Monthly Archives: November 2011

Trusting in God

Posted on by
1

So I just have to laugh. Recently a colleague and I were having a conversation about my future and starting a family etc. I hadnt thought much about it but had to laugh at the things that occurred after that conversation. First, a dear friend tells me about two single friends who are pursuing their calls to motherhood….one through IVF and one through the adoption process. Then Im watching one of my favorite shows, “How I Met Your Mother,” and the whole episode is about Barney and Ted adopting together…being “bro” dads. Too funny…just made me laugh and shake my head as I thought about the conversation I had just recently had. Then another friend refreshes her blog as her, her husband, and their two boys begin their journey of adoption. On this friend’s blog, she posted the following quote about adoption. “Adoption is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage, determination, and complete dependence on a God who called you by name and sent you on a mission.” These words have been on my heart as I discern what the future may hold for me! God works in mysterious ways and I sometimes wonder if these events are God trying to tell me something. I dont know what that answer is but I am simply….Trusting in God….

ABCs of Thankfulness

Posted on by
1

My friend Lindy posted her ABCs of thankfulness. I love the list she came up with and thought I would post my ABCs of thankfulness as well. Enjoy!

A-Andrea; My sister! I dont know what I would do without her. Love her to pieces!

B-Babies! I am such a baby lover and hope to have a family someday myself. I am so thankful when I get to have some baby time and cuddle with a little baby!

C-Camp of the Cross Ministries!!!

D-Dilworth Lutheran Church! I am so blessed to serve the homes of DLC! And of course, the Diaconal Ministry Community of the ELCA!

E-ELCA; I am proud to be a Diaconal Minister in the ELCA!

F-Family and Friends! You all have blessed my life in more ways than I could ever imagine!

G-GLEE! I know, I know, but I just cant get enough of this show!

H-HGTV! Sometimes it is just so good to sit and chill out! I am so addicted to watching HGTV! 🙂
(and watching my Huskers)

I-Insurance; So thankful to have good and reliable health insurance!

J-Jelly especially Grandma’s homemade chokecherry jelly.

K-Kindle! I love my Kindle and have read more books in the last year than in the last two years combined!

L-Laughter! Laughter is such good medicine!

M-Moorhead; the place I call home!

N-NWMN Synod of the ELCA! Thanks for all you do for us rostered leaders! Such a blessing!

O-Oldsmobile Alero! My car! Glad that it is reliable and gets me where I need too!

P-Polly; Uncle T’s friend. It honestly feels like she has been part of our family forever!

Q-Quilts; especially homemade quilts by my Grandma!

R-Road trips…especially road trips with good friends!

S-Sketcher tennis shoes. So comfortable…love them!

T-Time; time with family, time with friend, etc!

U-University of Mary…so thankful for my education there!

V-Vibrant Faith Ministries

W-Wartburg Theological Seminary! (And my writing group at the local library)

X-Xtra fun…sorry I couldnt think of anything for X!

Y-Young and the Restless; one of my guilty pleasures

Z-Zumba fitness…love it and I never thought that I would!

What are your ABCs of thankfulness?

Be Still….

Posted on by
1

Be Still……..and know that I am God!

Be Still…….and know that I am God!

Be Still…..and know that I am God!

I just returned from our NWMN Jr. High Youth Gathering. It was phenomenal. The speakers Trey Everett and Dan Wolpert from Micah (MN Institute of Contemplation and Healing) were the keynote speakers. The theme for this year was “Be” and our theme verse was from Romans 12 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” It was so great. They talked about how we are so busy…busy going to sports practice or music or whatever and we dont take the time to just “be”; be who God created us to be! They taught us prayer practices. It was pretty unbelievable to see 350 Jr. High kids sitting quietly, not a movement in site. We need to be more like that and to become more aware of God in our lives. What I realized is that the adult leaders needed this as much as the kids! We are connected all the time…whether it be by cell phone, or tv, or Facebook or whatever. I find myself repeating these words “Be Still and know that I am God!” Dan and Trey taught us to “Be Present” and to “Be Aware” of God! So cool! Hopefully we all learned from this experience and will continue to listen for God’s voice!

Be Still…..and Know that I am God!

Thanksgiving Friday Five

Posted on by
2

1. Where will you be on Thanksgiving Day? With whom? Im not sure where Ill be yet for Thanksgiving. The last several years I have been invited to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner which has been so fun. She invited me again this year. But I might go home and spend it with my Dad, sister, grandparents, aunt, uncle etc but I have to come home Saturday because I preach Sunday morning the 27th. No matter where I am, I will be spending it with people I love!

2. Are there any family traditions or memories associated with Thanksgiving? In our family, we always play the card game “Rook” after our holiday meals. Also candied sweet potatoes is something that we always have at our dinner.

3. What will be on your Thanksgiving menu? Lets see…..if Im at Grandmas…the menu will include turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, a relish tray featuring some of her canned pickles, olives, etc, probably a green bean casserole, some salads, and about three-four different desserts; Pumpkin Pie, some chocolate dessert, an apple pie!
4. Are you trying anything new this Thanksgiving? Nope cant say that I am

5. What is the weather forecast for this day (next Thursday)? The weather channel website says that it is suppose to have a high of 41 and a low of 18.

Bonus: Prayer, poem, song, or whatever you choose to exemplify your image of Thanksgiving (giving thanks). For me, I always thank of the Holiday specials like the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade.

Motherly Love

Posted on by
Reply

Have you ever wanted something so badly? I know we all yearn and want things that we can’t have, but then there are things that I think we all yearn for that I wonder if we are meant to have. Tonight as I am typing this, I am watching the show “Private Practice.” On the show, Dr. Montgomery is trying everything she can to have a child of her own. And to be honest, I find myself in her shoes….in my own ways I am Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery. I yearn so much to be a mother and feel totally called to motherhood. And I wonder if that is what is meant for my life. Last week as I watched “Grey’s Anatomy,” I also found myself also feeling like Dr. Meredith Grey. The one thing all these characters have in common is that they are trying to be mothers and that is something I yearn so deeply for. Im not sure why…perhaps its because I have an amazing mother who is the most amazing women despite living with a mental illness all her life. Perhaps its because I love babies so much or because I seem to have that motherly touch. Just a few days ago I was talking to a colleague and her grandkids and they were telling me how the baby doesnt like strangers but instead of crying the baby smiled at me!

A couple of weeks ago my colleague and I had this conversation about if I ever think about being a mom and the possibilities of that happening in today’s society even if I dont find my Mr. Right. Since that day, I have found myself really reflecting on that. And then a friend told me about two single friends who have ventured into motherhood through IVF or through adoption. And then another friend who is married and has two children already told their families news that they are planning to adopt from Bulgaria. Two of my dearest friends from seminary also have adopted. And I find myself asking, Why are people telling me these stories now? Is God trying to tell me something? Is the Holy Spirit working in my life to show me that I can be a mom someday if that is what I so desire? All I know is that whatever God is calling me too….God will walk with me on that journey!

11/11/11 Friday Five

Posted on by
1

Songbird at RevGalBlogPals writes, “It’s 11/11/11, a date you can read forwards and backwards, American-style and European-style. It’s Veteran’s Day/Armistice Day, which seems to be celebrated more someplace than others. The kids here are out of school and some communities have ceremonies of remembrance scheduled. My denomination (UCC) is finishing up a drive called Mission 1, which ran from 11.1.11 to 11.11.11. It’s a popular date for getting married, or so I’m told, just like other memorable dates (for instance 09/08/07). But mostly, it’s a big day for Nigel Tufnel, in celebration of “maximum elevenness. For today’s Friday Five, share five ways you or someone you know likes to turn it up to 11. How have you gone beyond the usual expected limits? Feel free to interpret this as eccentrically as possible.”

1. Books!!! I love to read and really had a hard time trying to find time to read. Then last Christmas I got a Kindle and I love it. I have read more books in the last year than I have in the last two-three years combined!

2. Babies! Now I dont mean this in a bad day. I just love babies and love when I get my baby fix. The more babies I get to hold—-the better—I would say most of this is due to my dream of being a mom someday!

3. Reality Tv! Ok I know that it is ridiculous but for some reason I love watching Reality TV—The Amazing Race, Big Brother, American Idol, the Sing-off, etc!

4. Nativity Scenes! I started a nativity scene collection several years ago and my family and friends have helped add to that collection. I love each of them for their uniqueness and beauty and the stories behind them but Im starting to think that it might be getting a little out of hand! Nope that could never happen!

5. Music/concerts- I dont go that often but when my fave musicians come to town, I love going to see them live. I love all sorts of music and love finding new music too!

Seriously?

Posted on by
Reply

Something has really been on my mind since earlier today. I think part of the reason it’s on my mind is because it truly fits in with my last post and the conversation my colleague and I had. I also think it has been on my mind because of some fb posts I saw this evening. As many of you have probably heard or seen on their show, “19 and Counting,” the Duggars are expecting child #20. Now I am the first to acknowledge and thank God for God’s blessings, but I wonder about their actions. I understand that they feel like they will birth as many children as God will bless them with. But this is where my mind goes balastic and starts asking some pretty serious questions.  I know many friends who have struggled to have children. I also have many friends who have struggled but finally had children. And then as a single woman, I still feel called to “motherhood.” In each of these cases, I wonder if God would put these dreams so deeply on our hearts if they weren’t meant to be. Don’t we deserve these blessings as much as the next person? As a single woman, dont I have a right to be blessed with a child if that is what I am feeling called too? (I truly do feel called to “motherhood” and so how do I wait, do I take action, or what?—Im not planning on making any moves NOW but just thinking about what it might mean for my life later on). The last pregnancy the Duggars had resulted in some health issues for the mother Michelle. And their daughter was born premature. So I find myself asking, “Is it safe for her to give birth?” Or is it best to count their blessings and just live their life; why chance it?

Just my thoughts tonight. I hope they arent too disjointed..It’s late and late night blogging and a busy day dont always make a lot of sense! 🙂 Goodnight my friends!

November Tidbits

Posted on by
Reply

Listening to the wind howl outside my window. Wondering if winter is truly on its way and is on its way to stay! Hard to believe that Halloween is over and that Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it! I love this time of year. Advent and Christmas are my favorite times of the year. There is just something so cool about waiting for the birth of the Christ child. What a gift the Christ child is!

Friends Friday Five

Posted on by
1

For today’s Friday Five please tell us 5 things you like to do with friends. Are they local – do you hit a favorite coffee shop or nail salon? What about the friends who come in from out of town? Do you have a restaurant or museum you like to show off?

1. I love just spending time with my friends. Often times we might go out to the mall and look around or go to a movie.

2. When friends come from out of town, we might go to a movie, to our fave Christian bookstore, or for a bike ride. I especially love showing them the area around the Red River…so pretty!

3. I love that once a month a group of friends from seminary get together at a local restaurant and just talk, catch up on each others lives, etc. We always pick kid-friendly places so they can bring their children along! 🙂 We usually go a local restaurant that I normally wouldnt pick so I love that.

4. I love going to a craft or art show with my friends too!

5. Really it doesnt matter what we are doing as long as we just spend time together!

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Posted on by
Reply

Being a 33 year old single woman is no easy feat! I find myself constantly asking myself, and most importantly, God when it will happen for me! I wonder if I will ever get that opportunity. I understand that it may never happen and that is hard to accept and understand. I find myself asking, “Would God put this so deeply on my heart if it wasnt meant to be?” I also find myself evaluating my singleness at my job. Sometimes (not at all the time but it does happen) wonder if parents have a hard time seeing me as an authority because I havent been in their shoes before etc! And that can be frustrating! In addition, I find myself reflecting on what I can do to make it happen FASTER! I know this isnt realistic but I do sometimes catch myself thinking along those lines. I love being around babies. I truly am happy for my friends when they get engaged and start their own families. But honestly, there is a part of me who is sad too! Which leads me to a conversation I had the other day with a colleague. Now the conversation we had was about adoption. This person asked me, “If I have ever thought about adopting and being a single mom?” They proceeded to say they didnt suggest it but they also said that it is not out of the realm of possibilities. It lead to a great conversation. And to be honest, I have vaguely thought about this topic but I have thought about it. I have listed some of the pros and some of the cons! It would be no easy thing but it is something that I have been thinking more about since that conversation. It is not something I will act on in the near future………but it is something to continue to pray about etc! And after all these thoughts, I find myself simply trying to continue to cling to God’s grace and know that God is in control!