Three is a Magic Number

May you experience vast, expansive, infinite, indestructible love. May you discover that this love is as wide as the sky and as small as the cracks in our human hearts. And may you know, deep in your soul, that love wins. (Adapted, Rob Bell) Picture by Patt's fireplace after the Celebration of Remembrance. This World is not conclusion, A Species stands beyond— Invisible, as Music— But positive, as Sound— It beckons, and it baffles— Philosophy, don’t know— And through a Riddle, at the last— Sagacity, must go— to guess it, puzzles scholars To gain it, Men have borne Contempt of Generations and Crucifixion, shown— Faith slips—and laughs, and rallies— Blushes, if any see— Plucks at a twig of Evidence— And asks a Vane, the way— Much Gesture, from the pulpit— Strong Hallelujahs roll— Narcotics cannot still the tooth that nibbles at the soul—  Emily Dickenson

Thanks to auntie Kate for the cookie making! Hugs and kisses. Christmas Tree. Samuel's holiday concert. At a Christmas shop and tree farm, with sleigh.  Jody took us.

Having finished my first semester at UTS, I am getting asked, "How is seminary going?"  The short answer... fabulous.  I have to admit, the transition was a bit rough at first.  New schedules, new ways of thinking, new ways of writing.  It took me forever to complete every assignment, and I missed my old work place.  United is a very strange place.  People take every issue, every corner of their lives, seriously.  Talk about living intentionally.  The level of passion was a bit overwhelming.  When you walk into the cafe, nearly every table has a theological, ecclesiological, or political discussion occurring. And Bibles are opened in every study corner.   Yes, it took awhile to adjust. But after about a month, I was adjusted; Paul was adjusted; and the kids were adjusted.  Assignments started to become easier.  I started to use words like "context," "social location," "exegete," "deconstruction," and "hermeneutical circle"

Faith had her first birthday party with friends today. But before we get to her, first a story about about Emilee. Emilee was invited to her best friend's party.  The two parties just happened to fall on the same day.  Faith decided it was best for Emilee to go to her friend's party.  So Paul took Emilee/Samuel, and I did Faith's party here.  Last night, we still had not picked up a gift for Emilee's friend, so on my way home from work, I called Emilee and told her I was stopping for a gift.  I asked, "What does 'Jane' like to play with?"  She said, "Stuffed animals and me."  Super cute! Faith had a garden party.  Very ironic since I was driving kids home in three inches of snow.  We had a tea party using the tea set Grandma Cookie gave her.  Instead of tea, sugar, and cream, we had hot chocolate, marshmellows, and cinn sticks.  She loved it and the little girls were so cute pretending to be prim and proper.  The cups say Faith, Hope, and

When my kids were toddlers, I spent a lot of time wishing the time would go faster.  Looking back, those years were hard.  I was juggling many schedules, and while I loved my kids, the twos, threes, and fours were not my favorite years. Now, during the last two years, I have been spending a lot of time wishing time would slow down.  I want to keep my kids these ages forever.  I find them so interesting and fun.  They love being with us, but are beyond needing us to take care of basic needs.  I went with Samuel to a middle school field trip this fall.  It was just 5 months ago that I worked at this same middle school, so you would think I would know what middle school kids are like.  Yet, seeing Samuel among them made me so ... confused.  Where was my little boy?  Samuel was so great on the trip--he stuck by me and even when I asked him if he wanted to hang out with some friends, he said, "But I invited you to come so we could be together."  I wish I could keep him small--

5th Grade, 3rd Grade, 1st Grade

Samuel went to Treehouse Camp.  We have fewer pictures since we didn't go with him.  Camping is taking up a huge part of his summer. -Two boyscout camps.  (one coming up this weekend) -Treehouse Camp at Northen Pines. -Family Camp with grandma and grandpa at Koronis over labor day.

Not sure if many will be interested in this. I am mostly writing it for myself. Feel free to ignore and just look at the cute pictures of the kids. It's no secret that I am a person who likes change in my life. Besides my employment at Stout, I change jobs every 2 to 4 years. Even when going to school, I only spent 2 years at each college. On our 10 year old house, we have had plenty of remodels. Other things have been harder to change, at least for the better. My eating habits, since having kids, are not good. And since my metobolism has slowed (thank-you 30s), the poor eating has really done a job on my health. Last summer I made a commitment to excercise and failed. I hate to fail! So, this summer I decided to just see what happens. No big commitment, but just some small changes. Do you ever feel like there are times in your life when you are really receptive to change? Of course, I have many changes ahead, so maybe it is just my mind's way of preparing me. Here are

Went on a weekday summer journey today.  Going to buy organic milk (more on that later), we ended up in Osceola at Cascade Falls.  Reminded me of being a child myself.  I have lots of memories of playing in shallow streams with rocks, probably at various state parks.  We will definately go back up there with the kids.  They had a ton of fun!  Some older bikers showed up and watched our kids play for about a half hour.  Poor quality pics again because I only had the cell phone.

Paul, Faith, Emilee, and I just finished Teddy Bear camp at Koronis.  It was a great week.  Great kids--they slept, and ate, and followed the rules.  Great staff--best college staff I've worked with.  I have to say that Paul and I make a pretty great ministry team.  I do curriculum, crafts, worship, and moving us from place to place.  He does games, swimming, energy, and linking everything to Jesus.  Laundry is calling!

Live Wins by Rob Bell - Easy and fun to read with Paul who has had the same thoughts as Bell. Check. Schools Cannot Do It Alone by Jamie Vollmer - Easy read and great pick me up.  Check. The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch - Harder, long chapters, need to know how to read research reviews and history texts.  Check. Food Rules by Michael Pollan - Don't want to read, but feel convicted to.  Will read at cabin this week.  I hope it gives me enough motivation to change.  Otherwise, I will just feel guilty about not changing how we eat.

Our family mini-vacation was to Eau Claire this year. Great trip!     -The Met ropolis Resort with waterpark and indoor amusement area with huge arcade, mini bowling, mini golf, go carts, maze, etc… Great place for kids who are 10, 8, and 6.      -Visited to UWEC to show the kids my old stomping grounds, including my old house. A beautiful new student center is being constructed.   -Visited the rivers (Eau Claire and Chippewa) at Phoenix Park, which is absolutely beautiful.    -Saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat by Eau Claire Children’s Theater at the State. Really well done—Samuel loved it and was dancing around in his seat.    -Played at Carson Park and visited Chippewa Valley Museum and Paul Bunyon Logging Camp. Super exhibits for kids, much like the MN Historical Society. The exhibit on family farming was wonderful, but bit alarming. I said to Paul, “I never imagined the life style I grew up in would be considered historical.”    -Stopped to show them

Pony league ended this weekend for Paul (coach) and Samuel.  Our team started out as a scrappy little group, and developed into some great ball players.  They still are squirley as ever, but have learned how to field, hit, and pitch with confidence.  The season record was 4-5-3.  Ties are allowed.  With the double elimination tourney, we played Friday night and won.  Then, we ended up playing the same team three times in a row.  Four of the 5 losses in the record above were against this team.  We won Sat., lost Sat., and won Sun.   All the kids, on all the teams, did exceptional this year.  We love baseball around here, and I am proud of my two guys.  I am also glad when the season is over.

Just have to share this because I am so proud of my parents... My parents are supposedly retired.  For the last several years, they have chaperoned teenagers on mission trips.  Every year, they seem to go some place different.  I hope I am going on mission trips with 16-year-olds when I am in my mid-60s.  I truly aspire to be that crazy and giving.  For those of you who can't pick them out, my dad is farthest to the right and my mom is the person farthest to the left who is kneeling.

Faith, Em, and I walked in a parade today for a teacher who is running for a political office.  We got home and Faith said, "There was a lady who looked at me and put her thumbs down.  She kept doing it."  I told Faith that I saw it, and I was glad that she (Faith) just smiled and waved at the lady.  She said, " I didn't feel like throwing her candy much.  But she was a very old lady, so I threw her some anyway."

My great-aunt Auntie (real name Viola) died this week.  She was a teacher in a one room schoolhouse.  She was 99.5 years old.  As you can tell, she gave me a very important gift--she taught me how to learn.  Below are portions of the letter I sent to her sons. ---- I am saddened that I did not share the contents of this letter with Auntie personally. When in elementary, school was very hard for me. Even after much reflecting, I have never really been able to pinpoint what my issues were. I was slow to read and slow to learn math. I did get some services in school, but additionally my parents had me see Auntie every Saturday morning for personal tutoring. I remember her house and my time there well—the cookies, the kitchen table covered in “learning materials,” the handkerchiefs, the math grids, and decodable books. I remember her patience when I became frustrated with reading hard words. I remember her catching me when I tried to add or subtract using my fingers under the table. Au

These are pictures my sister posted to her blog, but I had to steal them.  Trying to get a picture of all of them is totally impossible. 

Some years I try to be intentional about Lent and Holy week.  I work at being clay in God's hands.  Sometimes this "intention-ality" is productive.  But I have to admit, most times, I am just left empty after putting effort into Lent.  I don't know why, but it just happens.  Probably has something to do with my approach. This year, I had NO plan to be intentional about the whole thing.  Things are busy at work and with other activities.  But I was surprised this year by God.  Event 1: I attended just one lenten Wed. service.  The speaker was a Stillwater father who lost his son in a mountain climbing accident.  Jon, the son, was a youth director and was suppose to attend Luther Seminary in St. Paul the next fall.  The dad could not make sense of why God would not have intervened in his son's death.  And as he went through some of his son's college papers, he found a quote by Jon, "I will live the questioning path."  This is not a new idea to me,

Here is a neat one of Samuel building with Legos.  Can you tell the scene he built?  Hint:  Francis Scott Key

We are really hoping the weather would warm up.  Can you tell?  Last weekend the girls' soccer games were played in 2 inches of snow.  I wish I had a picture of that, but I forgot the camera.

My mom's store does an annual style show.  We have never been there before, but this year, Faith and Emilee were asked to model dresses that my mom made from fabric in her store.  Mom and Grandma made the dresses (I helped just a bit).  There are some cute pictures of them!