Passing Thoughts

I heard an outstanding sermon today on 1 Peter 5:6-11.  There was discussion on worry, and the anxiousness it causes in our hearts.  Several things jumped out at me because I had been thinking about things along these lines in the last few days.  "And after you have suffered a little while,..."  Those words - a little while - don't always seem like a little while.  As friends are fighting deadly diseases, it seems their pain goes on a long while.  But when compared to eternity, our lives - good and bad times - are indeed a little while.  I was thinking earlier in the week how our lives can change in an instant.  One day all is peachy--then a terrible diagnosis, a super scary car wreck (for us), a loss of a job...the list is endless.  But sometimes the reverse is true as well...if I close my eyes, I can imagine walking down the hall and finding toddlers in the living room watching cartoons.  But in fact, my children are adults now.  The time went by like the blink of an eye.

My husband discussed worry, how it turns around and around in you head going nowhere and accomplishing nothing.  He pointed out how this make us feel anxious, and how we become subject to the temptations of the devil when we're full of anxiety.  Now I'm not a big worrier, and I don't often feel anxious...just not in my personality I guess.  But when I do worry and feel anxious - WOW - not a good feeling.  It feels like my head is spinning out of control and my heart pounds and frankly I don't like that feeling.  What I learned today is that feeling comes because I'm trying too hard to handle thinks myself, rather than leaving them on Christ's shoulders.  No wonder I'm anxious - trying to do God's job - when I'm definitely NOT God!  Who could succeed at that?  No one but God.  So I think I'll work hard at letting God be God, and trying to listen and follow his lead.

National Lutheran School Week

We just wrapped up Lutheran School Week. The kids all had a good time. Here are our cuties all decked out in their team shirts on Monday. We just finished running relay races.

We had red day, a Christian art contest, silly hat day, Christian writing contest, pajama day, movie and popcorn day, Bible bowl, crazy dress day, and wheel day. Everyone enjoyed the special activities and treats.

At church, our confirmation students came to the house for our annual pizza/study party on Saturday. It's their last opportunity to review all their questions (200+) before the public examination...which was this morning. The kids did great! Next week we'll have 4 kids confirmed.

Vacation Bible School

We had our first night of VBS tonight. You can look here for some pics. I'll be adding pictures as the week progresses, so check back for updates. We're doing "Avalanche Ranch" by Group. This is a great company, and always has a good VBS program. We had a small turnout tonight, but I'm hoping it will pick up tomorrow. I love the mountain decoration. Can you believe this was trash?? All the paper was taken off the walls at our local primary school the last day of school, and magically transformed into mountains and sky. (There's even sky stuffed into the burlap bags!) As usual, we had probably 2 volunteers for each kid. Everything went great, and I can't wait until tomorrow.

A Sunday of Sweet Sorrows

This has been a Sunday full of joy and bittersweet sorrow. This morning, we had a beautiful Pentecost service, with readings from Genesis (Tower of Babel) and the Pentecost story from Acts. The sermon nicely tied together the introduction of different languages at Babel, and the bringing together of all nations at Pentecost. We also had another baptism, which is always so special.






The bittersweet came this afternoon. The second church my husband serves was decommissioned today. He has served this congregation for 7 years. As an aging parish, normal Sunday attendance was down to around 10 (including my husband and myself). The remaining members are all able-bodied, and need and desire to be a part of a larger congregation that they can be involved with activities other than an hour of church on Sundays. They voted in January to decommission the church. Although I have no doubt that this is the proper thing, that these lovely people will spiritually be better off in a more active congregation, it is still hard to say goodbye. Several will come to our congregation. My husband preached on today's Gospel lesson: John 14:23-31. He stressed that the Holy Spirit is with each of them - they take it with them to their new churches. The Holy Spirit isn't tied to a pastor, or to a church building, but to each of them. It was very touching and emotional. We had a lot of former members and family members present, and everyone hung around to eat and visit.

More storms have moved through tonight (another 2" so far.) A long day. Glad it's over.

More Pats on the Back

We had another banquet last night (May is a busy month for families with kids in school). This was the banquet honoring the Top Ten students of each class. Jacob remains #7. Although I am definitely bragging on Jacob, I'm also pleased as punch with our kids from church. Of the 20 kids from the freshman and sophomore classes, SEVEN are members of our church. Hannah and David (on either end) from 9th grade; Jacob, Amber, Zach, Abigail, and Sara from 10th. Our kids totally ROCK!

Just a side note, I had all kinds of problems with my new watch. Suddenly, *duh*, I thought to myself - why didn't I take out the metal detector and see if I can find the old one? Eureka! Found it in like 5 minutes. Quick wash in the sink, and my arm feels like itself again. Of course today I got all the way to WalMart and realized I hadn't picked up my bag of returns *double-duh*.

Weekend Wrap-Up

On the last Sunday night of each month, the High School kids get together for a Bible Study. We had them all over to the house afterwards and cooked out hamburgers/hot dogs/sausage dogs. We had sausages just for Elizabeth, because she'd never had a sausage on a bun before. She has informed her mother - no more hot dogs - only sausages. This is a great group of young people. It's always hard to get everyone together at once though. Besides these seven, one couldn't stay to eat, one was home asleep, one at a choir contest ... the list goes on and on and on... We had baked beans and chips to go with the burgers, and Blue Bell Ice Cream for floats afterwards.

Now, I may have mislead you with my tales of Spring Cleaning. I never said annual Spring Cleaning:) This was the first time the windows have been cleaned since we've lived here (1998!) Two years ago when I quit my job, we began trying to do some things that there wasn't time for with me working. We did some painting in the parsonage (entry, hall, a bedroom) that first summer. When our daughter got married that October, we cleaned (and cleaned and cleaned - ICK) and painted her room after she moved her stuff out. We kinda pooped out after that. I do always try to go through my clothes once a year. My beloved is always so generous, and buys me LOTS of clothes, yet I don't seem to get rid of anything (I might be able to fit into that some day). I'm now trying the method of 'if one new one comes in - an old one goes out. Basically, I'm not so great of a housekeeper. I try really hard, because it doesn't come naturally. I even have a daily schedule so things don't get skipped. My husband, on the other hand, is extremely neat. Clutter drives him nuts, so I really try to keep the house nice. He is very patient with me. So anyway, don't be too impressed.

Basketball - Mavericks lost game 3 :( They're looking pretty good tonight - don't know if I can stay awake 'til the end.

Super Sunday

Today was a terrific Sunday. Our service this morning was excellent, as usual. The sermon was on the conversion of Saul. In light of the horrible events at Virginia Tech this week, and the hateful, anti-Christian ramblings of the lost soul who committed these horrible acts, we were reminded of the similar actions of Saul, before his conversion. A reminder that we are not doomed to remain apart from Christ. Christ can pull us out of the pit of our sinful lives, no matter how wretched they were. All this sandwiched between the joyful Easter hymns!


I stayed home this afternoon, not traveling along to church #2, because I was hosting (along with 5 other ladies) a baby shower for a young woman from church. She's a new Christian, coming into our church with no church background at all. She and her husband have been members several years, and are expecting their first child (she was due yesterday!) She was thrilled that we had a shower for her, and everything turned out great - wonderful attendance - nice gifts. Here is the photo of the centerpiece that I was in charge of. Our theme was Blue Jeans, Boots and Little Boys - Welcome to Heather's New Texan. Many thanks to Jacob for lending his King Ranch boots, lasso (where'd THAT come from?) and his remaining spur from when he was OUR little Texan. We did some outlet mall shopping on the trip home from Austin and found all the other goodies there:)

Have been busy tonight watching the NBA PLAYOFFS!! Hopefully we'll be busy with basketball until June. Spurs were first on our viewing list - they LOST :0) hoooo-ha. Then our Dallas Mavericks next. What chokers - they've got to do better than that if they're going to be the champs. Dirk needs to get busy and play like an MVP :-(

I'm feeling much better today - we'll see if I can make it overnight without coughing. I could use a good nights sleep.

Saturday Night Ramblings

VOILA! I finished the second book I was making for my friend Katie and her new baby. I know that they were super easy to make, but I had a great time, and I think she'll really enjoy them.



On a lighter note, I got an e-mail from my mom in Fort Worth today that totally cracked me up. I quote:

Just read of an incident in the paper this morning.
The first sign of a hoarder is: Naming all the strays.

Headline I hope to not see: 
CAT LADY IN KINGSVILLE BUSTED!!

Love ya
Mom

Another funny thing I read on The Accidental Pastor's Wife's blog has had me smiling all week:
It is a great quote from another Pasor's Wife (I think)...and since I'm Lutheran, I love it even more!

"I like to blame Katherine Luther, who ran a hospital, brewed beer and cared for people with the plague. She did everything. And a lot of congregations expect that." -Lora Horn

She indeed left huge footsteps for us to follow. . .

Sundays

Sundays are a busy day at our house. My husband starts the day at 6 a.m., when he walks over to church to begin double (and triple) checking the service. At 6:30, I walk over and make the coffee. I pick up a friend of our sons at 8:30 and church begins at 9:00. Sunday school follows at 10:15. My husband has confirmation at 11:15. While he's teaching confirmation, I'm preparing lunch. He arrives ready to eat at around 12:15. He also serves a small church in a neighboring town. We leave for the second church at 1:00...church at 2:00...home around 3:45. Today my husband has been sick (stomach - ick). It's been a long day for him. Jacob was worried all through church that he'd hurl from the pulpit - he didn't.

I worked on the last three pages of Jacob's Eagle Scout scrapbook after we got home - FINALLY complete! Jacob grilled himself a steak for dinner and we had soup. I pray he feels better tomorrow.

Life in a Fishbowl

It is often said that the pastor of a congregation and his family live life in a fishbowl. I'm not so sure that's true - at least in our situation. We've lived in this small south Texas town for 9 years. Our home is a parsonage belonging to our congregation. We live right next door to the church. It is true, that the congregation gets a good look at us and our home each time they come to church. However, I feel that we know so much more about them, than they know about us. From my kitchen window, I see who is parked outside, visiting with the pastor. I know who comes to church every Sunday, and who make it inside only once a month, or even worse, only on Easter and Christmas. I have a feel for people that I don't think they have about me.

We have an awesome congregation! My life here as the pastor's wife couldn't be better. This congregation had gone YEARS without having a married pastor. When my husband was called to serve here, there were no "pastor's wife" jobs. People were reluctant to ask for my help with things. Consequently, I have been free to join the things I wanted, to help out where my gifts lie, and to simply be an active part of the congregation. (I will tell you though - recently at a Lions club meeting a man - not a member of our church - asked me to play the piano since I was the "Preacher's wife." He was shocked that I didn't play...)

Therefore, maybe we all live life in a fishbowl, no matter what our station in life.