1. I think we are finally all healthy. We missed a week of homeschool while the Lambs and I were sick with a cold/cough/fever. It was a rough week where nothing got done. This week is very busy making up doctor checkups etc. It was so ridiculous that I was too sick to go to the doctor for a thyroid checkup and appointments like that. We are finally scheduled to make some of that up. I am so thankful that we never had stomach flu at our house, just the colds.
2. Our church had a wedding on Feb. 5 during the regular Sunday morning service. I do plan to blog more about the wedding soon. The wedding reminded me of our wedding with the same version of the Te Deum that we used. Ram was happy to have a copy of the music in front of him because he did not have a copy during our wedding and he did not have it memorized like I did!
3. Our church has a fish fry fundraiser for medical expenses for one of our members coming up on Friday. We are happy to be going to help on the fundraiser day. I am so impressed with all the behind the scenes work people from our congregation are doing to get ready for this fundraiser. We are praying for a very successful fundraiser to help this family.
4. The ladies at my mom's church are having an apron party this spring. I have dug out some of my books and aprons to help my mom with her planning. It has been fun to get all that out and look at it again.
5. I volunteered to present at a teacher's conference this fall. I don't know if I will be asked to speak or if they will have enough speakers, but I am hoping for a chance to do a little back in the teaching world again.
6. Ram is working hard on his schooling. Reading, writing papers, and doing interviews are all going well.
7. The Lambs are continuing with homeschooling and piano lessons and confirmation class at church. We just keep plugging along and when we finish one book we go on to the next.
8. Because I was sick I have not gotten everything together for our tax lady yet. Hopefully I can finish that by early next week.
9. The dishwasher is fixed. There was some food stuck in it and when that was removed it worked fine. It motivates me to scrape/rinse the dishes a little more. If I owned this house I would invest in a better dishwasher, but I don't so it means scraping and rinsing better.
10. We are studying what activities and day camps this area offers for this summer. So far Lamb 1 and 2 want to do several camps and Lamb 3 hasn't found any that he is interested in. I think it will be a very busy couple of months being chauffeur for what each Lamb is interested in. I am going to look into what the Science Museum offers because I think that is more what Lamb 3 would like to do instead of sports like his brothers. I am happy to let them do different activities in the summer for a week or two instead of committing to an entire fall or entire spring of chauffeuring. Plus I like that they can try out a wide variety of activities and see what interests they would like to pursue more.
Showing posts with label church news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church news. Show all posts
Monday, February 13, 2017
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Tax Day
Esther posted this question today so I'm using it as my idea for a post today.
Did you receive a refund or did you owe?
We send our taxes to a wonderful accountant that specializes in church workers in Fort Wayne, IN. We have had a pattern the last few years of the years that we had a baby we got a huge refund and the years that we didn't have a baby, we owed. I still don't know why it was working out this way-maybe we spent more of our housing allowance the years that we had a baby? Since we didn't have a baby last year, I expected to owe.
We pay estimated taxes each quarter because pastors are considered self employed. For Federal we are receiving ALL of that estimated taxes that we paid back in our refund plus another $905. We did not pay any estimated taxes to the state. We are receiving $777 refund from the state.
1. Thank you to the Congress for part of this refund because Ram bought a new car last year.
2. Thank you to President Bush and the prior Congress for most of this refund.
It bugs me when people say they are getting a huge refund and they have an excuse to make big purchases with their refund. The refund was their money that they earned, the government either kept it out of their check or they paid estimated taxes and the government had their money. While the government had their money they didn't get any interest or get to invest their money. The government was their savings account without any interest for that year. But in our case this year, our refund really was $905 and $777 MORE than we paid in. We haven't received our refund yet, but it will probably be spent on medical bills that we know are coming.
Our state refund was interesting to me, especially because we did not pay any money in estimated taxes. Of course it is more complicated than this, but $25 was "lower income motor fuels tax credit" and $752 was "Minnesota working family credit" for our 3 Lambs.
Unfortunately, my sister did not do so well. She had several jobs last year that all pay a little more than minimum wage and no benefits. She has had a lot of medical bills after her knee surgeries. She works as a church secretary for one of her jobs and that is considered self employed. She owes $900 even after all of her jobs besides church secretary withheld taxes for her. She currently doesn't have a job (besides the church secretary) and has no money to pay this $900. It just shows how messed up this whole tax system is. Unfortunately, I think the current Congress is going to make it worse for ALL of us and we are very close to the end of refunds like my family received this year.
I read on the internet that a lot of stores/restaurants are having good deals today in honor of tax day. We live too far away to take advantage of the deals, but check it out if you plan to go to Starbucks or McDonalds or other places.
So, did you receive a refund or did you owe?
Our other good news-I'm not sure if it was last night or today (because it was around midnight), but a baby girl was born in our tri-parish last night. This is a big deal because this is only the 3rd baby besides our Lambs that has been born while we have been here the last 7 years. Ram has done some other baptisms for grandchildren that want to be baptized at their home church, but there are only 2 active families in our church with young children besides our family. Of course Ram took the message and didn't ask what the name of the baby was, but he'll visit them soon and I'll find out!
Did you receive a refund or did you owe?
We send our taxes to a wonderful accountant that specializes in church workers in Fort Wayne, IN. We have had a pattern the last few years of the years that we had a baby we got a huge refund and the years that we didn't have a baby, we owed. I still don't know why it was working out this way-maybe we spent more of our housing allowance the years that we had a baby? Since we didn't have a baby last year, I expected to owe.
We pay estimated taxes each quarter because pastors are considered self employed. For Federal we are receiving ALL of that estimated taxes that we paid back in our refund plus another $905. We did not pay any estimated taxes to the state. We are receiving $777 refund from the state.
1. Thank you to the Congress for part of this refund because Ram bought a new car last year.
2. Thank you to President Bush and the prior Congress for most of this refund.
It bugs me when people say they are getting a huge refund and they have an excuse to make big purchases with their refund. The refund was their money that they earned, the government either kept it out of their check or they paid estimated taxes and the government had their money. While the government had their money they didn't get any interest or get to invest their money. The government was their savings account without any interest for that year. But in our case this year, our refund really was $905 and $777 MORE than we paid in. We haven't received our refund yet, but it will probably be spent on medical bills that we know are coming.
Our state refund was interesting to me, especially because we did not pay any money in estimated taxes. Of course it is more complicated than this, but $25 was "lower income motor fuels tax credit" and $752 was "Minnesota working family credit" for our 3 Lambs.
Unfortunately, my sister did not do so well. She had several jobs last year that all pay a little more than minimum wage and no benefits. She has had a lot of medical bills after her knee surgeries. She works as a church secretary for one of her jobs and that is considered self employed. She owes $900 even after all of her jobs besides church secretary withheld taxes for her. She currently doesn't have a job (besides the church secretary) and has no money to pay this $900. It just shows how messed up this whole tax system is. Unfortunately, I think the current Congress is going to make it worse for ALL of us and we are very close to the end of refunds like my family received this year.
I read on the internet that a lot of stores/restaurants are having good deals today in honor of tax day. We live too far away to take advantage of the deals, but check it out if you plan to go to Starbucks or McDonalds or other places.
So, did you receive a refund or did you owe?
Our other good news-I'm not sure if it was last night or today (because it was around midnight), but a baby girl was born in our tri-parish last night. This is a big deal because this is only the 3rd baby besides our Lambs that has been born while we have been here the last 7 years. Ram has done some other baptisms for grandchildren that want to be baptized at their home church, but there are only 2 active families in our church with young children besides our family. Of course Ram took the message and didn't ask what the name of the baby was, but he'll visit them soon and I'll find out!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ash Wednesday
In memory of Roy Lee P.-October 3, 1920-February 10, 2010
Lamb 2 with Great-Grandpa-October 2006Great-Grandpa's funeral is today. It seems strange to me as a Lutheran that the graveside committal is first and the funeral is second. That's just how things worked out this time at their church. I think I will always think of his funeral on Ash Wednesday now, even though the date changes for Ash Wednesday.
"During the forty days of Lent, God's baptized people cleanse their hearts through the discipline of Lent; repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Lent is a time in which God's people prepare with joy for the Paschal Feast (Easter). It is a time in which God renews His people's zeal in faith and life. It is a time in which we pray that we may be given the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God." TDP page 26
I am going to try to read Rev. Harrison's book on Joy during Lent this year. I was excited to receive our copy in the mail! I am also going to try to get back to Compline with Ram every night. We got away from that recently.
We have had a strange year this year. All church services were canceled on Christmas because of the weather. Ram had to cancel Ash Wednesday service because he had to go to the funeral. Schools in this area were canceled again yesterday. I'm thinking that Ash Wednesday service would probably be canceled because of the weather even if Ram hadn't canceled because of the funeral. It was scheduled at our country church (the tri-parish rotates Lent services). There are very few times (if any) in my life that I missed Ash Wednesday or Christmas services. I'm really hoping that weather doesn't cancel our Easter services! But I wouldn't be surprised in MN in early April either.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The name LCMS
Warning: If you are not a member of LCMS, this blog post may be a little confusing. As a life long LCMS member, I may be using terms here that I think every one knows. Ram is not a life long LCMS member. I think he will do a very good job representing our circuit as a delegate to the Synodical Convention in Houston in July.
Ram attended a meeting to review the final report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance last Friday and Saturday. Perhaps he will talk more about what he learned at this meeting on his blog (when he gets caught up from two trips the last two weeks!). The clergy and lay people delegates from ND, SD, Iowa West, and MN attended this meeting in the Twin Cities. They had a good turn out because we had surprisingly nice weather for this time of year. Ram said the accommodations at the Hyatt were quite nice. At first I wondered why they were "wasting" so much money on this meeting. Then we realized that the Twin Cities probably was the best place to have this meeting to have a big enough place and easily accessible for everyone. Some of the people from the Dakotas flew in order to be back for Saturday night church services. They paid for mileage, hotel room for one night, everything involved with the meetings, one dinner, and one breakfast. On Friday night each district had a caucus in addition to all the other meetings these two days.
The big event at the Synodical Convention of course is going to be electing the Synodical President, (VOTE FOR HARRISON!) but there are many other items for the delegates to vote about. One that was discussed that got my interest is they want to change the name of the LCMS.
Recommendation: Adopt a Process Leading to the Renaming of the Synod
"For the sake of confessional mission to an unchurched society, the Synod shall be renamed. Previous studies of this matter will continue to provide guidance as we move to reach consensus regarding a name that best serves Synod's mission and ministry."
Personally, I think the name should remain The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We have a long history with this name. If people don't understand the name, then I think we have a chance to explain the name and evangelize during that talk about the name. With everything that happened with ELCA recently, Ewe's relatives that are not LCMS asked lots of questions if we were like ELCA. I'm afraid that if we change the name there will be more confusion about the difference between us and ELCA again. I'm also afraid if we change the name that people will assume we also changed our beliefs and became a different denomination. Just the other day, USA Today recommended donating money for Haiti to LCMS World Relief and Human Care. If the name LCMS changed, would all the groups with that name like LCMS World Relief also change their name to reflect the new LCMS name? If so, the next time there is a disaster and people want to donate to LCMS World Relief, they will wonder what happened to that organization. Also look at the merger of Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood becoming Thrivent. This was a merger, not just a name change. I still hear people refer to it as AAL or LB over 10 years later. And it seems to me like a waste of money to reprint everything to say the new name-remember after the Thrivent name change that we had to use up napkins and pencils etc. with the old name? Think of how much bigger this would be for everything printed with the LCMS name-including every LCMS church sign in the United States. The task force claims that with everything else they are recommending this recommendation would be a very slight cost to the Synod. But I think of the slight cost to each individual congregation and especially to the small churches like ours-it would become a big cost when they don't have enough money to pay for heating the building right now and they are expected to buy a new church sign. The last reason I am against this is I like that I am part of the church of my parents, grandparents, and even my great grandparents were LCMS. Unless the LCMS breaks up (which many people are working very hard that it does not break up), I think they should keep the same name. It is just too confusing to both current members of LCMS and non members if we change the name.
Ram is expected to attend another meeting in early May and then a week in Houston in July. I think he enjoyed reading the "books" he was sent by the BRTFoSSaG. I expect he will be sick of all the political mail (both snail and e-mail) by July. And he HATES heat so he is not looking forward to traveling to TX in July. But I think this convention will be a good experience for him. My parents are planning to come visit while Ram is gone-my dad will preach at the tri-parish and my parents can help me with the Lambs while Ram is gone. Perhaps we can get some little tasks done around the house on my to do list done too?
Ram attended a meeting to review the final report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance last Friday and Saturday. Perhaps he will talk more about what he learned at this meeting on his blog (when he gets caught up from two trips the last two weeks!). The clergy and lay people delegates from ND, SD, Iowa West, and MN attended this meeting in the Twin Cities. They had a good turn out because we had surprisingly nice weather for this time of year. Ram said the accommodations at the Hyatt were quite nice. At first I wondered why they were "wasting" so much money on this meeting. Then we realized that the Twin Cities probably was the best place to have this meeting to have a big enough place and easily accessible for everyone. Some of the people from the Dakotas flew in order to be back for Saturday night church services. They paid for mileage, hotel room for one night, everything involved with the meetings, one dinner, and one breakfast. On Friday night each district had a caucus in addition to all the other meetings these two days.
The big event at the Synodical Convention of course is going to be electing the Synodical President, (VOTE FOR HARRISON!) but there are many other items for the delegates to vote about. One that was discussed that got my interest is they want to change the name of the LCMS.
Recommendation: Adopt a Process Leading to the Renaming of the Synod
"For the sake of confessional mission to an unchurched society, the Synod shall be renamed. Previous studies of this matter will continue to provide guidance as we move to reach consensus regarding a name that best serves Synod's mission and ministry."
Personally, I think the name should remain The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We have a long history with this name. If people don't understand the name, then I think we have a chance to explain the name and evangelize during that talk about the name. With everything that happened with ELCA recently, Ewe's relatives that are not LCMS asked lots of questions if we were like ELCA. I'm afraid that if we change the name there will be more confusion about the difference between us and ELCA again. I'm also afraid if we change the name that people will assume we also changed our beliefs and became a different denomination. Just the other day, USA Today recommended donating money for Haiti to LCMS World Relief and Human Care. If the name LCMS changed, would all the groups with that name like LCMS World Relief also change their name to reflect the new LCMS name? If so, the next time there is a disaster and people want to donate to LCMS World Relief, they will wonder what happened to that organization. Also look at the merger of Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood becoming Thrivent. This was a merger, not just a name change. I still hear people refer to it as AAL or LB over 10 years later. And it seems to me like a waste of money to reprint everything to say the new name-remember after the Thrivent name change that we had to use up napkins and pencils etc. with the old name? Think of how much bigger this would be for everything printed with the LCMS name-including every LCMS church sign in the United States. The task force claims that with everything else they are recommending this recommendation would be a very slight cost to the Synod. But I think of the slight cost to each individual congregation and especially to the small churches like ours-it would become a big cost when they don't have enough money to pay for heating the building right now and they are expected to buy a new church sign. The last reason I am against this is I like that I am part of the church of my parents, grandparents, and even my great grandparents were LCMS. Unless the LCMS breaks up (which many people are working very hard that it does not break up), I think they should keep the same name. It is just too confusing to both current members of LCMS and non members if we change the name.
Ram is expected to attend another meeting in early May and then a week in Houston in July. I think he enjoyed reading the "books" he was sent by the BRTFoSSaG. I expect he will be sick of all the political mail (both snail and e-mail) by July. And he HATES heat so he is not looking forward to traveling to TX in July. But I think this convention will be a good experience for him. My parents are planning to come visit while Ram is gone-my dad will preach at the tri-parish and my parents can help me with the Lambs while Ram is gone. Perhaps we can get some little tasks done around the house on my to do list done too?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti
One of my college friends adopted two children from Haiti a few years ago. We started supporting a Lutheran pastor in Haiti through their connection. A few years after that, we started supporting one school child in Haiti every year through our MN North District. It was amazing to me to learn that $250 a year was all that was needed to cloth, feed, and school a child that was in desperate need. Rev. Bernard was kind enough to send updates and even photos about our child that we adopted. We have been blessed so much in America that I was glad our family could help a child that was in need.
Rev. Harrison from LCMS World Relief is posting updates about the Haitian situation here. Sadly, there is no news yet on Rev. Bernard or his congregation or his school. We continue to keep the people of Haiti in our prayers.
Rev. Harrison is my former pastor and you can tell that it was very difficult for him to make this video and his staff is doing everything they can possibly do to get news and to help the people of Haiti. Please also keep Rev. Harrison and his family (wife Kathy, sons Matthew and Mark) and his staff at LCMS World Relief in your prayers as they help at this time of disaster.
Please also keep my friend Pam in your prayers. She is going to be induced today to have her twin girls. Please pray for a healthy delivery, healthy Mama, and two healthy baby girls. Please also pray prayers of thanksgiving that she is going to be both a boy Mama and a GIRL Mama now.
Rev. Harrison from LCMS World Relief is posting updates about the Haitian situation here. Sadly, there is no news yet on Rev. Bernard or his congregation or his school. We continue to keep the people of Haiti in our prayers.
Rev. Harrison is my former pastor and you can tell that it was very difficult for him to make this video and his staff is doing everything they can possibly do to get news and to help the people of Haiti. Please also keep Rev. Harrison and his family (wife Kathy, sons Matthew and Mark) and his staff at LCMS World Relief in your prayers as they help at this time of disaster.
Please also keep my friend Pam in your prayers. She is going to be induced today to have her twin girls. Please pray for a healthy delivery, healthy Mama, and two healthy baby girls. Please also pray prayers of thanksgiving that she is going to be both a boy Mama and a GIRL Mama now.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
All Saints Day 2009
In memory of those saints that are on our mind today and every day-in no particular order:
Richard, Ethel, Willmar, Margaret, Charles, Pauline, Alfred, Alma, Arthur, Frieda, Louis, Joshua, Timothy, Walter, Lena, Edwin, and Agnes.
and especially those saints that went to be with Jesus in the last year:
Alice and Harrison.
Come quickly Lord Jesus, so that we no longer feebly struggle and we can join them in shining glory. Help us to fight as the saints who nobly fought. We want to win with them the victor's crown of gold. Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Just before All Saints Day...
Paul Manz, a great composer, organist, and church musician passed away on October 29. He was 90 years old. He died surrounded by his family while they sang his famous motet "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come." I think this You Tube is a beautiful recording!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Family update
*Our babysitter, Graceann, was able to come babysit today. The last time she babysat was around Christmas time. I was very thankful for her help, especially when she took all 3 Lambs to the park. They did play doh for a long time too. They haven't done play doh for a very long time. She is homeschooled (high school) so it looks like she may be able to come back more regularly now. This is Ram's long day visiting people so I was thankful for another person over age 5 to talk with for the afternoon too. Lamb 3 seemed to do ok with her too. I was afraid he might not remember her and get scared. It helps that I stay home while she is here. Hopefully I can get lots accomplished while she is here.
*When I taught in IN, I had laminated prayers for my classroom. I found the mealtime prayers (from the catechism) but I have looked everywhere I can think of without finding the morning prayer. I finally gave up and I needed to type up the evening prayer any way so I typed them both (without laminating) and hung them up. I hate it when I can't find something I want. Then I want to drop everything and clean out things until I find that thing I'm missing. Life doesn't work that way for a mom though.
*Tonight we are going to a wrap up for a visit your local park program. We will take a picnic supper. I made a photo book with photos from the parks. This was not required for the program, but it will be a nice memory for the boys when we are in the middle of a MN winter. It was a great idea-free to go to your local parks. I had no idea the small town 7 miles away had 7 parks. It was a good thing they gave us a map or we never would have found a few of the parks. The Lambs enjoyed going to the parks. Lamb 3 even cried when we left the last park. We had a slow start because I sprained my foot early this summer and then we were gone a lot in June and July, but we were able to go to all the parks before the deadline tonight. The weather has been cool and it will be nice for tonight even though it is very humid.
*Ram and I listened (we didn't call in) along with 10,000 other Minnesotans to Senator Klobachar's tele-town hall meeting about health care last Sunday. If you care to listen it is on her website here. One of the several things that she said that I didn't like is that "her" plan would save us 50 billion dollars. She has no concept of how much debt this country is in. 50 billion is about half a percent of 9 trillion. Plus she kept saying that Medicare was important to her because her parents are on Medicare. So what? Is she volunteering to have the same health care plan as us? When I tried to call her and leave a message, her voice mailbox was full. I'm in the process of writing her a letter. In the letter I am going to encourage her to read every word in whatever health care bill the Senate comes up with plus read every word in the Constitution.
*Ram turned in our boxes we put together for LLL Global Care Packages today. I volunteered when we moved here to be the chairperson for our tri-parish for this program. They have changed the directions several times for this program. Some years we put together boxes for new mothers. Most years we did boxes for school children. I remember even helping with this program when I was teaching in IN. So I have been involved several years. They recently announced they are no longer doing this program. In a way I'm thankful to reclaim a part of my room that kept the supplies while they were gathered from the churches. I'm also thankful because I don't have to figure out new rules each year. But I'm sad after so many years and what I thought was a great program. Lamb 1 helped as soon as he could walk. Our church needs programs like this to make it helping people in other countries more personal. I know there is a lack of funds and personnel, but it's too bad. I hope and pray that they can do this program again.
*This morning I wrote out a schedule for Lamb 1 with clocks (Target $1 find). As I read the schedule to Lamb 1, he had a question for everything. Why do we have to do school? Why math? Why schedule? It would drive a teacher crazy. I'm preparing him for a schedule because there will be a few things that he has to do without Lamb 2 like handwriting. He hates to do activities without Lamb 2. Many will stay the same as they have been for years at our house like 3pm snack time. I'm trying to prepare him mentally for a schedule even if we don't follow it exactly each day. Thank goodness he is going to be homeschooled, he would hate a school schedule and drive the teacher crazy. At least if he drives me crazy, I'm already half way there because of raising him the last 5 years!
*I have thought about a lot of blog topics recently but freezing corn, canning beets, making zucchini cupcakes etc. has taken priority. Hopefully I can post photos from our park program wrap up tonight soon.
*When I taught in IN, I had laminated prayers for my classroom. I found the mealtime prayers (from the catechism) but I have looked everywhere I can think of without finding the morning prayer. I finally gave up and I needed to type up the evening prayer any way so I typed them both (without laminating) and hung them up. I hate it when I can't find something I want. Then I want to drop everything and clean out things until I find that thing I'm missing. Life doesn't work that way for a mom though.
*Tonight we are going to a wrap up for a visit your local park program. We will take a picnic supper. I made a photo book with photos from the parks. This was not required for the program, but it will be a nice memory for the boys when we are in the middle of a MN winter. It was a great idea-free to go to your local parks. I had no idea the small town 7 miles away had 7 parks. It was a good thing they gave us a map or we never would have found a few of the parks. The Lambs enjoyed going to the parks. Lamb 3 even cried when we left the last park. We had a slow start because I sprained my foot early this summer and then we were gone a lot in June and July, but we were able to go to all the parks before the deadline tonight. The weather has been cool and it will be nice for tonight even though it is very humid.
*Ram and I listened (we didn't call in) along with 10,000 other Minnesotans to Senator Klobachar's tele-town hall meeting about health care last Sunday. If you care to listen it is on her website here. One of the several things that she said that I didn't like is that "her" plan would save us 50 billion dollars. She has no concept of how much debt this country is in. 50 billion is about half a percent of 9 trillion. Plus she kept saying that Medicare was important to her because her parents are on Medicare. So what? Is she volunteering to have the same health care plan as us? When I tried to call her and leave a message, her voice mailbox was full. I'm in the process of writing her a letter. In the letter I am going to encourage her to read every word in whatever health care bill the Senate comes up with plus read every word in the Constitution.
*Ram turned in our boxes we put together for LLL Global Care Packages today. I volunteered when we moved here to be the chairperson for our tri-parish for this program. They have changed the directions several times for this program. Some years we put together boxes for new mothers. Most years we did boxes for school children. I remember even helping with this program when I was teaching in IN. So I have been involved several years. They recently announced they are no longer doing this program. In a way I'm thankful to reclaim a part of my room that kept the supplies while they were gathered from the churches. I'm also thankful because I don't have to figure out new rules each year. But I'm sad after so many years and what I thought was a great program. Lamb 1 helped as soon as he could walk. Our church needs programs like this to make it helping people in other countries more personal. I know there is a lack of funds and personnel, but it's too bad. I hope and pray that they can do this program again.
*This morning I wrote out a schedule for Lamb 1 with clocks (Target $1 find). As I read the schedule to Lamb 1, he had a question for everything. Why do we have to do school? Why math? Why schedule? It would drive a teacher crazy. I'm preparing him for a schedule because there will be a few things that he has to do without Lamb 2 like handwriting. He hates to do activities without Lamb 2. Many will stay the same as they have been for years at our house like 3pm snack time. I'm trying to prepare him mentally for a schedule even if we don't follow it exactly each day. Thank goodness he is going to be homeschooled, he would hate a school schedule and drive the teacher crazy. At least if he drives me crazy, I'm already half way there because of raising him the last 5 years!
*I have thought about a lot of blog topics recently but freezing corn, canning beets, making zucchini cupcakes etc. has taken priority. Hopefully I can post photos from our park program wrap up tonight soon.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Growing Pansies
Our town is having their 130th anniversary celebration the end of July. They asked everyone in town to buy signs to identify their houses. We live in such a small town that street names are not posted everywhere in town and house numbers are not posted everywhere either. We usually don't have a problem because we say we live behind the only church in town, but sometimes Fed Ex has trouble delivering to our house. I was excited to identify our house. This past spring I planted pansies in a wood barrel. This project became more expensive than I expected-barrels, dirt, and the Lambs wanted different flowers so we bought them all. I was surprised when a woman came to visit and she was surprised I was growing pansies and said she had never had luck growing them in this area. But mine have done well even in the drought we had. The Lambs received a few flowers at library storytime etc. so there are a few kinds in these barrels.
We chose to identify our parsonage as well as our family. Many visitors from all over the country will come to our small town for the celebration. This is the "new" parsonage, there is an old parsonage.
The anniversary committee wanted people to put the year they moved to our small town. We chose to put the year we were married as it was just two years before we moved here.
We chose to identify our parsonage as well as our family. Many visitors from all over the country will come to our small town for the celebration. This is the "new" parsonage, there is an old parsonage.
The anniversary committee wanted people to put the year they moved to our small town. We chose to put the year we were married as it was just two years before we moved here. I'm pleased how the project turned out and I hope lots of other people in town also had the signs made. Please ignore the weeds behind the barrels-after our vacations we will have lots of clean up the yard work before all the visitors come to town!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Week in Review
Sunday night, Ram was called to the home of a member that died. Today he had the funeral for him. This was the youngest member (age 36) that Ram has buried. He was busy all week with funeral preparations.
This week we had VBS. We took a break last night and tonight went much better.
One of my dad's closest friends died and the funeral is tomorrow.
A college friend had a miscarriage this week.
Ram was gone all day Wednesday to visit a member in the hospital in the Twin Cities. He was able to go shopping at Costco on the way home. We love Costco!
Everyone besides Lamb 3 had a hair cut or at least trimmed on Tuesday. The Lambs love going to get their hair cut and then they get to play with her children. She has a salon in her home. They are LCMS and homeschool.
I hung clothes on the line yesterday and Lamb 1 was fascinated with this. He noticed when the neighbor hung clothes on her line. He noticed when a yard had posts, but no clothes line.
We planted a few more flowers yesterday.
We went to the bank for free ice cream today (National Dairy Week). The Lambs got compliments on how well behaved they were as they ate their ice cream. Why would children misbehave while they were eating ice cream?
We will be very busy tomorrow finishing up laundry, dishes, etc. and packing for our trip to WI. Ram has to finish his sermon too.
This week we had VBS. We took a break last night and tonight went much better.
One of my dad's closest friends died and the funeral is tomorrow.
A college friend had a miscarriage this week.
Ram was gone all day Wednesday to visit a member in the hospital in the Twin Cities. He was able to go shopping at Costco on the way home. We love Costco!
Everyone besides Lamb 3 had a hair cut or at least trimmed on Tuesday. The Lambs love going to get their hair cut and then they get to play with her children. She has a salon in her home. They are LCMS and homeschool.
I hung clothes on the line yesterday and Lamb 1 was fascinated with this. He noticed when the neighbor hung clothes on her line. He noticed when a yard had posts, but no clothes line.
We planted a few more flowers yesterday.
We went to the bank for free ice cream today (National Dairy Week). The Lambs got compliments on how well behaved they were as they ate their ice cream. Why would children misbehave while they were eating ice cream?
We will be very busy tomorrow finishing up laundry, dishes, etc. and packing for our trip to WI. Ram has to finish his sermon too.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
VBS
None of our churches in our tri-parish have VBS. Ram has had a very busy week so he only helped with VBS the first night at an LCMS church 15 miles away. This church is where most of our members go to VBS. I chose to take the Lambs to a LCMS church 7 miles away this year. They are doing the CPH GADGET program this year. I knew I was in trouble when we walked into church and Lamb 1 was afraid of the inflatable robot. I'm still hobbling around on my sore foot (although I am wearing tennis shoes now and no crutches any more). Lamb 3 just wants to run and not stay any where. He screams when you don't let him run. I asked for Lamb 1 and 2 to be in the same class. Lamb 2 cried a little the first night, cried more the second night, and refused to go to any activity with his class the third night. Picture me hobbling around, trying to chase Lamb 3, trying to calm Lamb 1 down from being afraid of everything new, and trying to convince Lamb 2 to attend class without crying. By the third night, I told Lamb 2 he could either go to class or sit on a chair, but he wasn't allowed to play in the nursery with Lamb 3. He chose to sit on a chair. He sat very nicely until I realized he had found a pencil and colored the wall.
I only expected them to attend the story time without me and figured it would be fine to take Lamb 3 with me to snacks, art, music, and games. The snacks are tied into the program and they are cute, but not much food for my boys. So they either eat them fast and then want to run around without anything to do, or they are the only ones that actually eat the snacks so they take forever to eat them. They complain they are hungry the rest of the night too. They do ok at art, but the projects are too hard for them and they need lots of help. I try to help both of them while I'm holding Lamb 3. Lamb 2 ate some colored sand during art on the third night. The music is way too hard for them, I wish they would have simple refrains from hymns. So they keep getting out of their seats and running around and don't sing during music. I spend the entire music time chasing one of them and trying to get them to participate. And out of 3 nights of games, they only enjoyed and participated one night. The other two nights, they ran around the basement but didn't participate. We try to get the Lambs to bed at 8pm and we don't even get home from VBS until 9pm and then we have to do the bedtime routine.
Ram had a funeral visitation tonight after a very long day yesterday driving to the Twin Cities (4 hours one way) visiting someone in the hospital. I was worn out from being a single parent yesterday and their bad behavior at VBS. So we decided to skip VBS tonight. Lamb 1 complained for a little bit this afternoon, but never spoke of it again tonight. Lamb 2 didn't say anything. We'll try again tomorrow night as it is the last night.
I think Lamb 2 is too young for VBS. Lamb 1 would have a fit if he had to go without Lamb 2. Hopefully next year will go better.
I only expected them to attend the story time without me and figured it would be fine to take Lamb 3 with me to snacks, art, music, and games. The snacks are tied into the program and they are cute, but not much food for my boys. So they either eat them fast and then want to run around without anything to do, or they are the only ones that actually eat the snacks so they take forever to eat them. They complain they are hungry the rest of the night too. They do ok at art, but the projects are too hard for them and they need lots of help. I try to help both of them while I'm holding Lamb 3. Lamb 2 ate some colored sand during art on the third night. The music is way too hard for them, I wish they would have simple refrains from hymns. So they keep getting out of their seats and running around and don't sing during music. I spend the entire music time chasing one of them and trying to get them to participate. And out of 3 nights of games, they only enjoyed and participated one night. The other two nights, they ran around the basement but didn't participate. We try to get the Lambs to bed at 8pm and we don't even get home from VBS until 9pm and then we have to do the bedtime routine.
Ram had a funeral visitation tonight after a very long day yesterday driving to the Twin Cities (4 hours one way) visiting someone in the hospital. I was worn out from being a single parent yesterday and their bad behavior at VBS. So we decided to skip VBS tonight. Lamb 1 complained for a little bit this afternoon, but never spoke of it again tonight. Lamb 2 didn't say anything. We'll try again tomorrow night as it is the last night.
I think Lamb 2 is too young for VBS. Lamb 1 would have a fit if he had to go without Lamb 2. Hopefully next year will go better.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Sometimes the small deeds add up to mean a lot
The night that we heard our church member died and Ram would have the funeral tomorrow, I laid in bed thinking about him. When I was pregnant with Lamb 1, he gave us a ham for Christmas and wrote the nicest note with it. He told me to take care of myself because I was growing his pastor's child in my womb and he was keeping the baby and me in his prayers.
The tri-parish had a baby shower for Lamb 1 when he was a few weeks old. This man came to the baby shower. At first I think he was a little embarrassed as he was the only man there besides Ram. Then I think he really enjoyed it-the meal they served and the fellowship with the women.
Then after Lamb 1 was a few years old, he heard that Lamb 1 liked pickles. So very often he gave us homemade pickles. Last fall his children made him give up driving at age 88. One of the last trips he made was to our house to deliver pickles to us. After that when Ram visited him he gave us more pickles.
The Lambs never became close to him like an adopted grandpa or even as close as they have become to some of our other church members. But I think this man had it right-treating the pastor's family with respect and doing what he could do for us in small ways.
The tri-parish had a baby shower for Lamb 1 when he was a few weeks old. This man came to the baby shower. At first I think he was a little embarrassed as he was the only man there besides Ram. Then I think he really enjoyed it-the meal they served and the fellowship with the women.
Then after Lamb 1 was a few years old, he heard that Lamb 1 liked pickles. So very often he gave us homemade pickles. Last fall his children made him give up driving at age 88. One of the last trips he made was to our house to deliver pickles to us. After that when Ram visited him he gave us more pickles.
The Lambs never became close to him like an adopted grandpa or even as close as they have become to some of our other church members. But I think this man had it right-treating the pastor's family with respect and doing what he could do for us in small ways.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
#37
Ram has been here as pastor of the tri-parish for 6 years and 9 days. Yesterday the 37th member died that he will do that funeral. There is another member that is very ill too so we expect the 38th soon.
I'll be honest, as pastor's wife, I hate funerals because it messes up the entire week, by the time Ram goes to the deathbed, meets with the family, lines up everything with everyone involved (funeral home, secretary, organist, ladies serving lunch, etc.), and does the funeral. But I also know that Ram has wonderful funeral sermons and he is a great comfort to the family that lost a loved one.
We have a friend that is a pastor a few hours north of us that has a dual parish, has been there about one more year than Ram has been here, and he has done about 80 funerals. 37 doesn't sound so bad then!
Another reason why we want to homeschool is because of Ram's schedule as pastor and unpredictable parts of his schedule like funerals. If the Lambs were in school and a funeral messed up the whole week, they would feel like they never saw Ram. And often after a few funerals, we take a day away as a family to go shopping or spend time together. If the Lambs were in school, we wouldn't be able to do this. I'm looking forward to beginning with Lamb 1 in kindergarten in the fall and working our school schedule around Ram's schedule.
I'll be honest, as pastor's wife, I hate funerals because it messes up the entire week, by the time Ram goes to the deathbed, meets with the family, lines up everything with everyone involved (funeral home, secretary, organist, ladies serving lunch, etc.), and does the funeral. But I also know that Ram has wonderful funeral sermons and he is a great comfort to the family that lost a loved one.
We have a friend that is a pastor a few hours north of us that has a dual parish, has been there about one more year than Ram has been here, and he has done about 80 funerals. 37 doesn't sound so bad then!
Another reason why we want to homeschool is because of Ram's schedule as pastor and unpredictable parts of his schedule like funerals. If the Lambs were in school and a funeral messed up the whole week, they would feel like they never saw Ram. And often after a few funerals, we take a day away as a family to go shopping or spend time together. If the Lambs were in school, we wouldn't be able to do this. I'm looking forward to beginning with Lamb 1 in kindergarten in the fall and working our school schedule around Ram's schedule.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Doubles
5 people in our family
+ 5 other church members (from 2 out of the 3 churches of our tri-parish)
=10 people at church on Ascension Day evening
+ 5 other church members (from 2 out of the 3 churches of our tri-parish)
=10 people at church on Ascension Day evening
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Check this out
Cheryl had a pretty neat link to a You Tube about Obama. It puts a different kind of perspective on our National Debt. I'm amazed people can figure this out in terms we can understand and adjust for inflation. Unfortunately, the information didn't surprise me. No wonder why there were so many TEA parties!
Obama's Joy Ride
Thanks Cheryl, for pointing this link out to us!
Obama's Joy Ride
Thanks Cheryl, for pointing this link out to us!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wasting Time
During the school year I usually go to the country church so the Lambs can go to Sunday School. The tri-parish has a quarterly rotation. The church next door is always early service. The middle church and the country church rotate between the middle and late service. This is so they don't always have to be late service.
Today the Lambs still had colds so I didn't want them to be around the Sunday School kids and especially their new baby. They weren't sick enough to miss church though. Actually they are almost over their colds. So we weren't going to the country church at the middle service time.
I wanted to go to early service and just walk next door since we had that option today. I went to bed early last night (well early for me) instead of cleaning up the kitchen. I planned to go to early service, come home and clean up the kitchen, and make lunch before Ram returned home from the other two services.
I slept in and didn't get up in time to get everyone ready for early church. I still got up with plenty of time to get everyone ready and maybe clean up some of the kitchen before church. The Lambs were slow pokes and needed "help" with every step of getting out the door this morning. Help getting dressed, packing a few quiet toys for church, putting their dirty clothes down the laundry chute, putting on coats, etc. We finally made it out the door and were a few minutes early to church. At least we weren't late. But I wasted the whole morning getting ready for church instead of getting something done after church.
After church I quickly made egg salad with our dyed Easter eggs. Then I cleaned up the kitchen. Ram had a meeting to attend this afternoon. So it wasn't until 3:30pm that I had completed what I planned to have completed by 12:30pm. Plus Lamb 3 usually takes a nap around noon and his nap schedule was all messed up today. That made a fussy baby in church and not much nap for him today either.
I blogged about all this hoping that the next time I have a chance to go to early service that I'm motivated to get out of bed and not waste the morning.
On the plus side, the Lambs were pretty well behaved in church. Lamb 1 put on his seat belt plus Lamb 2's seat belt without me asking him to. And sometimes Lamb 2 goes outside without telling me. We have been working on this because this church is next to a highway. Today that didn't happen.
Now it's 4:30pm and I don't get a Sunday afternoon nap, but I'm going to start supper.
Today the Lambs still had colds so I didn't want them to be around the Sunday School kids and especially their new baby. They weren't sick enough to miss church though. Actually they are almost over their colds. So we weren't going to the country church at the middle service time.
I wanted to go to early service and just walk next door since we had that option today. I went to bed early last night (well early for me) instead of cleaning up the kitchen. I planned to go to early service, come home and clean up the kitchen, and make lunch before Ram returned home from the other two services.
I slept in and didn't get up in time to get everyone ready for early church. I still got up with plenty of time to get everyone ready and maybe clean up some of the kitchen before church. The Lambs were slow pokes and needed "help" with every step of getting out the door this morning. Help getting dressed, packing a few quiet toys for church, putting their dirty clothes down the laundry chute, putting on coats, etc. We finally made it out the door and were a few minutes early to church. At least we weren't late. But I wasted the whole morning getting ready for church instead of getting something done after church.
After church I quickly made egg salad with our dyed Easter eggs. Then I cleaned up the kitchen. Ram had a meeting to attend this afternoon. So it wasn't until 3:30pm that I had completed what I planned to have completed by 12:30pm. Plus Lamb 3 usually takes a nap around noon and his nap schedule was all messed up today. That made a fussy baby in church and not much nap for him today either.
I blogged about all this hoping that the next time I have a chance to go to early service that I'm motivated to get out of bed and not waste the morning.
On the plus side, the Lambs were pretty well behaved in church. Lamb 1 put on his seat belt plus Lamb 2's seat belt without me asking him to. And sometimes Lamb 2 goes outside without telling me. We have been working on this because this church is next to a highway. Today that didn't happen.
Now it's 4:30pm and I don't get a Sunday afternoon nap, but I'm going to start supper.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Farewell Troops
The last two Mondays we have attended church services at LCMS churches for the military in the area that are being deployed on Sunday. The first one, Ram assisted with the liturgy. We have two members being deployed from two of our churches in our tri-parish. The second one, Rev. Smith did the whole service. It was difficult for him because his son is one of the ones being deployed. Here is their family.
These 5 are all members of the same church being deployed. That is a lot from one small church.
We were a little late to the second service and it should have been easier for me because Ram was in the pew with me. But Lamb 2 didn't feel well AND none of the Lambs are used to Ram in the pew AND this was the 7th service the Lambs attended in 9 days. So I wasn't able to hear everything. But from what I did hear, it struck me that not only do our troops really need our prayers now but our country also needs our prayers.
These 5 are all members of the same church being deployed. That is a lot from one small church.
We were a little late to the second service and it should have been easier for me because Ram was in the pew with me. But Lamb 2 didn't feel well AND none of the Lambs are used to Ram in the pew AND this was the 7th service the Lambs attended in 9 days. So I wasn't able to hear everything. But from what I did hear, it struck me that not only do our troops really need our prayers now but our country also needs our prayers.Here is the hymn we sang from the Armed Forces Hymnal.
Lord, guard and guide all those who fly
And those who on the ocean ply
Be with our troops upon the land
And all who for their country stand;
Protect our nation day and night
And may our trust be in Your might.
Watch o'er our cities; guard our skies
And calm our fears in trying times.
Console the families suffering loss;
Help us to bear their heavy cross.
Give us the will to do our share
For lands and people in despair.
Oh may our nation always be
A torch aflame with liberty,
A haven for the dispossessed,
A land that welcomes many guests.
And may we keep our motto strong
"In God We Trust" be e'er our song.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
It's a Girl!
To honor Kimberly's comment, I'm trying to be more careful with my blog titles, but I couldn't figure out a title for this blog entry!
Last night Ram was at the hospital from 9pm-1am. After we got home from church last night he returned a phone call. Then another phone call came that he should go to the hospital. This is not unusual since he has done more than 35 funerals since we moved here a little less than 6 years ago. But what was unusual was that he was asked to go to the hospital for a birth, not an ill member.
Claire Juncye was born at 10:22pm last night. This was her Mama's third c-section. They have a almost 7 year old girl and almost 5 year old boy. I won't tell the whole story, but due to some health problems they wanted more children but didn't have any after the 5 year old boy. So there is much rejoicing for their family with this baby girl. Mama was scheduled for a c-section next Tuesday, but Claire decided to come a few days early.
Claire's middle name is named after her Grandmother that Ram did the funeral for a little less than a year ago. This will be the second baptism that Ram does besides our Lambs (not counting a few grandchildren that live far away that he has baptized). Our church family is rejoicing to have Sunday School with their 3 children plus our 3 Lambs.
When Lamb 3 was born we considered having him baptized in the hospital. I was induced because he was so small and they thought something might be wrong. He was born healthy and we ended up not baptizing him in the hospital. The plan is to baptize Claire in the hospital this afternoon. She is healthy and there is no emergency to baptize her. But her parents liked the idea that she would be baptized soon. Her Mama won't have to get dressed up for the baptism when it's in the hospital. There is a lot of sickness going around (flu, whopping cough) and once they are out of the hospital, they plan to stay home as much as possible the next few weeks. When Mama is healed up and feels up to it, they will have a blessing in the church. This makes perfect sense to me and I wish more Lutherans would baptize in the hospital immediately whether there was an emergency or not. I think if we are blessed with another Lamb that we will baptize in the hospital. What is the best about this for us is we can plan our family to come for a blessing in the church when they all live so far away, but still get the baby baptized soon. I feel a little guilty that we took Lamb 3 out to eat the day after we came home from the hospital but he wasn't baptized yet. I feel even more guilty that Lamb 1 was a month old before he was baptized. So far I have had easy natural births, but we also don't know if we have more if there will be complications. I'm a little embarrassed that Ram is baptizing a member's baby in the hospital before he ever baptized one of our Lambs in the hospital. If as Lutherans we believe in infant baptism, why don't we baptize immediately whether there is an emergency or not?
We continue to keep Claire and her Mama in our prayers.
Last night Ram was at the hospital from 9pm-1am. After we got home from church last night he returned a phone call. Then another phone call came that he should go to the hospital. This is not unusual since he has done more than 35 funerals since we moved here a little less than 6 years ago. But what was unusual was that he was asked to go to the hospital for a birth, not an ill member.
Claire Juncye was born at 10:22pm last night. This was her Mama's third c-section. They have a almost 7 year old girl and almost 5 year old boy. I won't tell the whole story, but due to some health problems they wanted more children but didn't have any after the 5 year old boy. So there is much rejoicing for their family with this baby girl. Mama was scheduled for a c-section next Tuesday, but Claire decided to come a few days early.
Claire's middle name is named after her Grandmother that Ram did the funeral for a little less than a year ago. This will be the second baptism that Ram does besides our Lambs (not counting a few grandchildren that live far away that he has baptized). Our church family is rejoicing to have Sunday School with their 3 children plus our 3 Lambs.
When Lamb 3 was born we considered having him baptized in the hospital. I was induced because he was so small and they thought something might be wrong. He was born healthy and we ended up not baptizing him in the hospital. The plan is to baptize Claire in the hospital this afternoon. She is healthy and there is no emergency to baptize her. But her parents liked the idea that she would be baptized soon. Her Mama won't have to get dressed up for the baptism when it's in the hospital. There is a lot of sickness going around (flu, whopping cough) and once they are out of the hospital, they plan to stay home as much as possible the next few weeks. When Mama is healed up and feels up to it, they will have a blessing in the church. This makes perfect sense to me and I wish more Lutherans would baptize in the hospital immediately whether there was an emergency or not. I think if we are blessed with another Lamb that we will baptize in the hospital. What is the best about this for us is we can plan our family to come for a blessing in the church when they all live so far away, but still get the baby baptized soon. I feel a little guilty that we took Lamb 3 out to eat the day after we came home from the hospital but he wasn't baptized yet. I feel even more guilty that Lamb 1 was a month old before he was baptized. So far I have had easy natural births, but we also don't know if we have more if there will be complications. I'm a little embarrassed that Ram is baptizing a member's baby in the hospital before he ever baptized one of our Lambs in the hospital. If as Lutherans we believe in infant baptism, why don't we baptize immediately whether there is an emergency or not?
We continue to keep Claire and her Mama in our prayers.
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