Easter Week.

Easter was nice for my family.  We, of course, went to worship service in the morning. Then we did have some college students for the afternoon. I have to confess, I did not serve Easter dinner on fine china, we do not have any (it seems in practical with moving often). And we did use Pirate birthday napkins for Easter dinner. I have a feeling that someone somewhere will read that and cringe. Oh well! It's what we had.

Easter is about new life with Christ, His love for us and His victory over sin and death. I was looking for some nice Easter cards to send to family and I had a tough time finding what I wanted. I kept finding Easter cards that made it seem like Easter was really about celebrating the start of spring. Even the 'religious' ones seemed to be just about spring. I just want to caution the card makers though, Song of Solomon is really about a passionate love between a man and his bride. Yes, out of context, it can sound spring like in places but there is no way I am sending card with a verse on it that I know is about lovers to anyone but my own husband. Something card makers, and many others, do not seem to understand: context is king. It is not a good idea to just pick out one verse for something without looking at the verses around it to see what is really about. Now spring is a great season to be reminded of new life. I am just saying if you are going to call a Easter card 'religious' it should have a verse that points to the religious significance, focus on Christ and not just a season.

Mini rant over. For now at least.

On the topic of new life, I want to share something new that fiend is doing. My friend, Elizabeth Ahlman, her husband Chris and their two sons are moving to Germany tomorrow. I am honestly very mixed about this, only because I will greatly miss having Elizabeth a mile away. She has been a wonderfully supportive and encouraging friend and I have been greatly blessed through her.  I am very glad to live in a day in age when it easy to still keep in contact with friends through facebook, emails and skype, so we will still be friends of course.  I am thrilled for her family's new chapter to go to Germany and to serve people in Germany and a few other countries near there. Reverend Doctor Chris Ahlman has the gift to play the organ and people in that part of the world seem to be appreciative of classical sacred music. What an great way to get to do ministry!  They all leave for Germany tomorrow. I know that as they travel with their two son  (ages about 5 years and a 2 months old) that prayers are always appreciated.  If you what to know more or support them, you are of course welcome to: http://www.lcms.org/ahlman

<My daughter enjoying a play date this their oldest son. Good times.

Me. Not Perfect but thankful.

Hi.
I enjoy sharing my thoughts and opinions, who doesn't. So, Blogging might be a fun way to do it. Like keeping a public journal... I will just try to be more careful what I say!

I am married to a man who is called to be a Lutheran Pastor. (I will share more of what that really means later.) I am sorry to disappoint many but I cannot play the piano, sing solos (at least not in public), lead choirs or read music. Here's another shocker, I do not hear my husband's sermon's before any else. I do not help him develop them or tweak, or proof them. He is the one who went to Seminary and does all the work to get them together.  I think he does a nice job with them. But I might be a bit biased.

Here's another shocker for many, my husband does not 'control' me. He does not 'make me' do certain activities in a congregation. Sure, he does ask me if I might help with something. I can tell him 'no', and he it okay with it. He has been supportive when I want to try various jobs, in or outside the congregation, including taking college courses. So I am married to a rather nice guy.

I am not perfect. I can only think of one person in all of history that is. (Hint: Jesus.)

I do not know how much of this image that a pastor's wife needs to be 'perfect', meaning always friendly and happy with knowing the right way or best way to do everything is self imposed or imposed by others. Why is there an expectation for me to play the piano/keyboard and sing solos?

There many situations that I am expected to handle with perfect gracefulness, and I sometimes feel fail in those times. This blog might be a good place to talk about those as they come along....  There are some thank you notes that I have not written for an event I attended in January. (That didn't take me long to think of something, did it?)

I am also a mom. Not a perfect one, but I do the best that I can what God has given me. As a mom it would be almost impossible not to bring up how fun and adorable my child is. So for those that might read this blog, they might have to endure cute little stories about how great (not perfect, she is not Jesus) my child is.

As a not so perfect person, I am thankful for husband, and would feel thankful for him no matter what his calling/job title might be. I am thankful for my child. And I am thankful for my not so musical talents.  (I do enjoy music.)  Most of all, I am thankful the love a God who is perfect, that loves me even though I am not. And the grace that is given through Christ. I am thankful that Jesus lived a perfect life that I cannot.  This time of year I am reminded of all that he suffered for my short comings. And most of all that Jesus conquered it all on Easter (that celebration is coming next week!), not just for me but for all the not so perfect people of this world.