Good Times

Yikes! So much news and so few pictures.

It was kind of Kristin and Deris to get married to so we could hold a reunion on Saturday afternoon. They were smart enough to actually PLAN on using Stewart for the service with a lovely dinner reception down at Alexander Hall. It was old times for a number of us with Dan Hoggart on the keyboard, Charles Marx co-celebrating with a pastor from Kristin's church and a number of the professors and sfts staff in the congregation. Aimee sang wonderfully. Cheryl ran the video camera. Pastor Heather helped to pass the communion and lots of friends were in the congregation: (I feel like I'm writing a society article for a small town newspaper!) It really was a great wedding and best of all good things to Kirsten and Deris. Beautiful dress, handsome tuxedos, and a wind that lifted and gave wing to the white netting draped above us in the chapel.

Random news:

Dan Hoggart is feeling better but he is without a doubt slower than he used to be. Carol Robb is on sabbatical, finishing up a book. Jennifer's sister Heather, is starting this fall at SFTS and has just moved into Bell. Jonathan Edwards and his wife are settled in North Carolina and expecting!! Polly and Bob Coote have bought a house in Berkeley and are contemplating the move. A few of us ran into Alexis from the GTU Bookstore when it was at SFTS. She is running a bead shop in Windsor and looks great.

In other news: Robert Hattle's father passed away two days ago, joining Robert's mother who had passed about a year ago. Please hold Robert and his family in your prayers this month.

One more thing - Cheesemaking links:

Its easy to make fresh cheese and here are some links to get you started if you are interested:

1) http://fiascofarm.com/dairy/feta.html
2) New England Cheese Company - best beginner's site: http://www.cheesemaking.com/
3) http://www.leeners.com/cheeseprocess.html

In about a month or so, Horizon's Magazine will print an article I wrote on cheesemaking with recipes so keep an eye out if you are interested.

Interim Ministry Week One

Hi, All,
I spent last week at Palisades Retreat Center at Federal Way, WA, in Week One of Interim Ministry Training. I know several folks took week one at Zephyr Point last year(?). It was an intense week, but very worth while. We spent a lot of time on family systems theory and conflict management, and there was a very good session on negotiating contracts and searching for an interim position.
Palisades Retreat Center is located on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. It's run by the Archdiocese of Seattle, so the grounds have several paths, nooks, grottoes, etc. for private meditation. It's a much smaller facility than Zephyr Point, so our group was very compact: in week one we had 13 people; in week 2, which met at the same time, there were 5. Scott Schaefer was in my week one group--he's now living in Sequim, WA. Even though the group was small, it was diverse. There were folks from as far away as Auburn, NY, and Beaumont, TX, along with a CLP from Fairbanks, AK, and a pastor from Larkspur.
I enjoyed the week, learned a lot, and met some good people. PCUSA is a tiny world, and we'll see each other again. If you have the opportunity to take IM training, it's worth doing, even if you're in an installed position or other ministry. The skills they teach would be valuable anywhere.

some minor remodeling

Hey y'all

Updated the template for the blog which should make it easier to add links, dates of interests, etc.

Also goofy things like Survey Questions!!! Got one? Avoiding sermon writing? Feel free to add stuff.

Click on Templates while posting or perhaps on the little tool symbol by the thing you want to change. Add another question or change it or send me your idea. We can have lots of options to each question.

I'm becoming bored by the color scheme. I may play with that too. Or not.

A Post from the (East) Coast

Greetings all -

Here is your post from Heather on the East Coast. I am in Washington DC at the National Cathedral attending a conference at The Cathedral College of Preachers. (Continuing Ed anyone?) It is 101 degrees in DC today and the humidity is outrageous. How do you southern/eastern folks deal with this. Get me back to hot and dry!!!!

So far it has been an interesting conference. It is a conference for young clergy women. Everyone here is ordained and serving in churches although most are associates. I have met some women like me though, who are out in the world doing it on their own. Anna Carter Florence is the featured speaker and she is mostly presenting material from her new book "Preaching as Testimony". I highly recommend it, if only for the sermon starter ideas in the back. She really encourages you to be creative with the text. The whole idea is basically that you can get into the text and find your own meaning and your own sermon without having to dig into the greek, various translations, and all the commentary ever written. Its surprisingly freeing.

I have really enjoyed meeting other young women in ministry. There are Episcopals, PCUSA, Disciples, Baptists, Lutherans, and Methodists but pretty much we are all in the same boat. Its easy to feel isolated in ministry and it has been exciting to meet so many people. Most everyone is liberal as well which is such a breath of fresh air for me.

It has been neat to just hang out at the Cathedral. We have worship in one of the small lower chapels which is cool. Today I spent a few hours walking around and taking the audio tour which I really enjoyed. It was like my own private devotional time.

So, it has been a good visit. They are talking about more conferences like this so there should be opportunities for others later on. Also, there is a lot going on at the college of preachers so check it out. It is a fun way to do continuing ed.

That's all for now - blessings!

The west side of the pond

Hello everyone! I'm back in the Pacific time zone once again, having completed (and passed the defense of) my thesis with the faculty of the University of Geneva, cleared customs at Heathrow, and recovered from some serious jet lag. June was a crazy last month in Switzerland - I successfully preached in Calvin's auditorium, as previously trailed; spent a week in Italy relaxing in Florence and Siena; and stopped in London to see friends on my way home (hauling my incredibly heavy luggage through the crowded tube stations!). Overall, I had a mixed year in Switzerland - great in some ways, disappointing in others - and I'm glad to be home.

For the time being, I'm at my dad's house in Portland, beginning the slow process of job hunting and finishing up odds and ends from my Swiss adventure. Returning to the States in the summer - having left last summer - makes the whole year a bit surreal, as if I just had a long, strange dream and then woke up in Portland again.

Shouts out to everyone, and particular greetings to:

- Jenn - congrats!!! Can't wait to hear all about the new call...
- Heather and Alexis - I think I saw you at the Portland airport about 10 days ago, but you were too far away for me to catch up...
- Heather and Lars - lovely garden, and wanted to let you know I also waited for my British version of HP - did you order the children or adult version?
- Steph - saw the stage version of Wicked in London, having read the book previously, and I liked the nuances of the book better than the more straightforward musical...what did you think?

Looking forward to catching up with you all soon...
Best from your no-longer-in-Swiss-exile classmate,
Aimee

How to get into Hogworths

With a special tip of the hat to PureChristianIThink & everyone else who sometimes wonder if we went to the wrong seminary

(if you can't see the video on the screen, try this link:

back to work

Heather and I just returned from vacation, although I've decided it doesn't count as a vacation if it includes your in-laws and 5 nieces and nephews waking you up at 7 am every morning. But the start of our vacation was stressful but ultimately celebratory because Heather took and passed her worship exam in Portland. Now all she has to do is preach, write her PIF, and find a job in a Presbyterian Church-wait that sounds like a lot. One of the graders, who is a grader of the written tests, (Heather took her test orally) told Heather that she had a very strong pastoral presence, was very good at what she does, and was extremely pastoral and she said that Heather's actual gifts probably would not have come across in a written exam. Go figure..

I went to the Chase family reunion in St. Helen's Oregon for the first time. I had the pleasure of meeting 44 members of Heather's extended family, almost all of which were really nice to me. Of course who doesn't have the crazy family members that no one likes? I know I do, and Heather will never meet them.
We then flew to Florida to be with my family, and the 5 children under 7 years old who thought we were their personal entertainment units. We biked, swam, canoed, ran around, and had a good time hanging out with the family. We also got to celebrate my father's 65th birthday as a family, which was a big deal. We also got to spend the week with the brand new addition to the family, our niece Kai, who is now almost 2 months old, she is of course perfect. Our 7 year old niece already has the hip jut, hands on hips, eye roll thing down, where in the world do they learn that stuff? It was a good time, we are both exhausted. Now back to work. Heather is gearing up for Sunday school and Bible study to start again and I'm currently sitting at my desk trying to juggle water bottles, I'm a model employee.
Hope all is well. Here in Atlanta it's 95 degrees outside by 8 am and we are looking forward to fall.

In Celebration of the Resurrection

Doug Adams, pioneering professor in religion and the arts,
dies on July 24

Doug Adams, professor of Christianity and the arts at Pacific School of Religion for 31 years, died at the home of friends in Jackson, CA on July 24, 2007. As a scholar and teacher, Adams played a leading role internationally in the field of religion and the arts, and was beloved by generations of students. Adams also headed the doctoral faculty in Art and Religion at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), a consortium of nine seminaries, including Pacific School of Religion (PSR), in Berkeley, CA.

To read the full PSR News Release, click here - to read the Mercery News Story, click here.

To stop and remember and celebrate and grieve and be pissed off and thankful and grateful and in awe for this amazing explosion of life and art and theology and humor and all very human I suspect and yet able to say Look, Look - over here is God... There is nothing to click. Go make art or look at art or write a funny skit for worship or write a poem or pour a glass of wine and munch some yummy cheese. Dance.

Pacific School of Religion will hold a memorial service on campus this fall, scheduled for Oct. 14 from 2 to 5 p.m.

We Are Here

So I'm sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to write a Prayer of Confession and have managed to kill the last hour playing with the do-it-yourself feature of Google map.

I've posted markers for where everyone is - everyone that i know where they are - more or less. Let me know if there are more/better locations to post. Or if you have a good prayer of confession. Somehow Hey God, sorry 'bout that which is actually pretty comprehensive if you think about it probably won't go so well in a full on worship service.

click here - hope it works! My next plan to kill a few more hours is getting Jen's dates of ordination up on the upcoming dates list.

more info :)

I forgot to ask for your prayers on August 11th, when I go before the Plains and Peaks Presbytery. As that date draws closer and plans become more concrete, I seem to be more and more nervous. So, your prayers would be much appreciated :)

As I said, ordination will be on Sunday, August 26th. The following Sunday, September 2nd is my first Sunday in Wray. Nothing like being on the fast track! I am moving my stuff to Wray on the 29th and hopefully settling in by Sunday.

If you are ever in the high plains, please stop by! The manse has 4 bedrooms, so I have plenty of space. Plus, Megan, Harold and the boys are just down the highway about 30 miles. We can have a reunion!

Take care and have a great day!

Love, Jenn :)

Ordination!

Hello everyone! I wanted to pass on some good news...I have accepted a call at a small church in Wray, CO.

My ordination will be August 26th at 4pm in Cleveland, OK. If you happen to be driving through OK, you are all invited! I would love to see you :)

Take care and have a great evening!

Love, Jenn :)

Greetings from Wilbur

Hello all -

Lars and I are keeping busy during our summer in Wilbur. The days have been hot and we splurged on two small air-conditioning units and spend most of the days indoors. My brother Will visited earlier this week and we spent several days just north of here at Lake Roosevelt. Beautfiul weather for sunning and swimming, though I have one of the worst sunburns in recent memory. We also picked a huge amount of Raspberries at one of my parishoner's homesteads and I am still working my way through them. Plus we went to see the Crop Circles outside of town - life in Wilbur is far from dull!

We have been busy in our garden (see pictures above). We have had a few squash and some peas before it got to hot for them. Today was the first tomato harvest and the vines are heavy with the promise of more to come. I am really eager to enjoy them!

We have a busy schedule in the fall. I am going to Washington DC for a confrence at the Catherdral College there. It is called Preaching as Testimony and is a confrence specifically for ordained young women preachers. The guest speaker is Anna Carter Florence. I am nervous about the travel but it should be fun. Then later in the month Lars and I will be visiting the Bay Area as some of you already know. That should be a nice break. Other than that the schedule is full with visiting family and the normal church work.

Things continue to go well at the church. They are remodeling my office and I will have to post a photo when they are done. New paint, carpet, blinds, desk, shelves, and wing back chairs. It is a dream. Hard to believe we are coming up on one year in the ministry. Hurrah! I am planning a harp concert for October as my anniversary gift to the community.

Well - thats all for now. Enjoy your summer everyone and I wish you were here to help eat tomatoes and raspberries!

- Love - Heather

Now I understand

I have turned the last page, I have closed the book from the right side of the cover.

what a great ride!

Interesting day

As the church secretary I led my first funeral today, I know seems insane right? The pastor at my church is in the hospital and a member of the church passed away a couple days ago, leaving me as the only person on staff here at the church. After finding a retired clergy person to do all of the stuff required of an ordained person during the service, I was privileged enough to act as pastor to the family. I got sit with the family, organize a service, pray with them, and lead the service (which I did not think I was going to have to do until the visiting pastor looked at me 5 minutes before we started and said "so I just follow your lead then?"). I talked to the pastor of this church earlier today on the phone and he said "what other church has a secretary that can not only redesign the web-site but also do a funeral?" I'm thankful for the opportunity to do all of this and have learned a ton, and I'm asking for a raise.

Heather and I have started training for a marathon in February and are currently free from injury, which is a miracle. Roux is doing much better. We have gotten her to lose some weight and it has alleviated her hip problems enough that we can postpone surgery indefinitely.

Also Braves tickets are only $6 so we have spent a lot of time at the ballpark this summer. Still not a Braves fan, Go Red Sox, but nothing beats a good game, some beer, and a hot dog on a sunny summer day.

We head to Oregon on Thursday for Heather's family reunion up in Sisters as well as her worship exam, we shall see how it all goes. Then on Tuesday we head to Florida for my family reunion where 5 nieces and nephews and my copy of the new Potter book awaits. I don't expect to get much rest.

bit o' this & that (anyone else want to play?)

I'm reading a web site called Decently and In Order which is something of a emergent/web 2.0 thing and links to lots of stuff roughly related to Presbyterianism. Here is a great link to another web site which has lots of entertaining stuff but at the moment holds the Seven Deadly Sins Combo Chart. For example: Glutteny + Pride = fat men in speedo swimsuits. On the same site at the card chart is an amazing remake of M Jackson's Thriller

I'm about 100 pages away from the end of the last Potter book. My elder step son is currently reading to completion and I'm fighting the urge to rip it out of his hands. =sigh= (argg, now he's laughing. why? whats going on? Soon I'll know too....)

A local Interplay group has started up here in Santa Rosa and the isolation for me breaks down just a bit. Heather and Alexis: I miss you!

You know - you don't have to have a lot going on to post on this blog. What is going on out there? Which chapter are you on in H. Potter? Or did you already finish it? What? Elder Step Son is now done, "What am I going to do with my life now," he asks as he hands it over....

Anitra

More Questions

This neighbor is currently running up and down my street - has been for the last hour or so. At least he is wearing a helmet. On an all too regular basis someone is scrapping the body parts of teen drivers off the payment and out of wrecked cars here in Sonoma county. Just a few nights ago some teens were racing through a near-by neighborhood at speeds up to 70 mph (news story) when they crashed into some cars and caused serious damage to themselves. I don't know if there is anything particularly unique to this place - we have a lot of old farming roads with blind curves and a lot of folks who seem to need to drive as fast as possible on those roads. I'm a fast driver and yet more often then not I've got some large pick up truck (my new favorite car to hate now that I'm out of Marin) trying to drive up my exhaust pipe. I want a sign I can turn on - say mounted in my rear view mirror that says: I can't go any faster than the car in front of me just to drive down River Road.

There seems like there is a lot of anger on the road around here.

A few months ago, Bill & I were in a casual upscale bar in Windsor with a friend from Windsor Presbyterian Church on a Friday night. It was singles night - but the desperation in the room was odd to figure out. Am I older now and can see it better? It seemed like folks were in some form of a dead-end desperation - and were drinking, trying to hook up, as a way to cover over the pain. Is this the new economy? Where is the hope?

Maybe I'm too naive. Maybe I'm too protected. Maybe I'm too old. Maybe there is a need for speed just to feel like you're getting someplace - anyplace - even if its the same old place.

Living in Whine Country

This is my neighbor directly across the street from us. He seems to be a perfectly nice guy, with lots of friends and family in the neighborhood - all of whom seem to drive large, diesel powered trucks and SUV and who seem to have a need to stop and idle for up to an hour in the middle of the street while talking about - well whatever they talk about.

In addition to the bright red powerboat, he also owns a large RV, about as big as a local delivery truck. The normal other car in the drive way is also a pure white SUV. He has recently added about 2 or 3 little four wheel dirt bikes or something and lately I'm noticing a motorcycle running around the front. Furthermore, in spite of there being a major water shortage and daily urging to do the right thing, this man has suddenly produced a gas powered water washing thing so he can keep all his toys very pretty. If we run out of gas in this world early, I'm sorely tempted to hold this man personally responsible.

But it would hardly be fair because look at the rest of the Stepford-Wife Subdivision:

My neighbor to the left - count the SUVs

A view down the street: all suv and/or who-the-hell-needs-a-muffler-american-pick-ups. I should have taken a pix in the evening when everyone was home. There are RV and boats and motorcycles galore. My neighbor on the other side has two SUV - and the middle son has recently acquired one of those damn lawn mower powered scooter things which he enjoys riding up and down the street, helmet be damned.

Has anyone in this neighborhood heard about global warming?

What the heck are they going to do when the oil runs out?

And why does this bug me so much?

Always a good question to ask, in spite of its deep annoying call to self-examination. Its much more fun when its someone else's fault but I've been reading the line about splinters vs logs way too long to not do this.

1) I'm still pretty isolated. I work out of the home and I don't get out much. Its been tough to identify groups that I might get involved with and I use the family as an excuse not to try too much. I did attempt to attend a local evening Jazzercise class but after a year of showing up and not having folks talk to me it was getting rather dreary. The core group had been working out together for nearly 20 years so I could hardly blame them. It just that there I was, still lonely, when standing around in a group of 30 women. Also I was irritating my shoulder rotator cuff and when I went to see an orthopedist he started sharpening up the surgery blades and I'm sooo very against extra holes in my body that I decided that maybe I should pursue another form of exercise instead. Plus, it was a class that meet at 6 pm, tough on family dinner when the boys were around and hard to show up for cuz other events in my life rolled through so I'd pay but not go and that seemed stupid.

But how stupid is it to sit here at my desk and not do anything at all?

2) I don't know my neighbors. I'm pretty sure they do not deserve my judgment. They are just people trying to get by in this world. I'm pretty sure I'm using this as a way to protect myself from - what? My own demons of negativity? I should get out more. I should practice humility. These people deserve mercy, God's love, Christ's reconciling presence. Who the hell am I to be tossing these stones?

Maybe its eating me - my own insecurities about if I'm good enough, if I'm ever going to be ordained, my own decisions that seem decent enough at the time but now, here are the consequences and maybe I was stupid or afraid or selfish or something. So I want to resist being where I am.

A couple of weeks ago I was informed that Covenant Network is downsizing which means: me. This wasn't news actually. I could see it coming from a long way off and I was frustrated that no one else could. And its not like I wanted to be with CovNet forever - its just that I have no idea about what comes next or when. I've recently had cause to encounter written and verbal affirmations of my call to ministry which make this unfulfilled ache within ever more intense. (I can only begin to imagine how this must feel to our brothers and sisters who face significant barriers to ordination)

Ah well.

God is good.
God does not abandon.
If this is where I am to be, then help me, O Lord, to see what needs to be done here
If this is not where I am to remain, O Lord, then help me to see where it is I should go

Rain Anyone?

Okay, so for 4 years I whined and complained about no real thunderstorms and not enough summer rains and for 4 years God didn't listen. However, God has decided to make up for it now! There have been only 2 days without significant rain during the month of June. I am beginning to have flashes of Noah :)

Anyway, I am doing pretty well in OK. I have been doing a lot of pulpit supply and my job is going well. That's about it from here.

If anyone wants to join Facebook, there is a SFTS Alum group. I have become kinda addicted to the Facebook phenomenon :)

Take care and have a great day!

Love, Jenn :)

random news

News #1:

From the UMC California/Nevada Conference website:

Mahoney, Kathy

Change Date: 7/1/2007

From: Kernville UMC
To: Windsor UMC

This is a significant congregation in the community - way to go Kathy!

(google view - campus on the left of the main road)

News #2

Sharon LaTour is serving as Commissioned Lay Pastor at Garberville Presbyterian Church. I was in the area camping (Richardson Grove) last weekend and went up to worship with her and the congregation. Sharon was great- the congregation is dedicated - the food spread afterwards is a full on lunch - the sanctuary is beautiful in its simplicity and use of redwood - and she has great musicians. I look forward to hearing how her ministry will grow and serve that community. Ginny Rose was also there and serving as lay reader. Ginny is living in the parish house in Scotia. (google view - church is to the north of the arrow)

News #3

Robert Hattle is back on the Northern Californian Coast - working at the hospital in Arcata for the summer. Ghost Ranch needed to gear up for its summer program and the nursing money is very good at Mad River Community Hospital. Robert stopped by at the Richardson Grove campsite on the way up from a great program on Process Theology at Claremont in LA. It was good to see him.

Got News? Time to post! camping? travels to exotic locations? picnics in the local park?

Anitra

Kai Emily

Just to let you know Heather and I have a healthy new niece in our family. She came this morning at 7:15 am and is 8 pounds 1 ounce. Mother and baby are doing great, especially since mother got an epidural the second she rolled into the hospital this morning at 3:00 am. My sister is aware that Kai means "and" in Greek, but keeps ignoring me when I say it and then she reminds me that it also means ocean in Hawaiian and Willow Tree in Navajo. With a 2 and a half year old and a brand new baby around, please pray that at some point my sister and brother-in-law get some rest.
It also looks like Roux, the dog, may not need to have surgery. We are taking her to have an Orthopedic consult this week, yes we are taking our dog to an orthopedic surgeon (yes I know, good lord).
Also the Red Sox are in town playing the Braves, we are going to two of the three games, just to let you know that makes this the best week ever.

Peace and light,
Alexis
aem-kmcg.blogspot.com

Doug Adams

Bobbie Dykema, a grad student at GTU, sent out an email today indicating that Professor Doug Adams is seriously ill and she is requesting prayers for his healing and strength.

Armstrong Houshold

We had a graduation in our house as Silas graduated from pre-school.

Here is receiving his certificate from the School's Superintendant.

It is also baseball season and the boys are both playing in the city league. They each had there first games this week and had a great time. Did you see Silas smile. He fell this spring on the back stairs and knocked his two front teath loose. The dentist had to pull them. He's pretty cute without them.

Megan and I are doing well. She is on vacation with her mom in Ireland and Scotland before we take our High School students to St. Louis, MO on our mission trip. We would ask for your prayers over the next month as our schedule is packed full. We pray everyone is doing well.

Another Ordination

I was able to attend the ordination service in Denver for Matt Gearke this past Sunday.

Matt will be serving as Associate Pastor (youth and children's) at Spirit Lake, Iowa.

He will be making the move and beginning ministry in July.

Let's all remember Matt in this time of transition.

Holy Ground

Friends -

Some of you may have heard in the news about the shooting in Moscow, ID that involved a Presbyterian Church two weeks ago. A gunman shot and killed his wife at home, shot at the police station and killed a police man, and then entered the church and killed the caretaker there and shot himself in the sanctuary. Needless to say it was a huge tragedy and shock in the small college town. That was my home church and the church that supported me on my seminary journey. I found out the morning of the shooting (Sunday) as I was preparing for worship in Wilbur which was quite a difficult time for me.

Well, last Sunday the congregation re-entered their worship space for the first time. One of my parishoners covered for me in Wilbur so that Lars and I could attend. It was very moving for me to share in the service with my church family and it meant a lot to them that Lars and I came. There was a lot of hope in the service as we sang songs and prayed litanies for healing. Halfway through the service they brought in the communion elements and water for the baptismal font. As the pastor poured the water into the font and we sang "Holy Ground" I choked back tears.

It was amazing to see the way the church as a whole reached out to this community in need. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance had been in to help work on the church so there was no sign of the violence that took place there. They had also visited with church members and community neighbors to talk about emotions surrounding the tragedy. There were cards and emails from all over the country expressing support for the congregation and their healing process.

My biggest realization from the experiance was that God never left the space. That while we were re-claiming, re-dedicating the space for worship, the truth was that it never stopped being a worship space. That even though tragedy and evil entered in - God was still present and the holiness of the space was still intact. It was a moving lesson on the presence of God in our lives in times of pain as well as in times of joy.

For those of you who may have seen the news and remembered it was my church thank you for your prayers. It was the prayers of people around the country that have helped this congregation to survive and will continue to help it thrive. Thanks be to God!

Nothing new really.

It's funny how much a dog can become just like its owner. We just found out this morning that our dog Roux has torn her Anterior Cruciate Ligament( ligament in the knee, also known as the ACL) and has arthritis in her knees. Apparently she is not as much as a mutt as we thought because she is predisposed to this injury as an almost pure breed Burmese Mountain Dog. For those who don't know every single member of my family has arthritis in our knees and wrists, we have all had at least one knee surgery, and my mother, sister, brother, and father have all torn their ACL's. So Roux is going to have surgery next week, and if you pray for dogs, pray for Roux. And if you know how much I love my dog, pray for my sanity during her surgery and recovery. Thanks.

Another Walk Across the Stage

Audrey Margaret Rasmussen graduated from Wilson High School in Portland Oregon last Friday night.

There is something about that silly song - Pomp and Circumstance - then when it cranks up and lines of young men and women start walking into the room - lines that include my daughters - well, I have this tendency to want to break out into deep sobbing. It comes from nowhere, I'm just fine, kinda bored, waiting for it all to begin and then... that music cranks up and the robed ones begin to appear and there it is....

I ran into Jill Holseth. She walked SFTS just this last month. She is still doing on-call chaplain work at Providence and is getting ready to take on the ords. Her daughter and second and last born also graduated last night.

Blessings from Taize

Hi folks! I've got just one month left in Europe - it's hard to believe it's almost time to come back to the U.S.A. I finished my masters thesis last week and am now waiting on comments from my advisor, after which I have a few weeks to kick back before I defend the thesis and hop a plane for home. I would covet your prayers for June 10 when I'll be preaching a sermon in Calvin's Auditoire (I hope not to get struck by lightning...)!

After finishing my thesis, I spent the past week with my dad at the Taize community in France. Let me tell you, the ritual of Taize worship three times a day, interspersed with simple living, Bible study, sharing with others and personal time for reflection, is not a bad way to spend a week. The photo here shows the brothers sitting inside the sanctuary. About 2,000 people were there this week (most of whom are young adults, teens to 30ish), and they can accommodate something between 6,000 and 10,000. Singing those Taize songs with hundreds of others is quite an experience - the music just washes over you. The existence there is rustic - think church camp for adults - but it's worth the trouble it takes to get all the way to France. Once we all have study leave (time and budget) built up, we should take a class trip...

Magna Cum Laude

We flew back to Washington DC on Saturday the 12th - we got in around 5 pm local time to Dulles Airport. We decided to get around as much as possible on the Metro - so our hotel was in Dun Leaving (the daily rate was at least below $200/night!) a block away from the local Metro stop but about 30 minutes from downtown DC. I love the metro. I think about Aimee whenever I ride the escalators (ride on the right, walk on the left).

On Sunday we got up, got ourselves organized and rode the orange line to the Metro stop, then switched over to the red line and continued north to the American University campus at Tenlytown. There is a shuttle from the metro stop to the campus and there were lots and lots of somewhat confused but very proud parents heading back from the first round of stage walking.

Meanwhile, another great gaggle of family dressed in their sunday best stood around outside the auditorium with young men and women dressed in blue gowns and hats. Looking around I could recognize the master's gowns and hoods plus the Phd hats. I couldn't help but remember how it was to walk - just a year ago...

We walked over to Dana's dorm where she was puttering around still packing up, talking to friends and generally hanging out. The room is the kind of room I lived in when I was in college. Concrete block walls, built in dressers and closets and two beds, two desks, two bookcases and a rug that has seen perhaps way more then should be contemplated. We talked, then she dressed and we walked out to find her friends, a suitable place to take photos and eventually, to go our all too rapidly approaching diverging ways but in this case - we to the bleachers and her to line up into the blue gowns. They marched in and if I hadn't been holding a video camera I would have broken out into deep deep sobbing the need for which surprised me. I remember dropping her off at the kindergarten door on the first day of school and then turning away and how I started sobbing then.

The graduation itself was classic: speakers, name calling and stage walking. No one went long and mercifully most of the speechifying was interesting. At the end, the class stands and walks back out. Dana passed in front of us, not knowing how close we were, and then away from me - out the doors into the world beyond. "Wait!" I wanted to cry out. "Where are you going? How can this happening so soon?" But without looking back she marched out with her head lifted high and a proud smile of accomplishment.


Dana has her first grown up job: Para-Legal in a Bethesda Estate law firm Now she needs a place to live but in the meantime.... she is spending a couple of weeks here before work starts. If anyone knows of a nice place to live in Bethesda, we're taking suggestions. We're also shopping for the professional clothes and apartment stuff and so on. And I'm stocking up on Kleenex boxes for the drive back from the Oakland Airport on May 30th. How did my Mom ever do this?

Fresh Start

In the Atlanta Diocese of the Episcopal Church there is this wonderful clergy resource called Fresh Start. At the beginning of any new ministry, whether or not you are a new rector, an old rector in a new church, an associate pastor, a chaplain, or any ordained clergy person who starts any new job anywhere in the Atlanta Diocese you are required to go to a clergy support group three times a month that meets at the diocese every Thursday for the first year of your ministry; and then after that you are required to go once a month for the next year. And then after that you can come whenever you feel the need for some connection. They also hold monthly support meetings for clergy in urban churches, in suburban churches, rural churches, chaplains, pastoral care clergy, older adult ministry clergy, and youth and family clergy. I don't think the Episcopal church does support any better than any other church, or that being forced to spend every Thursday out of touch and in a meeting is great, but can you imagine during your first call getting to sit around and talk to other people going through the same thing and getting advice from clergy who have already been through it? As well as getting to get away from the pressures of your job for a few hours on Thursday morning, plus they have a free breakfast. (who doesn't love free food). I only post this because apparently support like this can be done, clergy can be connected and according to the pastor's who go, it is a lifesaver during the first year of ministry. I just emailed the Bishop for the local Methodist District saying maybe this Fresh Start thing isn't such a bad idea for the Methodist's here in Atlanta. Now who should I contact to get in touch with a Presbyterian who can contact their own leaders? (note sarcasm)

Tulip Time & Elephant Ears

Yes, it's Tulip Time in Holland and that means Elephant Ears are back! Seems that many folks live for the deep-fried batter, slathered with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. This is as close as I ventured to said ears as folks were claiming space before the parade. Instead, I opted for a safe, rather ordinary hot dog and chips from the vendor next door.

Meantime, back at the ranch...Sammy is enjoying watching the birdies on the feeder we have mounted on the deck. Jim took 2 days to stain/seal the deck in, what felt like, gale force winds! We've also started working in our yard -- see all the green green grass in the yards across the little lake? We are coaxing our little yard into becoming pretty and green, too. The little oak tree that we brought with us from San Anselmo (Jim found it growing out of a crack in the cement at the SFTS Maintenance Shop on Ross Ave) has just this week shown signs of new life. We celebrated by planting a weeping willow, a Japanese maple and 2 Douglas spruces.

Happy Easter! St. Luke's Episcopal, Kalamazoo. Jim's first Sunday was Palm Sunday and we all gathered out in the courtyard, the daffy-dills, hyacinths, forsythias all in bloom. The next Sunday -- Easter -- we were bundled up, ringing bells and singing our Aaaa---lle-llllu-iiiias through chattering teeth! It's a lovely church -located right across the street from First Church, K'zoo. (No, I haven't been there...yet.) Jim is serving as the interim rector and seems to really enjoy that kind of work; there are 18 openings in the Diocese of Western Michigan.

Well, I reckon that's enough for now. When I saw this sign on the marquee at the Knickerbocker Theatre, downtown Holland, I couldn't help but think of you all...and us all! How strange it is to remember where we all were less than one year ago and to be writing you from this new space and place. What a dance it has been! Hoping this finds you all well and enjoying "bright sacred days and warm blessed nights."

The potential dangers of the BLOG

I had a sad reminder the other day of the potential harm a BLOG can do. I know we all know to be careful but it doesn't hurt to remember before we post that anyone, and I do mean ANYONE can read what we write. (Including your CPM) Recently an SFTS student has gotten into some hot water with his CPM because of his personal Blog. How who got ahold of what I do not know. I do know he goes up for candidacy this week and has been told that the issue may come up on the floor of the Presbytery. YIKES!
That said I do love having our BLOG to keep track of what's new with all of us and hope we will continue.
love and blessings to you all,
Cheryl

things that grow

Here is this starter pix for the 2007 Kitts-VonSeggern Vegi garden. On the right are about six plants of broccoli which sat around small and not doing much till the recent run of warm weather and then went straight to skinny stalks of blooming flowers skipping over the buds-we-get-to-eat stage. Also some califlower which shows signs of simular intentions. In the front are a bunch of carrots that I planted last July and which refused to show up till November/Jan last year. They are doing some root work but some are going straight for the flower/seed stage a well. In the middle are a range of tomato plants and basil. My little tomato starts that I showed in an earlier post had a great start from seed but then refused to do anything more once they put out their real leaves. If I put them out, I'm thinking I should also just put up a sign saying: Snail Snacks Here!


Speaking of snail snacks - I have been working on rehabing a strawberry patch that existed when I showed up. As an Oregonian not only am I picky about my coffee, beer and salmon, I'm also opinianated about my berries. May is not strawberry season. Yet here they are and once in a while I get a few before the snails snack on them. At any rate, they are pretty.






I also planted rasberries last year. Bill and the boys have expressed doubt about how high the canes were going to grow. They are no longer questioning me on this issue. We'll have a small harvest this year but next year should be quite plentiful.

I am hoping to put up some strawberry freezer jam from one of the local farmers markets this spring. I miss that fresh taste and have run out of the supply from two years ago.

Its odd living in this climate - things just move faster than one expects. Yesterday and the next few days will be pushing 90 degrees. Water districts all over the bay area - and I suspect over in the central valley too - are declaring this year as a drought year so I don't know how well my tomatoes will do before we're done.

One more picture of that which grows so fast:




Dana Marie Rasmussen graduates from American University this Sunday at 4 p.m. She's out hustling up an apartment and a job. She wants to stay in Washington D.C. I'll post photos next week sometime.

Anitra

New Jobs

Heather and I have both had two weeks to settle into our new jobs, not that two weeks mean we necessarily get to settle into anything. My church fired their church secretary two days before I started, so right now I'm a church secretary. I make copies and use my M.Div to use a hole punch and figure out whether or not to capitalize church in the bulletin. It's really hard. Also the Episcopal Church has just entered into full communion with the Methodist Church, so I have found my ordination loop hole. I can be ordained in the Episcopal Church and get to pester (I mean serve) in the Methodist Church. Heather's church is going well. She is running into all of that church stuff that you run into in a new job; politics, loyalties, and the crazy parishioners who if you let them could take up all of your time.
But the good news is that we are moving into our new house. We just painted all of the rooms, the previous owners had painted EVERY SINGLE ROOM a crazy, institutional yellow. The living room is red and for right now the rest is white. We are putting in an herb garden and we are planning our garden in the backyard. It was very inspirational to see Heather and Lars garden on its way, makes me want to go out back. We have to teach Roux to stay out of the mommies strawberries, she loves strawberries. If anyone knows anything about the growing zone we are in I would love the advice.

Aimee in action

Or maybe that should be "Aimee Inaction."

Hello, all, and greetings from behind my computer screen, which is where I spend most of my time these days. Our master's theses are due May 31, so I'm usually to be found sitting here in my room, typing away. Or - occasionally - checking in on the SFTS blog. Sorry I've not offered an update for a while. For those of you curious about my upcoming plans (ha! like I've got those), I finish the thesis by the end of May and then hang out here for several weeks until I do the defense June 26 or 27. Then, July 5, I'm comin' home!

For my part, I've been thinking of all of you and our sweet time together last year at this time. In fact, last week I had a series of dreams several nights in a row where we were graduating again, getting our robes, moving out of our apartments...just like it was yesterday! You are all in my heart, even from afar - and I miss you.



Just for fun, here are some photos from earlier this spring - before I was glued to my desk chair:

My sister and I are standing in front of the cathedral in Vienna, back at the beginning of March. She's doing a semester abroad in Austria, so we're both enjoying a European lifestyle this spring. In April, we met up in...


...London, where took this action shot of me getting on a slide at the Tate Modern museum. Remember the "hydrotube" enclosed water slides? (There was one out on McLoughlin Boulevard in the 80s, if you remember, Anitra - all the rage for kids' birthday parties until someone sued over an injury and they all shut down.) Anyway, some famous modern artists I'd never heard of installed these "sculptures" in the Tate - three twisty metal tube slides, just like the hydrotube, but without water. Very cool - though I'm not sure what makes it art, since I've seen the same thing in a smaller version at many a playground.

For those who are out of town

Visit SFGate for the details - A gas tank rolled over in the middle of the McArthur Maze and took out two connectors this morning.

"The elevated roadway that fell carried eastbound traffic from the Bay Bridge onto Interstates 580 and 980 and state Highway 24. It draped like a blanket over a roadway below, a connector from southbound I-80 to I-880 that also was severely damaged." (SF Gate - as the photo)

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/29/BAGVOPHQU46.DTL

Pictures from Wilbur

Hey everyone - We have been busy in our yard. A few of my parishoners came over and worked on roto-tilling what will be our food patch. Lars and I are really anticipating fresh grown crops. In the meantime here are some pictures of a flower patch, a snake (I was home alone and working outside but mustered enough courage to take a picture), and some indoor work with my first ever batch of sticky buns! Yum! - Heather

Good News from Hattle

Robert Hattle called from New Mexico last night to say that he has now passed all ordination exams. His CPM opened up a path for an oral exam on the final subject with them yesterday (he passed almost all the written exams) - and he passed.

Now he needs to wait until the Presbytery approves the process before he can be declared a certified candidate - which won't meet for a few more months yet but it is a good thing to have cleared all the ordination hurdles.

He is currently living at and serving as a chaplain at Ghost Ranch where he is developing a worship community that serves the community around the Ranch.

yet another way to avoid what I should be doing:

You scored as Moltmannian Eschatology. Jürgen Moltmann is one of the key eschatological thinkers of the 20th Century. Eschatology is not only about heaven and hell, but God's plan to make all things new. This should spur us on to political and social action in the present. Moltmannian Eschatology 80% Amillenialist 75% Preterist 70% Dispensationalist 50% Postmillenialist 15% Premillenialist 0% Left Behind 0% What's your eschatology? created with QuizFarm.com

Thanks to Aric Clark (aricclark.blogspot.com) for this delightful electronic bon-bon.

More to come the next time I'm motivated

Jean Boal Says Hi

We had lunch today together over in Graton at a fun little cafe. Jean is doing the Spiritual Direction program while working her way through the UCC certification process. Overall, things are going well but we both agree some form of ordained work would be nice in the not too distant future.

SFX by the HS

I've been wanting to share this with you all for several days now.

Before our Good Friday Tenebrae service, Mary and I carried the glass-topped chancel table down from its usual location under the cross next to the wall, down to the level of the pulpit and lectern. We got it all centered up and positioned so the readers could easily extinguish a candle after each reading. The candles were all arranged. Everything looked great... simple... unadorned... we were ready.

After that I decided that at the end of the service, as I slipped out the side door, I would turn on one of the small spotlights that shone down in the area now occupied by the chancel table. Little did I know....

At the service - in the dark -when I turned up that one light, I thought I heard a gasp from the congregation. I found out a bit later that the light reflected off that glass top and through the candelabra. As the Holy Spirit would have it, the reflected light shone up on the wall, just at the level of our draped cross. An image appeared there from that reflection. To the left of the cross, it looked like a dove flying. To the right, it looked like a hill with three crosses on it!

Amazing. Grace.

Today's Little Bit of Fun

Limericks Needed!

Hi, All,
Procastination lives! Sue's church is celebrating Holy Humor Sunday this week. Does anybody have one or two of Marv's limericks you can email to me to add to the fun? All that I have are in a box in Portland and I'm here on the coast and can't get to them. I'm still at rgoodin@earthlink.net.
Since graduation, I've been serving as ongoing pulpit supply at Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church, a tiny church on the Oregon Coast. On paper, it's quarter time or less, so it's not an ordainable position. I prepare and lead worship on Sunday and, most weeks, do pastoral calling one other day. It's a church of 18 members, mostly over age 70. Like most part time ministries, it takes as much time as I allow it to fill. I'm having a great time doing Older Adult Ministry and being a solo pastor. I'm learning a lot about the real world that seminary doesn't teach us. Two weeks ago I was at the bedside of one of my 95 year olds as she died. Monday the 16th I'll do her memorial service. Friday this week I'll do, along with Sue, her grandaughter's wedding.
Sue is serving as interim minister at another church on the coast. We have an apartment halfway between the two towns, which works out great. Her interim is winding down--they'll probably call somebody by Pentecost--so our time on the coast will come to an end. To bad--we both enjoy enjoy livng here and I'm having a great time at Lakeside, but it's way too far to commute from Portland.
The search for a call goes on. Lots of ups and downs. Many PIFs sent out, many emails and interviews. Three neutral pulpits so far. Close, but no cigar. Sue and I are concentrating on looking for a call for copastors right now. Keep us in your prayers.
Peace and Blessings,
Bob

my ability to avoid writing sermons is well developed for a non-ordained preacher...

You’re St. Justin Martyr! You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

Which one are you?

So not across the country just yet.

So we thought we were going across the country, it being a good idea at the time and all, but then we started to actually get phone calls and interviews about jobs; and then lo and behold we were both hired to do jobs that utilized our education. Heather is now the Director of family and children Services at this monster sized Episcopalian Church in Downtown Atlanta. One of these huge, gothic looking, old Southern moneyed churches. The church is so big they have their own homeless shelter, food bank, and Training and Counseling Center. She will run all their education programs, supervise some staff (the church does have 12 ordained people on staff, HELLO!), get to boss around her very own seminary interns (ha, ha, ha those suckers), and do other stuff which she hasn't told me yet. I was just hired as the Director of Communications for another huge Episcopalian church here in Atlanta. All big churches down here have their own newspaper, send out at least 5,000 newsletters A WEEK, have a tv show, a radio show, and all sorts of other things that I will coordinate and write, which I think is super funny. And we are moving into a house. I have pictures, but I can't find the camera to download them onto the computer. It has a yard in which Roux can run around. Ok I think that is all.

Alexis, Heather, and Roux

Easter Blessings

Thanks Anitra for the prompt to get us blogging again :) I am doing really well! I just finished my 2nd full week at Family and Children's and I am loving it. My official title is Family Support Specialist and basically and I am the social service side of the educational component that the child receives in Head Start. Before getting hired I was getting really depressed and down, but God does work in mysterious ways and has come through yet again. Resurrection experiences abound!

Anyway, that's about it for now. I hope you all are well. I miss you my friends!

Christ is Risen!

News from Wilbur

Hello friends -









Finally some news from Wilbur. I am sure you were all waiting with bated breath :) Everything is prepped and ready for Holy Week. Now all I have to do is lead the services. One of my parishoners that was on the PNC asked if I was planning on giving the Easter sermon from my DVD when they hired me. I took that as a sign, as she was really interested in the rest of the congregation hearing it, so that took some major pressure off. So on Sunday it will be "This is Easter" again.




Lars and I continue to enjoy Wilbur. We are eagerly awaiting Spring. I have lots of greenery coming up from my bulbs but no flowers yet. When they arrive I will post pictures. Lars and I are trying to grow a lawn and that is proving to be harder than it looks. We have sprouted some flamingos though (a fundraising event for the Miss Wilbur pagent.)

Lars is working as a cook most evenings. It is going ok. He is on the lookout for something better and will probably work at the pool this summer.

I am doing ok. Ministry is so much work. Note to self - don't try to write all the Holy Week services that week. Lars and I are headed to Kennewick to visit my folks after church on Sunday and are taking a few days off there which is good. On the whole I am happy, but also feeling a bit tired. I am looking forward to things slowing down and some vacation time in the summer.

Around the house, our new dog Milo keeps us all entertained. He is always on a lap or bugging a cat. We sure enjoy his bright spirit in the house as we await warmer weather.

Well, I hope that everyone is doing well. Easter blessings to you all!

A new member of the SFTS family

Hey everyone~
Here's some good news I just got ahold of. Rich, Becky and Austin Poole have a new addition to their family. I don't have the details except that his name is William. Maybe someone can bug Rich for the details and a picture.
Missing you all this Holy Week and hope you all are having a wonderful one.
Blessings
Cheryl

Hello - anyone out there?

Things have gone quiet lately but I imagine there is much going on in our lives. Has Alex & Heather moved yet? How goes the work with Family Support, Jen? Heather and James and Harold - this is your first holy week as pastors! Going well? Good enough? Watcha doing to celebrate the high holy days? Stephanie - send more pictures now that the snow has melted? Are the birds back on the pond? Cheryl, Bob - log in - how goes the search? Robert Hattle - finish signing up and tell us good news from Ghost Ranch! Aimee - send up more news - what is day to day life like in Switzerland?

And for everyone who is reading:

What is going on in your life that feels like Good Friday?

What is going on that feels like Easter?

2007 SFTS Alumni Reunion

We all qualify for this!

2007 Alumni Reunion 'Save the date'... the SFTS Alumni Reunion will be held April 19-21, 2007, for all graduates, with special recognition for the classes of 1957, 1982, and 1997 as they celebrate their 50th, 25th and 10th anniversaries. Click here for registration and program information:

http://www.sfts.edu/docs/Alumni_Brochure_2007.pdf

how to avoid writing a sermon

In case you want more:

• First Week
• Second Week - part 2
• Third Week
  

What an amazing thing!

I planted tomato and basil seeds last weekend. For five days they did whatever they did in secret and then on the sixth day they started popping up. In the morning, there was just three of them - their little stems bent over but starting to straighten up. By the end of the day almost all the tomatoes were up and out. Now they are tall enough that they follow the sun. I walk into the kitchen where I keep them in a greenhouse window thing that hangs out over the sink and I can see all of them leaning into the morning sunlight.

Dana is out visiting on her last spring break before graduating.... the last school holiday. I'm getting very sentimental on the thought that she'll get a real job with limited vacations and then I won't see her as much any more. Also becoming rather terrified about the idea of her moving into a place of her own and having to figure out for herself how to do the furniture, food, pots & pans, rent, utilities, etc. I cried hard when I dropped her off for the first day of kindergarten (its a mom thing) - now look at this! How did my mother ever let me go?

Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby, baby, it's a wild world
and I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Another graduation...and the Pope

It's hard to believe that just nine months after I received my last diploma, I've already gotten another one. The way the program works here, about two-thirds of the students graduate from the "graduate school" at the end of February and go home, leaving the 10 masters students to fend for themselves during the spring semester. So a couple of weeks ago, we had a graduation ceremony, and here's me receiving my diploma for the graduate school - the guy shaking my hand is the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Samuel Kobia. (I might mention that he didn't whisper anything in my ear when he shook my hand.)


Before we got our diplomas, though, the whole lot of us went to Rome for a visit with the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity - and to meet the Pope, sort of. In previous years, Bossey students have participated in a "general audience" with the Pope, meaning they sit in a room with 12,000 other screaming fans (literally - it was like a football game with people getting up and offering the Pope "cheers" from their various countries or organizations) and then get a group photo taken with him after. Sadly, this year the Bossey students only got to see the Popemaster General from afar - no group photo. Seen here, he's shaking the hand of Bossey's director, which is as close as we got. The blond head in front is one of our students from Germany. I didn't take this photo - I was a few rows farther back...but you get the idea.

Thanks, everyone, for posting all your news! It helps me feel a little closer to my SFTS family (can you believe it's been a year since we were starting to plan baccalaureate???).

Grist for the Mill

There have been a few interesting resources coming into my life lately that I'd like to share with you. The first is a book by William Willimon. Its titled simply, "Pastor". I'm only through the introduction so far and have already found it to be helpful, inspiring, and timely. I will recommend it to you all as "continuing education."

The second is one I found today in my search for resources to lead our process for discernment about becoming an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation (think More Light). This is a beginning place for looking at the scriptural basis of conversations around human sexuality, LGBT issues, and the church. I believe it will lead one to further helpful articles and links. It might be useful for those who need or want to talk openly about these issues with their congregations, Presbyteries, and CsOM. See it at
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-walter-wink

Finally, I thank you all who came to Kenwood on Feb. 18, who called or wrote, or who have simply prayed for me on that most wonderful day, or since then. You continue to bless and inspire me!

Howdy from Holland

Hey Everybody!

The little yellow house you see is our new home. If you look closely, you'll see the newest edition to our family, Ferdinand the snow blower. And if you look very very closely you can see a tiny little twig just to the left of the driveway. That's an oak tree that sprang up in our former abode on Ross Avenue way back when. Jim has nurtured that little tree for lo, these many years and by golly, we brought it with us to CA. I think the last leaf finally "let go" a few days ago!

Once the snow melts (if ever) we look forward to having the yard landscaped since there is really nothing there but dirt! Next door (just to your right) is an empty lot; behind us is a little lake which hosts scurrying geese and ducks and a few high-stepping herons. They've all gone away since the lake is now frozen.

Jim is still in CA but will be striking out to come this way after he finishes service at San Francisco Towers on March 18. I tell you, it has been a real eye-opener and challenge to face all this newness without him right here. Cell phone conversations with 3 hour time differences just aren't the same as having your sweetie right here! However, this experience has made me have a whole new appreciation for those who live alone. I also have a greater empathy for those military families whose loved ones are so far away, facing the attrocities of this seemingly never-ending war. At least I know that our geographical separation has a definite ending; these families demonstrate real courage -- and I keep them in my prayers daily!

I also check the blogpot daily -- just to see your sweet familiar faces in the great ordination photos from James' special day (thanks, Cheryl!) and to keep in touch. I'll try not to be such a lurker -- much love and every blessing!