Ash Wednesday

The beginning of the service is very serious, with an extended confession and absolution with the imposition of ashes to remind us that we are sinners in need of a Savior. The Lessons, hymns and then the sermon on the Gospel - as the catechism says - fasting or other outward preparations are fine disciplines of personal piety. Just as long as we don't use them to Toot our own horns

WHAT?

at this point the three year old blurts out, "Daddy said TOOT! Daddy said 'we shouldn't toot' in church!"

(in case the term is unfamiliar to you...in our house Toot means ...pass gas.)

That was the end of that. All of us lost it. Giggling from our family from the oldest down to the youngest. (I TRIED not to giggle really I did!) AND we were sitting in the front. We are a bad pastor's family. Next week, it is back to the back for us.

Freedom of Choice Act

A message I received today:

Dear Lauri,

As you may have heard, Congress has not yet introduced the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). That's because the pro-abortion forces have heard your voice. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told the Wall Street Journal:

We're going to be smart and strategic about our policy agenda to bring people together to make progress for women's health. The Freedom of Choice Act is very important . . . but we have a long list of things to get done that I think can address problems immediately that women are facing, that are really immediate concerns.

In other words, because of the more than 650,000 people like you who have stood up to Fight FOCA, pro-abortion forces are focusing on another tactic for now -- FOCA-by-Stealth.

They want to try to pass pieces of FOCA under your nose. The first target is your pocketbook.

The top priority for Planned Parenthood and their pro-abortion allies is to repeal the laws that prohibit federal funding of abortion. Often called pro-life "riders," the pro-abortion forces want House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to eliminate them and start using our tax dollars to pay for abortion-on-demand . . . nationwide.

Thankfully, a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress are standing up to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood (who used to work for Speaker Pelosi). A letter to Speaker Pelosi written by Republican Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio and Democrat Congressman Heath Schuler of North Carolina is being circulated for signatures by Members of Congress.

Please ask your member of Congress to sign the Jordan/Schuler letter.

Just click this link.

The deadline is this Friday, February 13.

Yours for Life,

Charmaine

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
AUL Action The Legislative Arm of Americans United for Life
FightFOCA.com
FightFOCA@FightFOCA.com

P.S. -- A PDF of the letter is available at the AUL Action blog. Please ask your member of Congress to sign it before Friday!

Another milestone

23 weeks pregnant.

Why is that a milestone you ask? My sister-in-law had three preemies. Her youngest was born at 23 weeks. While most babies born that prematurely either die or are encumbered with innumerable disabilities, our dear niece is perfect. A perfect miracle...and dear daughter #3's best friend cousin.

This is an old picture, but the love remains:


Thank you God.

Too Many Babies?

And Baby Makes How Many? is an article from the New York Times my pregnant friend, Polly sent me this morning.


I am actually pleasantly surprised that the NYT showed both sides of this issue! Another friend sent a story last week about how having a big family is poor stewardship of the world's resources.(She does not ageree) I about flipped! I actually posted a comment to this British article ("Two Children should be the Limit, says Green Guru") because I couldn't believe anyone would think that. The author obviously did not know anyone with lots of children. The only thing we buy new is toilet paper :) haha.



I honestly have to say, that most everyone I have come in contact with over the years has been supportive, or at least not mean or rude. Maybe I don't notice if they are being mean. Many have asked if I run a daycare when the kids pile out of the 15 passenger van, and I laugh and tell them they are all mine. My husband and I get a real kick out of the looks on people's faces when they discover none are adopted, they are not his, hers and our but are all ours.

One time, in the ob office, pregnant with #9, I had a conversation with a very young mom pregnant with #2. I never, ever bring up how many kids I have there because most moms are proud of having their first or second/last and I think it would be kind of mean of me to "top" them. Anyway, this mom asked if it was my first then second..and then how many do you have??? When I told her, the first words she gasped out of her mouth were, "How do you afford them????" "Nursing and cloth diapers," I replied. The look on her face was shock and horror at such things. I thought it was funny, but sad. I LOVE nursing. I LOVE cuddling my babies. Diaper changing time is...fun. Ok maybe I am crazy. I love when they are done with diapers, but that time of singing and nursery rhymes and silliness is sweet.


I am totally digressing here, you know the rhyme:

One Two Buckle My Shoe
Three, four shut the door
Five, six pick up sticks
Seven Eight lay them straight
Nine, ten a big fat hen!


When child #7 was wee..maybe a year and a half, she would get into trouble because she would kick my pregnant belly when I changed her didy on the floor of the bathroom. So one day as we were saying that rhyme together, she blurts out, as I wait for her to finish the rhyme: A BIG FAT BELLY! LOL That is the way we said it for years until #9 came along and changed it to A BIG FAT CHEESE! (He LOVES cheese) I love those moments.

I am not saying I TRIED for a big family because I did not. I cried more than once at the thought of "doing it all over again," because it is work. But I tell you this much, while we are "poor" in the world's eyes, God is allowing us to grow the church the fun way without special programs and fund drives. God gives big birthday parties without invitations...the kids will always have each other through the many storms life will bring...someone who will understand why they are the way they are and love them anyway. And holy cow..weddings are going to be SO MUCH FUN! LOL

I could go on and on about this subject, really I could. But the bottom line for me/us is what God said:

Psalm 127: children are the gift of the Lord, “as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man,” and “happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”

Kids are gifts. Gifts given by a generous God.


Ps-that quilt design was taken from a book by Anna Grossnickle Hines called, of course, One Two Buckle My Shoe.

Grace Race

Th epistle lesson for today was the one where Paul speaks of us running the race of faith.
I Corinthians 9:24-10:5. The verse that caught me of guard though was this one:

24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

In a race only ONE wins the prize. In the "Grace Race" as Pastor spoke of today..the race to salvation, only One finished. That one was Christ. We all may run..trying to keep up, preparing and struggling, but we do not win. We cannot keep up with the Champion. We try, but no matter how hard the race is won already! Why did I not notice that before? And then, when Christ has won the prize of salvation, He gives it to us! We did not win! We do not deserve it! We deserve nothing at all because we have failed to be successful! And yet, The Winner shares His prize with all of us anyway.

My Favorite Cinnamon Roll Recipe EVER

This recipe was given to me by my dear friend, Julee in Texas. It has never failed me. In fact, the last time I made these, the little girl who ate them told me they tasted better than the ones at the Mall! If you want to make someone's day, bake these rolls and share them!


NO KNEAD CINNAMON ROLLS

YIELD: 24 ROLLS

Put the following into the blender and blend well:
2 Pkg. Yeast (or 4 1/2t.)
1 t. Salt
½ c. Sugar
1 Egg
1/3 c. Oil
2 c. Warm Water

Into a large bowl, place:
5 c. Flour (You can use a combination of white, wheat and/or baby cereal)

Pour blender mixture into flour and mix well with a wooden spoon.

Cover and let rise til double. (About 45 minutes- 1 hour)

Place dough on a flour covered surface and work with half of the dough at a time.

Spread or roll dough to about ½" thick and 12"x8" rectangle

In a bowl, mix: ½ c. Butter or margarine
½ c. Sugar
1T. Cinnamon
Spread half of cinnamon mixture over dough

Roll up dough and cut into 12 1" pieces and place into greased pan or on baking stone.

Repeat with other half of dough and cinnamon sugar mixture.
(Pans of rolls may be refrigerated overnight and popped into oven in the morning. Unbaked rolls may also be frozen. Before baking, let thaw for about an hour.)

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

When cool, glaze with Vanilla glaze:

In a blender, mix: 2 ½ T milk
1/4 t vanilla
1 T butter or margerine
1 ½ c. powdered sugar

Options: sprinkle raisins or nuts over the cinnamon mixture before rolling dough.

If you want a .wpd document that includes pictures, just ask and I'll email it to you (and won't post the comment so your email addy stays private!)

Too long...

You know it has been a very long time since we've had roast beef when the 9 year old sees me put it in the pan and he says,

"Hey Mom! What's that? Chocolate bread???"

Anticipation

Three year old dear son at the altar rail last week:

"Mommy, I can't wait til I grow up."

me: "Why"

"Cause then, I can drink The Blood"

Three year old son this week with a very sad voice:

"Mommy, I did not grow up yet. When will I grow up?"

I am THE MOM

Maybe you have seen this video. I know I have seen it more than once, but it always helps me to know that the day I had TODAY is not unlike the day every Mom had today and yesterday and all the yesterdays before.





Thanks, Mom, for being a broken record for me...and loving me despite myself.

(Holy cow! I edited the HTML for this video to embed at the correct size and it worked!!!!)

THE Gifts

Go and watch this video: The Promise

Even with the problems in our church body..I still cling to the teachings of the One True Christian and Apostolic Church as presented in the video produced by Vox Visuals/Good Shepherd Lutheran School.

The Gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation were purchased at great price for us...not with gold or silver, but with His Holy, Precious Blood on the Cross and given to us at the Font and at His Table! Like a child is beckoned to COME and receive Christmas presents on Christmas morning and they do not hesitate..they just receive the blessings given by their family and friends...so you and I are beckoned by Our Heavenly Father to COME! Taste and See that the Lord is Good! Receive the Grace He gives and enjoy the blessings of living under the freedom of the Gospel knowing you receive these gifts, not because you earned them or deserve them, but because you have a Heavenly Father who cherishes you and loves you despite yourself!

I love being reminded of these things..especially when I am surrounded by, and even overwhelmed by the daily cares of this life and want to scream.