the Almighty Power of God"

Grace and Peace,

Jane

smiley

Happy Saturday!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

squash

When I go to the farmer's market, not only is the quality of the produce important to me, but also the person selling it. If they look like they are a farmer who picked it with their own hands that's a plus. Yesterday I bought a half bushel of various kinds of squash from this adorable older gentleman. He loves squash and we had a nice conversation about them. He gave me a couple recipes and also brightened my day.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

mum

I saw this prayer this morning. In light of the sermon I heard yesterday and where I am in life, it expresses some of my desire.

"Come! Spirit of Love! Penetrate and transform us by the action of Your purifying life. May Your constant, brooding love bring forth in us more love and all the graces and works of love. Give us grace to remain still under its action, and may that humble stillness be our prayer. Amen" - Evelyn Underhill

Grace and Peace,
Jane

tis the season

Although the gobstopper is my candy of choice, my children love candy corn. Did you know that each year Americans consume enough candy corn that if laid end-to-end, would circle the globe 4.25 times. (I found this fact on the back of an empty bag of the sweet stuff). Is this good news?

Grace and Peace,

Jane

garden sign

My family is wondering why I keep buying pieces of wood with words on them and hanging them on the walls. I call it "word art". Some of my inspirational quotes are:

-"peace"

-"joy"

-"Always kiss me goodnight"

-"In everything, give thanks"

-"Family faces are magic mirrors

looking at people who belong to us,

we see the past, present, and future - Gail Buckley"

-"Repent"

I like them because they are positive thoughts to encourage me as I go about my day. Maybe it's kinda cheesy, but I just say to myself as I look on my wall, "live, love, laugh"!!!!

Grace and Peace,

Jane

autumn joy sedum

It's been a dreary couple days with rain, rain, rain. I desperately needed some autumn joy today.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

cranesbill geranium leaf

"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many." Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-94)

What? I guess Oliver wasn't a fan of autumn...or gray hair.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

katsura leaf

When I started this blog in March, I mainly wanted to journal our garden. There have been so many flowers to photograph that I haven't even posted all of them. I have enjoyed the garden in a new way this summer by stopping and looking closely.

It is gracious and wonderful that God gives us plants and trees that we need to live and breath, and then puts a beautiful variety of flowers and leaves on them.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

I'm enjoying the cd "If I could only fly" by Merle Haggard these days. It was one of my Dad's.

through the hubcap

While I was taking this picture of my mom's rv hubcap, a lady who was riding her bike stopped because she thought there was something wrong with me. Why would anyone think it strange to be laying in the driveway?

Grace and Peace,

Jane

snapdragon

When I was looking for a verse this morning, I read a note I had scribbled in the margin of my Bible next to Is 40:28....

"He will not grow tired or weary of me."

I remember when my pastor said that in a sermon. What a relief that was to me then and is now.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

turtlehead

We're trying to sell my Mom's motorhome. On the one hand, it feels very practical and right to sell because it's been a year and a half since my Dad died and my Mom doesn't want the burden of upkeep and doesn't drive it either. On the other hand, it's sentimental and another letting go of my Dad - or rather living on without him. Will he seem to just get farther and farther away until I can't remember him? I don't want to forget him and I also know he's more than a motorhome in the driveway. It's strange how grieving is still happening.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

japanese anemone

Summer is winding down. I know this is true because Josh is getting his books this morning, I'm attending more soccer games, and our japanese anemone are in bloom.

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph 3:17

Grace and Peace,

Jane

morning glory

"A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books."

Walt Whitman (1819-1891)

Grace and Peace,

Jane

tricyrtis, toadlilly

This small flower is by my front door.

Last Sunday I attended the church service at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. It is quite an experience to worship with men and women in uniform. There was a choir of plebes (1st year students) all in their white uniforms. A cool sight to someone unaccustomed to seeing the military. One of the hymns we sang had this verse:

Cure Thy children's warring madness,

Bend our pride to Thy control.

Shame our wanton selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

Lest we miss Thy Kingdom's goal.

Lest we miss Thy Kingdom's goal.

It gave me hope.

Grace and Peace,

Jane

swiss chard

I just got back from visiting my sister.

I LOVE MY SISTER!

Grace and Peace,

Jane