The Three Trumpeters

Tonight was the last band concert -- ever.

These three pictured above were featured in a piece called "Buglers Holiday." Click here to hear a recording of the piece. (it's not Megan and the other two playing it - just so you know what the song is) Megan says it's a tad faster than they played it, but they were AWESOME!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I know I haven't posted in over a week... Here's my excuses:

Megan is graduating in less than two weeks and this Friday is her Open House celebration. I have been baking cupcakes (288) and buying monster quantities of food as seen in the pictures. And no, I didn't make the rolls. Some friends did (16 dozen so far), and they are making smoked pork loins. Yum!

I should have more fun pictures of the festivities to post later!

New Life!!!

Mother's Day

I know I'm a few days late to write about Mother's Day. I've been mulling over what to write.

I know I've gushed and gushed about my kids on this blog. But I guess I never run out of things to say about them.

I have been so blessed to be their mother.

I will NEVER forget the first time I looked in both of their little faces.

I was pretty sick after Caleb was born, so it was several hours before I felt strong enough to hold him. In the wee hours of the night I finally asked the nurse to bring him to me. I remember he opened his little eyes to look at me. Sweet moment.

The first thing Pete said to me after Megan was born was, "Now you have a little girl to go shopping with." (So why does he cringe now when we head to the mall??) I remember holding that sweet little girl with a little pink hat on and kissing those chubby little cheeks she had. I was so thrilled to have a girl.

Thank you, Lord for the blessing of being a mom. Thank you for the privilege of staying home with Caleb and Megan as they were growing up.

Oh, they make a mother proud!!
I so love you guys!!!

The Perils of Glasses

This morning I went out for a walk. It was a little chilly -- in the 50s -- but pleasant enough for a walk with a sweatshirt. About 15 minutes into my walk it started to sprinkle. I thought it wasn't too bad. But it got steadily harder. But the time I got home this is what my glasses looked like:

We wouldn't even talk about what my hair looked like....

No I did not take a picture of that.

Look what I did last Sunday!!

Last Sunday in church I was baptized!! It was an awesome experience. Below is what I shared with the congregation before my baptism:


When I gave my testimony a few months ago I shared with you how I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. I will be forever grateful to my parents for teaching me Christian values and for providing opportunities for training through church attendance, Sunday school and summer camps. I don’t remember an exact moment when I became a Christian, but I know I am God’s and I know He is mine.

In high school and the first year and a half of college I really struggled to make my faith my own. I knew that I couldn’t live on my parents’ faith. God did totally win me over in those years. One way even today that I am still learning about making my faith my own is choosing to be baptized. My parents chose to have me and my siblings baptized at the same time about 40 years ago. I have wondered about that for a long time and just recently asked my parents about when I was baptized. From their response, I realized that, at age 7, I didn’t understand the meaning of baptism, and I understand now that it was mostly their choice. I realize that this is something that God is asking ME to make the decision about.

Currently, God is showing me His abundant love and I am learning how to rest in that -- and how to be okay with just that. I have a lot of transitions coming up in my life. Megan will be leaving for college in a few months and my daily job that I have LOVED tremendously for the past 21½ years will change dramatically. Caleb will not be home this summer and he will graduate from college in a year. Dan and Cheryl’s leaving will be something major for me to adjust to as well.

Earlier this week when I was praying about what to say today, God spoke to me through these couple of verses. One is Psalm 23:4&5 --

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

The other verse is Isaiah 41:10 --
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

So no matter how unknown the future may look to me right now, these verses tell me I have God’s assurance that He will be there to guide and protect and comfort and strengthen me. And He will hold me up and overflow my life with blessings!

I will end this with saying what I wrote to Caleb in an email when I told him about my decision. So, your 47 year old mom who has served Jesus for as long as she can remember, is going to be baptized!

The Church

Servant: One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another.

This describes our pastor to a T. He definitely exerts himself to benefit others. He has helped this family in so many ways. He helped us bury our sump-pump line, unclog a drain, fix the lock on our possessed van, and vacuum up all the water in the basement from the flood we had. (see above photo) I have never known a pastor do so many physical things for others.

Not only will he come to help at any time, he preaches The Word. He has such a gift of being able to make The Word practical to every day life. He has helped this family with learning how to live it out. He always directs us back to The Word. I love how he asks questions to the congregation during his sermon. He doesn't mind if he is interrupted during a sermon with a question. Once, he basically spent to whole time answering questions about having personal devotions and what that means. So awesome.

Here are some things I wrote about him a few months ago: Helps answer hard questions. Asks hard questions. Points me to the Bible. Loves my kids.

His wife has become one of my best friends. Here are some things I wrote about her a few months ago: Tells me I'm a good mother especially when I don't feel like it. Accepts me in her home no matter what she's in the middle of doing. Great buddy for a LONG car trip. Never run out of things to talk about. Loves my kids. I love her kids and her grandkids.

I choose to write about this now because they have two weeks left at our church. **SIGH** He will work for the district in church planting. He will leave a big hole here. I am sad to not have them 1/2 mile from our house.

We will miss his unique sayings. :) A few of my favorites:

Don't go there
Jive-a-lation
Wow! (said during basically every sermon)
Shut-up Moose (said to himself when he is about to say something he shouldn't)
Thoughts to ponder (on every sermon outline)
For what you're about to do we'll be sure to praise you (said at the end of prayers)

One of my favorite memories is the Christmas Eve they came over, ate with us, and played games. (They are AVID game players). It was so fun to spend that time together. You will be missed.