Advice for Emily O.

Emily writes:

As many of you have experienced, we're facing the imminent growth of our family. While this is blessed, awesome news--and an exciting time!--I'm at a loss as to how to transition to Sunday mornings in a way that will not resemble the Apocalypse.

Here's our situation: we've got two boys, the oldest almost three and a half, the younger nineteen months. Both do generally very well in church, though Younger Son is active and sometimes rubs off on Older Brother. I bring CPH books for them to look at, a calculator for end-of-service desperation, and crackers during the sermon. We have no pew-climbers, though I usually have to have a hand on Younger Son 90% of the time, and the noise level from them during services is between the "Cute--we love to hear them!" range (from members) and "You took Younger out at the right time" (from my, I suspect, more honest husband). We sit alone. People have started to offer their help, but it's been outside of church where we've really seen it (people offering to come over and watch the boys so I can do whatever. And they really come and really mean it, praise God).

So here's where I'm stuck. I know I can't sit in the pew alone with three little ones. People who have offered help are gracious, but no one is in church every single Sunday like we are. So I don't know if I should approach a few people to ask if they'd be willing to sit with us and then rotate help (which I think would be difficult for the boys to adjust to) or... fly-by-night and wait until someone approaches me and offers to sit with us. I don't want to take advantage; I also don't want to fall into the sin of Pride and end up resenting/dreading sitting through the Divine Service. So... help! Any and all advice would be much appreciated!

Marriage

Bethann S. writes:

Happy Anniversary!

By the way I had to spell check anniversary. Anyway, the reason for posting this is because Nov. 21st is our anniversary. And this year we decided to make it low key. Which was nice. I made him a nice breakfast and he made me dinner. We watched our wedding DVD & first dance. Wow! What two years can do to your figure! That again is not the point. 

There are days since and before Rachel was born that being in a marriage has been hard. You think that we should still be in that blissful state of the Honeymoon...but it didn't last long...first NO call....then the long wait in the mother-in-law's basement.....then moving....getting used to being in rural town.....then pregnancy in the hottest summer on record.....then a newborn....so needless to say marriage takes hard work. And like our Pastor said in our wedding sermon...marriage is not always happy. 

That is true and sometimes transitions in life can make us act like little children kicking and screaming but our spouses help support, and love us, even if we don't recognize it. And today as we watched our wedding DVD right there on the title screen...a quote that was printed on our wedding bulletin....a quote that I forgot...."There is no more lovely, friendly, & charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage." said by Martin Luther. 

So why then do we feel the need to have more when God blessed and instituted marriage for us?

Caring For the Barren Woman

I had the privilege to hear our Kristi and Katie Schuermann speak this week in Lincoln on Caring for the Barren Woman. There is so little discussion on barrenness and its affects on our sisters (and brothers) in the church. We are so quick to shy away from talking about issues of reproduction. I suppose we think it's just too personal of a topic and it is personal, but it's also a cross that our friends and loved ones carry with so much grief and such little support. Thank you to Kristi and Katie for being willing to speak out about this and to share their heartache.

They'll be presenting again tomorrow in Foster and Monday (11/7) in Omaha, details here. I'm so glad I went, please go hear them!

If you're not able to get there you can listen HERE to Katie interviewed on Issues, Etc with her husband. And you can purchase one of Katie's books, He Remembers the Barren, which I'm currently reading, HERE.

Recipe from Jenny

Jenny writes:

Thursdays are our busy days. We have Cub Scouts with Joseph right after school until just about 5. Lukas has his trumpet lesson on the north side of Omaha at 6 which means, to get through traffic, he and I leave right from the scout meeting. So Jon takes the other two home for supper. Needless to say, Thursday has become my crock pot night. Thought I’d share a simple but yummy recipe for the crock pot.

Hamburger Casserole

4 potatoes, peeled and sliced

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 onions, sliced

1 can peas, drained ( or frozen)

2 stalks celery, diced

2 lb. hamburger, browned

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can water

Place potatoes in bottom of crock pot, top with carrots and other veggies. Place ground beef on top. Combine soup and water and pour over ground beef. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Do you have any favorites to share that get you through busy days?

October 31st. What does your family do on this day? Celebrate the Reformation? Dress up and go "Trick-or-Treat"ing? Both?

I'll admit it, I really like Halloween. I like the decorations (not the gory ones), the costumes, the candy. I grew up dressing up (I loved coming up with a costume idea.) and going door to door getting candy. The Baptist church I grew up in eventually decided to have carnivals on that evening as an alternative to this, but kids still got to dress up. We called it "Stomp the Devil Night" until someone decided this "gave too much attention to the Devil", then we called it "Praise the Lord Night". Whatever they called it, it still seemed like "Halloween" to me, I dressed up, I got candy but somewhere in the mix I learned to feel a little guilty for liking Halloween, "the Devil's night".

But just as my mom never gave up drinking a glass of wine every once in a while (gasp!) I never gave up Halloween.

I found this program on Issues Etc. on Halloween to be interesting. Listen HERE.

After my Baptist days I learned about the Reformation and the other significance of October 31st. I'm glad the church remembers this day and of course I intend to teach my children about Luther and the Reformation. I'll spend this week talking about Martin Luther, about church and singing hymns about the Word and certainly "A Mighty Fortress is our God". I'll also make sure they now that Sunday (Reformation Sunday) is a special day.

I didn't want this to be a long post. I just wondered what some of you do around this day and what your thoughts on Halloween are. Please share!

Prayer Request from BethAnn S.

BethAnn S. is asking for prayers.

"I went to see my midwife today and I have a minor medical issue...pray that the medicine works so I don't have to have any procedures. Thanks. God's love and my smiles always."

I'll provide an update when I can.

Pastor Appreciation Month

I know you ladies out there love your pastors so I wanted to make sure you knew that October is Pastor Appreciation Month. If your husband is like mine he'll poo-poo this and may even throw the letter and poster about this (from Synod) that comes in the mail away when (or if) he gets it. Last year I managed to secretly intercept these and had our church secretary put something in the newsletter about it.

We all know very well that our pastor husbands do a lot for their congregation. I think our husbands need to know that what they do doesn't go unnoticed and is, hopefully, appreciated.

Here is a list I found on Synod's website of ways your congregation can show this appreciation. You may want to have it added to next Sunday's bulletin.

Simple acts that feed a shepherd…

1. Pray for your pastor.

Ask God to shower your pastor with an abundance of love, hope, and joy, as he pursues the activities of ministry for you and your family.

2. Identify a special committee to “care for pastor”.

This is a group of people in your congregation with the gift for caring. Their work is completely separate from the elders, church council, or other governing board of the congregation. They represent, serve, and advocate for the needs of the pastor, and lead the rest of the congregation in the dynamics of caring for him and his family.

3. Express appreciation, spoken and written.

A spoken compliment is always welcome. A written one can be read over and over again. Tell pastor’s wife something nice about him, she’ll appreciate it and he will hear about it later. For the same reason, compliment him to his children.

4. Celebrate with a special meal

Host an annual celebration at which your pastor and his family are the honored guests.

5. Respect his time.

When possible, give advance notice about meetings, confirmation parties, invitation to rehearsal dinners, and other events to which he will be invited.

6. Live in peace.

Appreciation is more than cards and gifts, it’s an attitude. Pastors sometimes face a great deal of criticism, both to their face, and behind their back. Speak well of your pastor when you hear him criticized.

7. Encourage his personal interests.

Find out what your pastor likes. Is he interested in baseball? How about music? Does he golf? He will feel appreciated when you discover and support the interests of his wife as well.

8. Lovingly insist on “time off”.

Your pastor will need to take time for renewal and rest, but may feel as though there is too much work to get done. Help him know that he not only has permission to get appropriate rest and relaxation, but that it will benefit his ministry and provide a good model for the members.

9. Support a strategy for professional connections.

Your pastor desires to be the best he can be in serving you, and will need to remain current with continuing education. Encourage him to meet regularly with other pastors. Your financial and emotional support in this regard is vital.

10. Encourage time with his loved ones.

Ask if he has scheduled a “date night” and “family night”? Offer ideas about babysitting, if that would help.

11. Respect the dinner hour.

Your pastor will feel obligated to answer the phone when it rings, so discover when he and his family typically sit down for dinner, and plan to contact him at a different time.

12. Show special attention to his wife, but treat his children the same way you treat other children.