------------------------------------------------------------"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." - Daniel 9:9 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 9 Feb 2006 10:35:00 -0600 Thu, 9 Feb 2006 10:35:00 -0600 I've decided to try out Blogger, since I want a little more flexibility with pictures, etc.   so come see me here:  http://rebelliouspastorswife.blogspot.com/   Thanks!    Reb   and yes, I will post what I am doing differently as far as the weight loss.     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/81314/ Thu, 9 Feb 2006 10:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/81314/ Your results:You are Deanna Troi Deanna Troi 80% Worf 60% Uhura 55% Beverly Crusher 55% Jean-Luc Picard 50% Data 46% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 45% Geordi LaForge 45% Spock 44% Chekov 40% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 40% Will Riker 35% James T. Kirk (Captain) 30% Mr. Scott 25% Mr. Sulu 15% You are a caring and loving individual.You understand people's emotions and you are able to comfort and counsel them.Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Test http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/81037/ Wed, 8 Feb 2006 19:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/81037/ weight loss: 10 lbs.!  (according to my doctor's office scale, which is where I started from)  6 lbs from the scale at work that I use to track weekly....I think it is just an evil scale. lost: 2 inches chest, 4 1/2 inches waist, 3 inches hips    (my husband said my breasts are smaller.....he didn't say if he liked it....) but even more importantly:    11 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training!!!!!!     There is a church sign on our way down to Fort Wayne that says:   "Everyone ends up somewhere, few people end up there on purpose"        Is it wierd of me to think "what's wrong with that?"        In the course of my life, I have said (usually emphatically and repeatedly):   "I will never go to school in Utah"  (B. Sc., Southern Utah University, 1997)   "I could never be a pastor's wife"  (still insist on that, for 11 1/2 years now)   "I would never be Lutheran again"  (going on 14 years now)   (to my husband)"I will follow you to the jungles of Africa, but I will never live in L.A."  (we spent 7 years in Pasadena, and I still insist, its not technically L.A.).   and there are many other statements, too.        At one point in my life, I was never going to get married, have kids, etc. until I had my masters degree and a thriving career.  Instead, I got married right out of college, am still working on that Masters degree, and don't know if I ever really want a thriving career....maybe just a part-time hobby that someone will pay me $75 an hour to do.        Different people relate to the world differently.  When I wanted to start my Masters degree in California, and again here, my husband's first focus is "how are we going to make sure you can finish?"  He's not concerned that I will drop out, he just wants to make the process efficient for me.  The thing is, I could care less if it is an efficient process.  I just enjoy taking classes...especially psychology and counseling classes.  He's always related well to the goal orientation of school because it is a very clear path that you take, very clear goals, and expectations are clear and concise.  Me, I could care less...I like the classes, the discussions, the exploration, and that painful feeling in the brain when it is embracing a new idea.  That's my general approach to life.         When my husband and I got married, the plan was he would finish seminary, and if I could finish my degree in Fort Wayne, I would (which wasn't possible), if not, he'd be commited to my getting done after that, even if I had to go somewhere else to do it.  Well, it only took a few months to realize that wasn't going to work...that, and I realized I didn't want to be without him, and I didn't want to wait an eternity to have kids (its amazing how that baby lust starts up).  Somehow, my goals could be reached with a family, or after the family.  After Chris was two, I went to school for a little while, then Maggie came, and I took time off.  When I was ready to start up again, a call came that brought us here...who knows when this will happen.....sometime, it just will.        There have been a lot of things in my life that have happened that I didn't plan on.  I didn't plan to breastfeed each child for at least 3 years.  I didn't plan to be a confessional Lutheran, I didn't plan to be a La Leche League Leader, I didn't plan to marry a pastor, I didn't plan to be living in Indiana (though I like it)......I didn't plan to homeschool....and I still can't believe I'm a Dodger fan (go Blue!)  Most of my life decisions are based on the fact that it "just felt right at the time"....of course, framed by principles that do not change.....but my goals can change or they can be pushed aside so that I can enjoy the trip.         I kind of look at it like some people are designed for the interstate...they can get on, go at high speed in a relatively straight line and get off when they get there.  I like the winding country roads.  I occasionally get on the interstate, but get off again.  Whatever the goal is, I'll get there someday...maybe.....if not, then I bet I'll look back and think it was an interesting ride. (thankfully, my husband is more of an interstate driver - we'd be wandering aimlessly if he weren't.  this contrast is probably the source of most of our conflicts, and also one of our biggest strengths  ).         Will my life ever be what I planned when I was 18 or 21?  NO.  I am so thankful for that, too.  I think it will be interesting to see where I end up.  And so far, I've been completely wrong about what was good for me, when I thought I belonged on the interstate.  Thankfully, God does know where I'm supposed to go...and He seems to have a sense of humor about it.     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/78317/ Fri, 3 Feb 2006 20:45:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/78317/ weight loss:  7 lbs!   chest 2.5 inches  waist: 3.5 inches  hips:  2.5 inches   I'm so bummed...one of the burdens of being a pastor's wife.   I'd been planning since before Christmas to go on this knitting retreat in Berne, Indiana.  We'd been given complete access at this bed and breakfast...for only $50.00 a piece.  I arranged for my kids to sit with friends at church, since Daddy obviously can't (the only, and basically the tragic obstacle, since I was going with my only other babysitter (godmother) who would've endured this crisis).   I can't go.  Maggie is sick.  She is the slime queen right now.  Mucus abounds everywhere.  Poor thing can't sleep.  I obviously can't pawn her off on someone else, much less someone who has a baby, and has been confined in her house for two weeks with her kids going through the whole cold thing themselves.   Oh well....I'm going to go sit and cry for a while.   Lora   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/74636/ Sat, 28 Jan 2006 08:21:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/74636/ weight loss:  3 lbs.  3 inches around my waist, 2 around hips and chest!!! Pitchers and Catchers Report:  Not posted yet!   I've been tagged by Indiana Jane   Four jobs I've had no particular order)1. Family Support Worker (currently) 2. Camp Counselor3. Research Field Worker (asking older people about their sex  lives among other things!) 4. Lingerie sales girlFour places I've lived: (besides where I live now)  1. Las Vegas, NV  (grew up there)2. Cedar City, UT 3. Pasadena, CA 4. Yuma, AZFour of my favorite foods: (I've had to give up sugars, grains, dairy, and other things....so I'm obsessing) 1.  au gratin potatoes 2.  Linguine Checca from Crocodile Cafe in Pasadena 3.  Fish tacos (Oh Rubios, how do I miss thee!)4.  banana cream pieFour TV shows that I like to watch1. Colbert Report2. Law and Order3. just about anything History Channel4. Good EatsFour Movies I could watch over and over1. Philadelphia Story2. The Importance of Being Earnest3. Out of Africa4. Bull DurhamFour Places I would rather be1. Southern/Central/or Northern California 2. Arizona...Flagstaff area3. Europe4. in bedFour Websites I visit:1. www.dodgers.com2. www.landsend.com3. www.weather.com 4. www.yarnharlot.caFour people I want to tag:1. Polly at Mossback Meadow2. Cynthia at whatever blog she's at now!!! 3. my husband, but he doesn't blog 4. Caroline at Our Little House on the Prairie http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/73407/ Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/73407/      Okay, I've been politely accused of  avoiding church issues, which I am wont to do, since I stare at a church outside my kitchen window every day....so I posted this to a Lutheran homeschooling list that I am on, kind of in response to the issue of "what do we do about the state of the synod."  Most people gave the very good answer of "stay in your catechism and Bible."  But I said this:         I agree that the most important thing is to stay in the Bible and Catechism....I would add to pray (Large Catechism, Introduction to the Lord's Prayer).     Regardless of beliefs there are other things that I think are important, too.  There are many fine believers in the ELCA and its founding church bodies that woke up one day and found their churches teaching their kids something other than they believed.  There are many fine LCMS members that are finding that too.     Regardless of theological/poliltical positions, I think there are things that Christians can do. Staying in the Bible and Catechisms is very very important, but the Bible and Catechism teach us not to just stay in our Bibles and Catechisms.....we are supposed to love our neighbors as ourselves, and if our Synod does eventually disintegrate over the all-important issue of inerrency of Scripture then there will be many casualties...I wouldn't want to be one...I don't want my neighbor to be either.  Yes, this is supposed to happen in the end times, but the end times have been happening since Christ ascended, and where would we be if Luther had simply said...I'm just going to read my Bible...because all this stuff is supposed to happen in the end times. Those catechisms would've never been written.  And if other Christians had not taken action, the creeds would've never been written, Bibles never would've been in our native tongues, and the Augsburg Confession wouldn't have been worth the effort that was made to expound our beliefs.  Besides, just because false doctrine is supposed to be taught in the End Times, doesn't mean that I have to just accept it happening in MY church.  I'm not accusing anyone of complacency.....I know that we have many devoted families here....I have seen that argument descend into complacency though, especially in this everyone for himself world.     I am not a political animal, I despise politics both church and otherwise, but I do see that if as Christians do not express our faith through the vocations that God gave us, and be open to other vocations as well, we'll have a whole bunch of people complaining in their homes that no one did anything.      We have a Synod that was purposely designed according to a democratic model, rather than the traditional one based on a system of bishops (don't know which is better or worse, don't want to discuss it at the moment, it just is).  That means that in order for it to remain healthy, the members have to remain informed and involved. We do need to be aware of the issues that our congregations, district, and synod are struggling with, and express the opinions we have that come from our study.  We need to be informed voters within our congregations (whether that means with the vote that the husband exercises for the family or where women exercise suffrage within the congregation also).  Where it doesn't interfere with our primary vocations that God has given us, we also need to be willing to serve in various capacities within our congregation, our district, and our synod, where we have abilities.  The best politicians and board members are not the ones that want to be there...but the ones that feel the duty to be...in my opinion.      Our church produces many products, too, fine and otherwise.....what you choose to support should be reflective of your principles and should be informed choices.  Investing with Thrivent (not a synodical entity), the LCEF, or other options should be as investigated as any stock, bond or annuity...and should also be made with awareness of what their values are and what they do...they should invite this since they use their benefits to the church as part of the reason why you should invest with them.  Make it a point to donate to Lutheran missions and projects that reflect your beliefs. If you like Lutheran Witness, buy it...if you don't, cancel your subscription.  Buy books from Concordia Publishing House that reflect what you believe and where you want to grow (they'll take the hint and make more)....if they don't have anything...buy elsewhere.  Make sure the school or college that you send your kids to will teach your kids what you believe and that they have a strong educational product.....don't just trust the Concordia or the LCMS on it.... whether they are good or bad schools may be completely independent of that name.  Find out what is going to happen at the youth conferences, or what has happened in the past before you send your kids.... or find alternatives.  The same goes for Lutheran camps, etc. or anything else.  If you decide not to support them, let them know why.     If you can't support these things with your money and even if you can...how can you support them with your time?  Cleaning toys at the preschool, serving on the Altar Guild, serving on a district board, giving your opinions on a homeschool task force...etc.      (one note....with this philosophy, do not see the Synod or your congregation as a "product" to be consumed and to walk out if you disagree.....you are communing with the Body of Christ, and if you just leave, if there is evil going on, you are simply stepping out of its way and letting it continue.   And many people have no idea how much harm they are doing to a congregation when they just disappear without talking or refusing to talk to the elders and pastor about their experience.  Don't leave unless you are sure there is no more you can do, and make sure the PASTOR and ELDERS know why, not just a few or many friends in the congregation.  Where that line is, I know is an individual judgement...but do communicate, or they won't know that you think something is wrong.  Besides, the Bible tells you to do so).     The biggest impediment that I see for laity (and I count myself as one)is a source of good information.  There really is nothing out there that explores the current events and tries to put them in theological context within our Synod, at least not that I've found (I'd love to know of any). An unbiased press is non-existent  (okay, so that's nothing new in this world?).  The Synod publications do not deal with what is going on in the political and doctrinal environment.  CAT 41 serves its purpose, as does Christian News, and  there are publications and lists by those "on the other side" that have the same view.  I know when I lived West of the Rockies (I've lived in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona...and now Indiana, again) it was blatantly obvious how disconnected these churches were from the Synod....and some of the biggest things that have happened in the last half century...Seminex, the struggles with the Fort Wayne seminary in the 90's,  and the Benke issue....were completely off the radar for them, unless they saw what the secular press said....and regardless of beliefs on the whole Yankee Stadium incident, anyone who knows anything about it also knows that it was about far more than a pastor having his freedom of speech hindered by his church body.  There was not much information on it, other than the emotional attacks in the publications put out around Convention time that are generally only seen by pastors and lay-delegates.  Yet the Benke/Yankee Stadium incident was the most polarizing issue at the Convention.         Maybe this lack of communication regarding Synod issues is like this all over the Synod, not just the West.  I now live close to a seminary and that has probably heightened my awareness.  I wonder how this lack of access to information can be improved.  Maybe that is what all the blogging is about.     Again, I would add PRAY.     Okay, there is my church politics post for the year...in fact, I probably am good for two.God bless http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/72056/ Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/72056/ Ten Top Trivia Tips about Lora! Only one child in twenty will be born on the day predicted by Lora! Only twelve people have ever set foot on Lora. You can tell if Lora has been hard-boiled by spinning her. If she stands up, she is hard-boiled! Lora can taste with her feet! Owls cannot move their eyes, because their eyeballs are shaped like Lora! Birds do not sleep in Lora, though they may rest in her from time to time. Over half of Americans are officially Lora. Lora was first grown in America by the grandmother Maria Ann Smith, from whom her name comes. Lora is the world's smallest mammal. Louisa May Alcott, author of 'Little Lora', hated Lora and only wrote the book at her publisher's request. I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/70122/ Wed, 18 Jan 2006 19:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/70122/      Back when we lived in Pasadena, close to family, we adopted the tradition of giving the bulk of our immediate family gifts on Epiphany.  This carries two advantages......First, when we were in Pasadena, our Christmas mornings looked like this:  frantically wake up and get the kids ready for church....then celebrate Christmas worshipping our newborn Savior....then rush home, change clothes, and speed down the eerily empty freeways to Grandma and Grandpa's house 30 minutes away, where we would open presents with my husband's immediate family and the growing hoard of descendents.  After that, we would frantically pick up all the toys, get them out of the way, throw all the Christmas paper in the fireplace (Californians feel a desperate need to light their fireplaces if the temperature drops below 70 degrees), and vacuum because "the extended family" (which by this time was the size of the entire town of Granada Hills) was going to be here"any time" (which was frequently exclaimed in a high pitched yelp by my mother in law) and we would once again open presents, partake of food, and try to have conversation over the deafening roar of the huge mob of children.  It was wonderful, and it is an incredibly wonderful family, but it was a joyful yet excruciating day for in introvert like me, and I bemoaned that my kids did not have a relaxing Christmas where they could just enjoy their presents and relax in the peace of our home....so Epiphany became an option when I remembered hearing someone talk about it on "Focus on the Family" years before (its about the only one that I remember).  Reason #2....you can save money shopping the after Christmas sales.      Anyway, we do more on Christmas than we used to, because we are not close to family anymore, but we still do celebrate Epiphany.  This year, our Twelve Days of Christmas were completely turned on end by a need to go to Iowa for my husband's funeral, the subsequent work schedule change that it involved for both of us, and the also subsequent cold that various members of our family are tossing around....so needless to say, the Epiphany preparations were not up to speed this year.  So today we went to Sam's Club to grab a couple of last minute gifts and relax after a disorienting week.      After gathering some ideas as to what to get my husband (oh yeah, we also notoriously shop for each other with each other and then fanagle (sp?) ways to "hide" what we are getting, driving cashiers absolutely batty).  I snuck off to get the gifts I was purchasing for my husband.  I'd taken my son's fleece pull-over with me, and as I was slipping the package to Civilization IV (my husband's favorite video game) inside the pullover, I look up, and there is a couple from our congregation greeting me.  They asked how I was, if pastor was here, etc. and I answered them as normally as I could in such an awkward situation, imagining the gossip ("yeah, we saw pastor's wife shoplifting in Sam's Club").    I then returned to my husband, "craftily" putting the software-laden pullover back into the cart.      Then, upon having second thoughts, I decided to ask my husband if he would prefer practical tools, or "something for the computer."  And upon going into a one-person debate on the matter, he smiled and said "I just want you, Honey" and kissed me, with more than a pastor-like peck .  At that moment I hear "Hey, hey"  the husband of previously mentioned members had spotted us and decided to say "hi" while his wife was in the freezer section.  Again, we chatted amiably, the man in a very nice suit, while my husband was in his rattiest jeans (okay, at the moment his only jeans because we hadn't yet replaced the previous pair of jeans that descended into rattiness...but these are bad, with pockets fraying, and his knee completely visible from the 3 directional gash upon his leg)....I guess I forgot to mention the other reason we were there was to see if he could find any jeans.         After the gentleman left, Jeff mentioned "They have this great couch, I want you to see it."  It was beyond what I usually expect at Sam's Club.  It was a $2000 leather sectional....not even a consideration until I'm sure the kids are gone and not coming back...and maybe not even then.  But we sat down and started finishing discussing our shopping plans.  Our son had decided to kick off his shoes, unbeknownst to me, and our daughter was reclining cozily on the part that looked like a Freudian couch.  Our kids had definitely made it look like we were making ourselves at home just outside the grocery section....and of course, here comes our church members again.  Of course, one of our most bizarre shopping outings had an audience.....  Thank God for a sense of humor, I suppose!       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/65115/ Sat, 7 Jan 2006 19:55:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/65115/ May God bless you richly on this Christmastide!        This was the first Christmas in a long time that I didn't sing in the choir.  I have participated most years ever since I became a pastor's wife.  This Fall with work, Scouts, homeschooling, and so many other things, I decided I didn't need one more minute absorbed by something.  Surprisingly, it has been more of a blessing than I could've ever imagined.        Tonight, as well as other nights, I sat in the pew, holding my sleeping daughter, hearing the choir's voice resound behind me.  As far as choirs go, they won't win any awards, but there was something special.  Blended in with the other voices, sometimes ringing clearly through the other voices, was that of my nine year old son, Chris.        Chris has "sung with the choir" ever since he was in diapers, cuddling up in my baby sling.....back then, he might coo....then he got old enough to make up the words.  I remember one Christmas service when he was three, we sang "Away in a Manger" in our little congregation in Pasadena, and when silence permeated after the last note, Chris exclaimed "lets sing it again!"  When he was three and four, the organist used to hold him on her lap while she played the choir music, showing him what stops to push.  My husband always made it a point in that congregation that struggled to hold families, to always have children singing at Christmas and Easter...even if it was only my son and one or two others.  Chris would dutifully remind me several times a day that it was time to work on learning the hymn that had been chosen.        When my husband received the call here to Garrett, the first bulletin we received mentioned a childrens choir that apparently never came to be.  That didn't discourage Chris.  Kim, the choir director, welcomed Chris into the regular choir, and Chris in turn recruited most of the other kids in the congregation.  There are more kids in our adult choir than adults.  Until now, I was always right there singing with him.  I am thankful for the opportunity to just sit back and listen.        Though he does have a nice voice, and I am glad that he loves music, what really struck me tonight was what he was singing, and this has hit me each time I've heard our choir sing this Fall.  Chris is singing his faith.  More than a love of singing, Chris loves Jesus.  It was so clear to my mother's heart tonight that the words that Chris is singing mean so much to him.  They bring him joy.  That was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.         My son is baptized.  This fact brings me such comfort, and every day I see its fruit.  He was four weeks old when we brought him into the church and through the water and The Word, God claimed Christopher as His own. I have been blessed to be able to watch his faith blossom and grow, and I treasure it in my heart.  He has so many gifts....an astounding intelligence, an eager curiosity, an earnest spirit of friendship, a truly gentle heart; but more than these, my soul rejoices in hearing his voice ring out through the church, sometimes blended in with all the voices, sometimes clearly, uniquely Chris.  Thank you, God for loving my little boy.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/59827/ Sat, 24 Dec 2005 21:19:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/59827/      Okay, apparently "I've been tagged" by Indiana Jane.  It is the first time I've done this....so here it goes.  Apparently, I'm supposed to share five obscure things about me and then tag 5 other people.  4 of the 5 bloggers that I know have already done this......so I tag Designated Knitter  and leave it at that.   5 Obscure Things About Me......   1.  My first (and possibly my only) blue ribbon was won in the Clark County Ceramics Competition....for a ceramic female goose that I did in oil pastels.  It was fun.  Ceramics was the only "artsy thing" that I did.   2.  I've always wanted a Hungarian Visla.   3.  If I could go to college all over again, I'd spend 3 years taking the classes that I wanted to take and then see what major I come closest to.   4.  I hate talking on the phone   5.  Out of pastor's wives....I must have the worst church attendance record in the world....but it honestly has nothing to do with the fact that the History Channel airs Horatio Hornblower (known affectionately around here as "hummina hummina boat boy") movies on Sunday mornings......really.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/57361/ Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:08:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/kangamama/57361/