This week James has an intensive week from 8-12 monday thru friday. For most of that time my butt will be in the Library workin on the third chapter of five for the thesis that has to be complete by the end of March. On Monday at 1 we go to the tax guy to get our taxes figured out for last year. I've been trying to get together all our numbers for that fun adventure. Tuesday night James has Area Men's. Wednesday afternoon we start Beacon Kidz. Thursday and Friday are still open, but in there somewhere James has to write his sermon and come up with a year long sermon plan for his all day retreat on Saturday.
and then.....
Monday morning we get to leave for a Cabin on a Hill in Southern Illinois. We are using our Christmas money to rent a Log Cabin for two nights. It will be a nice get-a-way. Yesterday was the first day since I dont't know when that we stayed home and did almost nothing. We're both looking foward to it. But for right now... i've got to get the parsonage and supper ready for the youth group to come over tonight. ...maybe i'll take a nap first.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
You Know You're a Preacher's Wife When...
Here's a fun list I found posted on another Preacher's Wife blog. It's really quite accrate.
You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…
1. ...you are rarely referred to by your given name. You are most often “The Pastor’s Wife” or a variation on that theme (”Pastor ______’s Wife,” “Married to the Pastor,” etc.). You may even be called “The First Lady” Yeah... I noticed that I sort of lost my own identity when we began this gig as Preacher and Preacher's Wife... it took some getting used to. This mostly happens when I get introduced to people.
2. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when… people act weird around you. (this is her story... I was once in a conversation with a group of adults when one woman said, “Yeah, I haven’t been to church in a while.” As soon as she said it, she looked at me with an “I’ve been caught” look and then she said, “Oops…busted.” For the record, I don’t take attendance. I am not a babysitter. And my general feeling is that adults can and should make their own decision about if and when they attend church. Heck, it takes all my energy to make sure I make it to church let alone the rest of the population.) I agree with her conclusion to the matter. I've not been at it long enough for too many people to act wierd around me... but they do act different around both of us. I don't get why people think we're supposed to be soooo much holier than they are.
3. "You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you relate best to anyone NOT in your church. This is largely due to #2, however it’s also because you don’t know how to deal with the I - have - no - idea - how - much - to - share - with - you - about - my - personal - life - because - it - will - most - likely - involve - issues - about - my - husband - leaving - his - underwear - around - (or something similar) - and - my - husband - is - your - pastor - and - you - probably - don’t - want - to - hear - about - his - underwear." "ding ding ding..." this one takes the cake for me. I couldn't have said it better than this. It's hard to keep my mouth shut when he's driving me up the wall.
4. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you wish you had a dime for every time someone claims your husband said something that he never said. If you did, you would be a very, very rich woman. And if you had another dime for every time what he supposedly said was ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS and UTTERLY STUPID, you’d double your money.
5. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…”rich” (monetarily speaking) is not in your vocabulary. Never has been. Never will.
6. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you’re either extremely uncomfortable or extremely gleeful (depending on your personality) when you’re in a conversation with someone who uses lots of four-letter words and then asks you the question, “So, what does your husband do?” Gotta love it when this happens.
7. You know you're a pastor's wife when... you're sitting around the dinner table with a room full of capable people and your husband is asked to pray because he's a "professional". Come on people... there's no such thing as a professional prayer.
Isn't that a fun list. I changed a few words but my added comments are in blue.
Have a great week everybody.
You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…
1. ...you are rarely referred to by your given name. You are most often “The Pastor’s Wife” or a variation on that theme (”Pastor ______’s Wife,” “Married to the Pastor,” etc.). You may even be called “The First Lady” Yeah... I noticed that I sort of lost my own identity when we began this gig as Preacher and Preacher's Wife... it took some getting used to. This mostly happens when I get introduced to people.
2. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when… people act weird around you. (this is her story... I was once in a conversation with a group of adults when one woman said, “Yeah, I haven’t been to church in a while.” As soon as she said it, she looked at me with an “I’ve been caught” look and then she said, “Oops…busted.” For the record, I don’t take attendance. I am not a babysitter. And my general feeling is that adults can and should make their own decision about if and when they attend church. Heck, it takes all my energy to make sure I make it to church let alone the rest of the population.) I agree with her conclusion to the matter. I've not been at it long enough for too many people to act wierd around me... but they do act different around both of us. I don't get why people think we're supposed to be soooo much holier than they are.
3. "You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you relate best to anyone NOT in your church. This is largely due to #2, however it’s also because you don’t know how to deal with the I - have - no - idea - how - much - to - share - with - you - about - my - personal - life - because - it - will - most - likely - involve - issues - about - my - husband - leaving - his - underwear - around - (or something similar) - and - my - husband - is - your - pastor - and - you - probably - don’t - want - to - hear - about - his - underwear." "ding ding ding..." this one takes the cake for me. I couldn't have said it better than this. It's hard to keep my mouth shut when he's driving me up the wall.
4. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you wish you had a dime for every time someone claims your husband said something that he never said. If you did, you would be a very, very rich woman. And if you had another dime for every time what he supposedly said was ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS and UTTERLY STUPID, you’d double your money.
5. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…”rich” (monetarily speaking) is not in your vocabulary. Never has been. Never will.
6. You know you’re a pastor’s wife when…you’re either extremely uncomfortable or extremely gleeful (depending on your personality) when you’re in a conversation with someone who uses lots of four-letter words and then asks you the question, “So, what does your husband do?” Gotta love it when this happens.
7. You know you're a pastor's wife when... you're sitting around the dinner table with a room full of capable people and your husband is asked to pray because he's a "professional". Come on people... there's no such thing as a professional prayer.
Isn't that a fun list. I changed a few words but my added comments are in blue.
Have a great week everybody.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A Wedding
What a week we have had. In case you don't know my sister got married last night. We had a great time. Everything went well even though we were dealing with the most unprofessional wedding coordinators at the venue. Anyway. The fun of planning for this wedding has been happening for a while now, but the rubber hit the road on Saturday. During the crazy weather we went to Distinctive Affairs (the venue from @#!*) to scope out the scenery, made our lists, and hit the stores to find the rest of the decor. It seems like we bought every roll of black satin ribbon and turquoise ribbon in Bloomington. Here's a great picture of Saturday nights party favor party. 
On Sunday we had James family and my family over for dinner. We fit 16 people in our home for lunch. It was a lot of fun.
On Sunday we had James family and my family over for dinner. We fit 16 people in our home for lunch. It was a lot of fun. Monday and Tuesday were filled with more errands, lots of decorating, more biscotti making, manicures, more decorating, a rehearsal and the Bachelorette Party. Mom and Dad even practiced their dance moves.
The Bachelorette Party was a blast. We left from the rehearsal about 7:00 and made our way to flat top where we ordered Joanna their signature drink... the Horny Monkey... we thought it was fitting (It had a bananna coming out of it) Then we went to Katie Bass' house for a personal shower. I was sceptical about having it the night before the wedding, but it was a good excuse to relax and hang out.
Wednesday was a lot of fun. We got up and were at the place by 9am to get started on our hair. We also finished the decorating and the flowers. By 3 we were doing pictures. By 5 we were waiting around. By 7 we were on the move. It was a lot of fun. I don't have pictures now, but I'll post some when we get them. We packed the place. There had to be 200 people at this wedding. We had dancing, a coffee bar, hot finger foods, a cheesecake bar, and party poppers, noise makers, and balloons to drop from the ceiling at midnight. We had enough to serve an army. I know have frozen cheesecake, cheese puffs, biscotti galore. My parents are even going to start a coffee bar at church with all the leftovers. We got home about and in bed at 3 this morning. For some reason I woke up at 7:30. Go figure. Oh well, Dave and Joanna should now be on a plane headed for Texas. Everything and everyone were beautiful. We had a great time. We have a great family.
Friday, December 26, 2008
A Christmas Letter 08
Dear Friends,
Wow, can it really be Christmas already. This will be our second Christmas together as husband and wife and our first with a Christmas letter. God has blessed us richly in the last couple of years. We’ve been in Wapella for over a year now. Time flies by so fast. We’ve had a relatively busy year. Here are a few of the highlights.
In April we took James cousin Marranda in to live with us. This was a scary as well as an exciting time for us. Neither of us had ever been in charge of a 3 yr old around the clock before. But we all adjusted well and have had a wonderful time playing and learning together. We finally conquered the potty training adventure a couple weeks before Marranda started pre-school. What a victory that was. Marranda returned home December 19th. It’s hard to believe she was with us for 8 months. We have been greatly blessed by her time with us and we miss her lots.
Things at the church have gone well this year. Our numbers are struggling a little, but we’ve heard that can happen at the beginning of a new ministry. Our eyes have been opened in a number of ways to the joys, sorrows, and burdens of ministry. James is doing well in the pulpit. We are both teaching Sunday school and leading the youth on Sunday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. I lead a women’s Bible study during the week. The people here are very loving and supportive. God sure has blessed us with a wonderful place to learn about and do ministry.
In addition to working full time at the church James is finishing up his college class work this semester. He will do his internship here at the church under the supervision of an area minister and graduate college in May. Lord willing he’ll start seminary in the fall. I have been working on my thesis. I procrastinated long enough. I have three months to finish it and then find a job. I may be continuing my education in the fall. That is yet to be determined.
This past summer we had a lot of fun. For our first anniversary we went to New York City. It was our first time to visit and we had a great time. I think we covered all of Manhattan on foot. We needed a vacation to recover from our vacation, so we went to the North American Christian Convention with Marranda a couple weeks later. Then we came home and had a break. James helped to lead the jr high week of fishing camp at Little Galilee in August and we had VBS at church. Next year he will be able to Dean that same week of camp.
It has been one crazy busy year. We’re looking forward to what God has in store for us next year. This Christmas season has been a blast. We’ve seen all kinds of family and had a Christmas Open House that we consider a success. We are now home and getting ready for my sisters wedding on New Years Eve. James also has an intensive week class the first week of January. We are looking forward to a short vacation in a log cabin near Carbondale the second week in January.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
James and Beth
Wow, can it really be Christmas already. This will be our second Christmas together as husband and wife and our first with a Christmas letter. God has blessed us richly in the last couple of years. We’ve been in Wapella for over a year now. Time flies by so fast. We’ve had a relatively busy year. Here are a few of the highlights.
In April we took James cousin Marranda in to live with us. This was a scary as well as an exciting time for us. Neither of us had ever been in charge of a 3 yr old around the clock before. But we all adjusted well and have had a wonderful time playing and learning together. We finally conquered the potty training adventure a couple weeks before Marranda started pre-school. What a victory that was. Marranda returned home December 19th. It’s hard to believe she was with us for 8 months. We have been greatly blessed by her time with us and we miss her lots.
Things at the church have gone well this year. Our numbers are struggling a little, but we’ve heard that can happen at the beginning of a new ministry. Our eyes have been opened in a number of ways to the joys, sorrows, and burdens of ministry. James is doing well in the pulpit. We are both teaching Sunday school and leading the youth on Sunday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. I lead a women’s Bible study during the week. The people here are very loving and supportive. God sure has blessed us with a wonderful place to learn about and do ministry.
In addition to working full time at the church James is finishing up his college class work this semester. He will do his internship here at the church under the supervision of an area minister and graduate college in May. Lord willing he’ll start seminary in the fall. I have been working on my thesis. I procrastinated long enough. I have three months to finish it and then find a job. I may be continuing my education in the fall. That is yet to be determined.
This past summer we had a lot of fun. For our first anniversary we went to New York City. It was our first time to visit and we had a great time. I think we covered all of Manhattan on foot. We needed a vacation to recover from our vacation, so we went to the North American Christian Convention with Marranda a couple weeks later. Then we came home and had a break. James helped to lead the jr high week of fishing camp at Little Galilee in August and we had VBS at church. Next year he will be able to Dean that same week of camp.
It has been one crazy busy year. We’re looking forward to what God has in store for us next year. This Christmas season has been a blast. We’ve seen all kinds of family and had a Christmas Open House that we consider a success. We are now home and getting ready for my sisters wedding on New Years Eve. James also has an intensive week class the first week of January. We are looking forward to a short vacation in a log cabin near Carbondale the second week in January.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
James and Beth
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
A Christmas Open House
Hey Everybody,
We are having an open house for all our family and friends and want to invite you. We want to say thankyou for all of your love and support. I know this time of year is hectic and crazy, and you may not be able to make it, but we want you to know we are thinking of you. Please join us if you are able and bring your families.
When: December 21st ~~~ 2-5pm
Where: The McMillion Parsonage (For those of you in Lincoln, we’re about 25min from LCC.)
Have a Very Merry Christmas,
~ James and Beth
We are having an open house for all our family and friends and want to invite you. We want to say thankyou for all of your love and support. I know this time of year is hectic and crazy, and you may not be able to make it, but we want you to know we are thinking of you. Please join us if you are able and bring your families.
When: December 21st ~~~ 2-5pm
Where: The McMillion Parsonage (For those of you in Lincoln, we’re about 25min from LCC.)
Have a Very Merry Christmas,
~ James and Beth
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