Marriage By God's Design

We all know that in our day, marriage is so misunderstood, undermined, despised and taken for granted. You look around and if you're like me, you start to feel like defending it is a "loosing battle". This morning I listened to an interview with Rev. Robert Baker on Marriage and I encourage all of you to listen as well.

Find it HERE.

And while I'm on the subject, HERE is another presentation on Marriage and Family that I enjoyed listening to some time ago from the late Rev. Robert Preus who, along with his wife Donna, "were asked to give a presentation to the seminarians and their wives on the subject of marriage and family - especially as it relates to life in the parish." I couldn't remember if I've posted it here before, if so, sorry, listen again!

Pastor's Wife - Perk #18

  

Kristi L. writes:

Funeral flowers.  That’s right, I said funeral flowers.

Several floral arrangements were delivered to our church this past week.  Two individuals, whose relatives belong to our church, died.  The outpouring of flowers enabled our church to be the recipient of some of those pretty blooms. One bouquet made the trip from Colorado to Nebraska.  It didn’t look quite right in a bouquet anymore – kinda wilty in places. Rather than throw the entire thing out, I got two nice floral arrangements.

See?  There are perks to being a pastor’s wife.  Yes, I know - they’re funeral flowers.  They’re beautiful in color, smell lovely, and I love them.  Now you’re wishing you had some, aren’t you?

New To GNW?

For any of you who are just beginning to read Golden and Noble Works (GNW) WELCOME! The purpose of this blog is to get to know each other better through encouragement in our vocations as pastor's wives and mothers and as children of God. If you would like to write up and "Introduction" of yourself and family please do and email it to me. My email address can be found on the side menu.

If you would like to make a post here, you can send it to me in an email as well. Anything goes with the posts. If you have a recipe to share, a prayer request, an issue you're struggling with (please try to keep these as "general" as you can), a great book review, an upcoming event, a super craft you want to brag about, whatever, feel free to pass it along here.

I wanted to point out a few things that I have added here that may be useful.

First, if you'll look to the right there is now a "Follow by Email" option. If you enter your email address there you will receive an email each time a new post is made on the blog. That way you don't have to come to the site every so often "just to see" if there's anything new.

Also, there are several new links to some resources that you may like. If you have anything you would like to add to our list (books, CDs, blogs, resource sites) please let me know! If you have a personal blog you would like to share here send me the address and I will add it to the "Our Blogs" list.

If there is anything else you would like to see here I am always open to suggestions!



*And I know you're wondering why there's a picture of a pineapple up there. Clicking HERE should hopefully explain that. It won't however explain why there's Pina Colada inside it...but the reason for that should be obvious.

EVE 2012

Kristi writes:

Teaching. Singing. Eating. Laughing.  There was lots of that happening at EVE 2012.  I can say with 100% certainty that it was a joy to spend time with these lovely ladies.  We were fed spiritually by Pastor’s presentation.  We confessed the Lutheran faith in word and song.

The camaraderie is unmatched by any other gathering.  I think that’s what makes this group so special to me.  I know that this group of women understands the isolation, the pressure, the compassion, and the unique joys that a pastor’s wife encounters day after day after day.  So thank you, ladies, for making my highlight reel for 2012.  I hope to see you again next year.  (Well, hopefully before that.)

Kristi

He is the Vine - From BethAnn

BethAnn writes:

I was doing some gardening and landscaping today in my backyard. And we have some wild vines growing from the field located to the east. I guess I have never paid that much attention to the vine and how it grows. The vine is first and very strong! The branches are more flexible and not as strong. So when I was untangling this wild vine off my east fence the bible verse:

 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 

All of the sudden a light bulb went off, which made that above verse make sense. Then another thing came to mind which made me think of how much God loves me is that the vine grows first, reaches out to the surroundings, then the branches grow. Just like Jesus first, he reaches to us, then we grow in HIS word. WOW!

Rest

Kristi writes:

Is it the weekend yet?  After a busy week of cooking, cleaning, teaching, playing, and more, I’m tired.  I’ve replied to emails; I’ve “liked” pictures and posts on social networks; I’ve answered phone calls.  It’s time to slow down and relax.  When I rest, my mind and body aren’t actively doing anything.  I’m recharging and refreshing.  I’m resting.

For some of us, it’s been the daily grind of keeping up with the pile of Mt. Washmore, keeping up with hubby’s schedule, shuttling the children from one activity to the next, and keeping up with the other work requirements.  It gets tiring.  I get tired simply listing all of the things that women do.

When having difficulties trying to conceive a child, I met with my doctor several times to discuss what could be done.  For a while, there were some daily measurements, some things to mark on the calendar, and some anxious waiting.  It was stressful.  Were the numbers reading correctly?  Was the test administered properly?  There was anxious anticipation while waiting for test results.  Undesirable answers were met with dejected emotions.  When all morally acceptable possibilities had been exhausted, it was time to be done.  I was tired of all the directions and requirements.  I was worn out.  It was time to rest.

The Word of God provides the best rest.  I need nothing more.  In the Holy Word, I hear of my sin and my need for a Savior.  In Holy Baptism, I am made God’s child.  In the Holy Absolution, I am pardoned of all sin.  The body and blood of Christ are given to me for my cleansing.  Nothing is required on my part to make these things come true.  I am simply the recipient.

So get thee hence to church.  There you’ll be recharged and refreshed by the Lord.

That’s true rest.

Easter Eggs the Natural Way Conclusion - from Kathy

Well, finally, the last of the Easter Egg Saga.   The colors took all morning and into the afternoon to set on the eggs.  Some took better than others.  I even had some that the color washed off.  Notice below...these were all in the grape juice, so the outside was sticky...so I washed it...notice the 2 on the right.  That is what happened.  Will have to find another way to make purple.  It didn't even look purple, but the before washing color was pretty.

These are a sampling of the eggs we made.  The orange and yellow turned out lovely.  (probably my favorites).  The blue wasn't too bad..but not very dark...and sort of gray looking.  The pink is nice.  The green, well, you heard that story in the previous post.   So, will we do this next year?  Yes.  But I will do some more researching to come up with some better options.   All in all, they will taste good no matter what color the outside is, right??