The Congregation - Scriptural and Lutheran?

First, a bit of background.....

I had the delightful honor of hosting the Lutheran Carnival (Spring Training Edition) in March, and I would encourage anybody to sign up to do it. The one point of sadness that I had was that I had to turn someone down (from what I hear, I was lucky that it was only one). She was a person who had just left her ELCA congregation because her pastor had hurt her feelings. She was hurt and angry. These feelings were clearly real, but the focus of her writing was about how she this justified her leaving “the organized church” to be on her own.

I wish I could say that we had a good conversation about it. I goofed, big time. Because of two hours of sleep and two sick kids, and myself being under the profoundly foggy influence of Benadryl, I got the names of the posters mixed up and called her by the wrong name. I am sure that did not go over well. I apologized, but I know that would’ve ticked me off, too. I’ve thought of this woman many times since then and prayed for her, though she probably doesn’t think too well of me and probably doesn’t believe that I’ve given her another moment’s thought. I told her that her writing was not in the spirit of the Lutheran Confessions. The Carnival blog did say that posts needed to be in line with the Book of Concord. I also understand that a good portion of Lutherans out there do not understand the word "confessional" and what that means theologically, and a good portion of LCMS Lutherans have never heard of the Book of Concord, so I expect that to be the case in the ELCA. But, it is a confessional Lutheran blog carnival, so I still stand by my decision to leave it out. The church is key in how the Holy Spirit strengthens and sanctifies us. Specifically, I said:

I pray that you find a congregation where you can be fed and find comfort in God's Word and in His Sacraments. To a Lutheran, that is where we find God's grace.

Recently, she posted an update on her spiritual journey, and let me know that she had written about me. She quoted this and stated:

Moreover, that's neither what I was taught during my previous lifetime of
Lutheranism nor is it consistent with Scripture.

I’ve chosen not to link to her, because she (respectfully?) chose not to mention me by name, and I likewise do not have her permission to do so. I am trying to respectfully address the statements, inviting discussion, not looking for a war of words, on her blog or mine.

There are a lot of people out there who think that they don’t need the church, and that it is just an organized group of stubborn, arrogant people on committees, etc. and that being a member is pointless. That it is fine to go on to be a Christian alone. And I make no secret that at one point in my life, I was disgusted with the Lutheran Church myself, and didn’t see a problem with my going my own way either.

For the past three days, I’ve had my nose in the Bible and in the Book of Concord, and I know that my theology on this will not be exhaustive, so if anyone wants to add anything, I definitely invite guidance. My knitting has definitely suffered during this time, but on the whole, I could say that my time was spent in a more worthwhile manner, even if it will add three more days until I get that sock done!

I’ve even debated whether it would be worthwhile to write this or not. I don’t know if the aforementioned woman is interested in what I have to say on the matter, but I still ended up with the fact that it is a worthwhile topic, and I not only want to write about it, I feel compelled to write about it. So maybe it will do someone some good, if only to stop all of this from bouncing around inside my head!

So Post 1 is coming up, sometime by the end of this weekend. Thoughts are coming together slowly as I digest all that I have taken in and it is a busy weekend, not to mention that I do have to compete with three other people for the use of the computer. I wrote this because I wanted to give a background, and I didn't want to make the posts so long that it would all seem muddled together (I know, why stop now?). And besides....I'm low in the caffeine department, and I can't think write without my caffeine!!!!

The Knitting Journey

I got this from Homestead Lutheran Academy. I only started knitting about a year and 1/2 ago, and it is interesting to see all the stuff that I've done....and all the stuff I want to do. How about you?

Here are the directions:
Bold the things you have done.
Use italics for things you plan to do one day.
Use normal typeface for things you are not planning on doing.

Note: There are some things I might do some day that I have not put into italics. I only italicized the things I plan to do in the foreseeable future.

American/English knitting
Bobbles
Button holes
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Continental knitting
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Double knitting
Drop stitch patterns
Entrelac
Fair Isle knitting
Freeform knitting
Fulling/felting
Garter stitch
Garterlac
I-cord
Intarsia
Kitchener BO
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with DPNs
Knitting and purling backwards
Knitting smocking
Knitting small tubular items on two circulars
Knitting a circular item using the Magic Loop
Lace patterns
Long Tail CO
Moebius band knitting
Norwegian knitting
Provisional CO
Short rows
Slip Stitch patterns
Steeks
Stockinette stitch
Swatching
Textured knitting
Swiss Darning or Duplicate stitch
Thrummed knitting
Tubular CO
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Knitting with alpaca
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Knitting with beads
Knitting with camel yarn
Knitting with cashmere
Knitting with cotton
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Knitting with linen
Knitting with metal wire
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with silk
Knitting with soy yarn
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Knitting with wool
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Afghan/Blanket Baby items
Cuffs/Fingerless mitts/Arm warmers
Gloves
Hair accessories
Hat
Household items
Jewelry
Mittens: Cuff-upMittens:
Tip-downPillowsPurses/bags
Rug
Scarf
Shawl
Shrug/Bolero/Poncho
Slippers
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Stuffed toys
Sweater
Toy/Doll clothing
Charity knitting
Designing knitted garments
Dyeing yarn with plant colors
Dyeing yarn with acid dyes
Dyeing yarn with kool-ade and other food colorings
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Holiday-related knitting
Knitting art
Knitting a gift
Knitting for a living
Knitting on a loom
Knitting to make money
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Knitting for pets
Knitting for preemies
Knitting in public
Knitting items for a wedding
Machine knitting
Olympic knitting
Participating in a KAL
Publishing a knitting book
Resizing patterns
Spinning on a drop spindle
Spinning with a spinning wheel
Teaching a male how to knit
Teaching knitting classes
Writing a pattern

First Communion

Pastor Rick Stuckwisch writes:

Dr. Luther concludes his discussion of the Lord’s Supper, in his Large Catechism, by stating that the little children should be catechized and admitted to this Sacrament, since they also are the baptized faithful, and we need them to assist us in praying and fighting the devil. Not "cute little poopsies," but courageous young Davids with five smooth stones and hearts of faith in the Lord of hosts, who is more than able to slay an army of Goliaths. But recent generations have been more inclined, like King Saul, to encumber the little shepherd boy with a grown man’s bulky armor. As though the accumulated burdens and weight of life in this sinful world were better able than Yahweh Sabaoth to defend the lambs and sheep of His pasture.

This is just an excerpt from a beautiful post on communing children, including his own. Please go over and give it your time. I think you will be blessed by it.

Thank you, Pastor Stuckwisch.

My Type of Beethoven

Succisa Virescit

Before I had kids and while my son was young, I loved listening to Dr. Laura because I enjoyed contemplating the moral issues that her show brought up. It was good exercise for my mommy-brain. When my son became old enough to understand, a part of me thought that it would be good to keep listening so that we'd have an opportunity to discuss these things. But then I realized, no child needs to be exposed to these issues constantly, or to come to think that the type of behavior and thinking that she confronts every day is normal.

I do however listen to and watch ESPN with my kids. I am a baseball nut (Go Dodgers!) and the sports world is a microcosm of what is going on in our culture so I find that it provides a venue for showing my kids what is good in our society with easy examples of faith, bravery, selflessness, teamwork, cheerfulness (doesn't Nomar have a great smile? He is ALWAYS smiling), patriotism, and working to help those who are less fortunate. And it also provides plenty of examples for the opposite of these traits, too.

For example, on March 13th of 2006, a party occurred in Durham, North Carolina, where the majority of the Duke Lacrosse team attended. Alcohol was present in abundance, and an exotic dancer was called to perform. This exotic dancer accused three of the players of sexually assaulting her. Charges were filed and accusations were made regarding racial motivation, a coach was fired, and a season was ended. The next whole year showed an alarming lack of reliable evidence which will probably result in the disbarment of the district attorney, if not worse (When this case was in its prime, I didn't listen to this with my children, and I fully appreciated Mike Greenberg's warning that the story would not be suitable for children's ears).

The night before last, while being up way too late, I saw an update on the Duke Lacrosse Team. Under this unjust persecution, the players banded together and became stronger. This year, they chose a motto for their team that they wore on the left sleeve of their uniforms. "Succisa Virescit." One of the accused had tattooed it on his left shoulder blade after he was charged. It was the motto of the Delbarton School, the college preparatory academy that he and several other Duke LaCrosse players had attended.

Succisa Virescit means "Cut them down, and they will become stronger." Overall, a cool slogan, bringing to mind Obi Wan Kenobi's last words before Darth Vader ran his light saber through him...."Strike me down, and I will become stronger than you can ever imagine." (thanks to Pr. Peperkorn for confirming that memory for me).

I can't help but wonder, what kind of strength are we talking about, though? The boys were falsely accused, but if these boys (and I hesitate to call them men) were taking their girlfriends out to the movies instead of drinking heavily and partying with a strung out stripper, I doubt they would've found themselves in a situation where they were in jail, on national news, persecuted by their fellow college students, and unable to play. In fact, this team had already had games suspended by Duke University twice for illegal alcohol consumption, and a full one third of the DukeLaCrosse team had been charged with alcohol-related crimes in the past three years.

I have a stump outside my garage that was never killed. Every year, grapevine-like tendrils emerge from it and wrap themselves with an alarming tightness around the branches of the bushes that are welcome there. This year, I cut those branches back to the stump, but they have returned, thicker and lusher, to do the same thing. Even weeds come back stronger if you cut them down and do not remove the roots.

The Delbarton School from which these boys come is a Benedictine School, and I am assuming that the original meaning of the motto "Cut them down and they will grow back stronger" relates to cutting away a boy's weaknesses (weak branches), and he will become a strong, upright man. In cases such as these, good growth can only happen with repentance. Is the growth that they've shown a defiant stand against the world or is it sparked by a realization that the lifestyle they were leading invited this kind of trouble and was the very thing that cut them down? Well, at any rate, the fact that they've overcome whichever trials they perceive to be the problem and are playing for the college championship seems to be enough for ESPN to use them as examples of strength and determination. And in the end, that's what's important, right?

I haven't been out of college 15 years, and I remember a time when many schools such as Duke would've thrown these boys out, regardless of criminal charges, on the basis that students who have been given the privilege of wearing their uniform and representing their school have a responsibility to remember that they are a reflection of their school, even when they are not wearing those uniforms. Aside from the athletics issue, many colleges would've been loathe to hand a diploma with their name on it to students who showed such lack of character. But the age is different now. There is an increasing view that the purpose of college is for the experience of unsupervised hedonism without consequences, not to gain maturity and a strong education that will prepare for future life.

This past March, Pokey Chapman, the Women's basketball coach at LSU was forced to resign because it had been revealed she had engaged in an affair with one of her players. Media shied away from a true coverage of it, afraid to be accused of seeking sensation because of the "lesbian thing." I heard it rationalized again and again how it is a reality for professors and coaches to sleep with students. So instead, ESPN radio announcers took the approach of just saying why it shouldn't be a hot issue...they actually talked about it for two days, mostly from the position of saying "it is wrong to give this attention because if it does, the only reason would be because the coach is African-American and because it was a lesbian affair." It apparently wasn't enough to show how this coach had led her team to the NCAA Tournament, only to jeopardize their chances with her unethical behavior; that LSU acted rightly in insisting on her resignation immediately, and then glorying in the the LSU women's team and their replacement coach who then played with excitement and determination right into the Final Four.

As a citizen, I am appalled that members of the media were not fighting each other to get to the microphone to be the first to proclaim that even if it happens elsewhere, it is WRONG. It goes against any standard of professional ethical behavior in this country and if it is occurring in other colleges besides LSU (which I don't doubt), it should be more stringently enforced. Instead, I hear more of a chronic complacency, accusing LSU of overreacting merely because other professors and coaches get away with it. No! It is ethically wrong for someone in authority over someone else to engage in romantic and/or sexual behavior with someone who is dependent on them for their well-being. It is wrong for a doctor to sleep with a patient, it is wrong for a psychologist or a lawyer to date a client, it is wrong for a judge to go on a date with a defendant (or a plaintiff, or their attorneys), it is wrong for a senator to sleep with a lobbyist. IT IS WRONG. And anyone caught in such behavior should be fired, and you would hope that the accused would be too ashamed to sue for the value of her remaining contract! Well, you would hope.

LSU should be held up as a shining example for doing what is right in protecting their students, and other colleges should be villified for not doing likewise.

I spoke as a citizen, now I'll speak as a parent. I have a message for these universities and colleges. I will not pay to send my children to places where their welfare is not treasured. I will not send my children to places where there are co-ed dorms because this is the 21st century. I will not send my children to a school with a reputation for being a party school. I send my children to college to increase their knowledge and prepare them for the world, but I will not send them to a place where it is considered acceptable for the faculty to sexually prey on them, or for other students to as well. When morality is thrown aside in the name of "college students are just trying to have fun," campuses cease to become safe places to be, because immoral, unrestrained children do not have a problem with having that fun at the expense of others. True education glorifies truth, goodness, beauty, justice, liberty, and equality -- not hedonism and personal irresponsibility. If they cannot get that type of education at your institution, then they can learn it themselves from the Great Works and acquire career skills elsewhere. I will not sacrifice their souls to you.

So you see, sports provides just as much of an environment for discussing and contemplating these things....but I'll limit the discussions with my children to the complications of free agency and whether or not Barry Bonds should pass Hank Aaron....at least while they are ten and four.

Who Are We?

This past week, I started attending a Christian education course taught by Pastor Petersen at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne.

One of the topics discussed was the parable of the Good Samaritan. Pastor Petersen pointed out that Christians often misinterpret this parable. We often think we are to be the Good Samaritan. But if this is the true meaning, then Jesus's response to the young lawyer who asks "what must I do to be saved?" is simply "you can only go to Hell."

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and ' your neighbor as yourself.'"

And He said to him "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

But he, wanting to justify himself said to Jesus, " And who is my neighbor?"

Now this question is important because look at that Law! We can't love God will all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. We are sinners. So the only way to limit that weight is to focus on who is our neighbor (not that I see much relief in that. I know I am guilty of that just as much with those who are closest to me!).

So Jesus continues and tells the story.....

" a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

"On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'

"So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

"And he said, " He who showed mercy on him," Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37

So, who are we? Most often when this story is told, we are told we are to be the Good Samaritan. We are to love even when we are hated, we are to help those in need. But this can't be the answer to "What must I do to be saved." Because we cannot earn our salvation. And the lawyer does not get this.

We are not the Good Samaritan. We are the wounded man - kicked, beaten and robbed near our dying breath by Satan, the world, and even our sinful self. We cannot revive ourselves or continue to go on. The Law, in the persons of the Priest and the Levite, cannot heal us. They just show us what we should be, and when we are kicked and beaten, how can we even delude ourselves into attaining that? They go to the other side, not because they turn their noses up at us and go on, like often is interpreted to us (notice, the story doesn't say that they say "ew" and step over us). They are powerless to help. The Law does not save but shows us our how bad and hopeless we really are. So they walk to the side. They are useless and cannot be made unclean by contact with a wounded, bleeding, dying man.
But Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He comes and bandages our wounds, gives us a safe place, and revives us. He is God, so He cannot be unclean, but He takes our uncleanness upon Him. He gives the innkeeper two denariii (two days pay) to watch after us and says He will repay him when He comes back....when? He took care of two days...so He's returning on the 3rd Day...when He rises again.

So Jesus is NOT telling the man to focus on loving others, everybody, in order to be saved. He was telling the man that he was wounded and dying, and Jesus Himself, despised more than even the Samaritan, loved every neighbor, even those who hated Him, and healed His wounds and cared for His every need. He died for the sins of the world, even when we were crippled, unclean, and dying in sin.

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" "And he said, " He who showed mercy on him,"

So we are the poor beaten man, and our neighbor, the Good Samaritan is Christ......and He has already loved us as we were supposed to love Him but could not. "Now go and do likewise" has a different meaning looking at it this way.

We are to love Christ. We couldn't before. As Luther teaches - before, when we were under the Law, we could only live in terror to God, but only since we are redeemed by Him can we fear and love God."

The man who was beaten probably never could love a Samaritan before that time. He probably never thought to. He could never get close because of the history between the Samaritan people and his. But the Samaritan reached out and saved HIM.

Because Christ reached out and saved us, now we finally can go and do likewise. We can love Christ.

(Whine) But I'm ALWAYS It!!!

Muddy Boots tagged me tonight to for a meme created by our Looper friend Jenn.

Here it is.... "What did you want to be when you were 5, 10, 15, and 20?

Not too hard....

5 - I wanted to be an animal doctor, or an astronaut...and a princess. I didn't like the way the word "queen" sounded. Princess sounded better, but I didn't want to wear the pointy hat, though...so it was a toss up for me.

10 - I wanted to be an anthropologist, because I got a 100% on that social studies test. And it did sound interesting! But in my text it was presented as more the study of ancient man rather than modern. This is the only career my mom said "absolutely not" to....she wasn't going to pay tens of thousands of dollars for me to study something I couldn't get any work in. (so instead she paid tens of thousands of dollars for me to get a degree in a field I've never worked in because I want to be a wife and homeschool mom.... (grin))

15 I wanted to be a whale biologist. Little did I know, child of the desert and Lake Mead that I was, that I would hate swimming in the oceans. I can't stand salt, tides, or currents. The ocean is pretty to watch and nice to wet your feet in.

20 I wanted to be a psychologist. I was starting to think I wanted to be a missionary/pastor's wife....well, the wife of a guy who wanted to be a pastor/missionary anyway. But I also wanted to be a psychologist. I still do.

So now I tag Designated Knitter, Polly, Melynda, Jane, and Susan.

Am I All Alone????

So does anyone out there watch Robin Hood on BBC America? I can't decide if the acting is good at times, and the music can be a bit melodramatic, but overall, I am really addicted. I like that it is not grotesquely violent, ...it doesn't actually SHOW the torture and bloodshed, etc., virtually no sexual references. The characters are believably good and believably evil (The guy who plays the sheriff is very impressive in his sadism).

But the first part of the season finale was aired on Saturday, and I at the end, Marian dies. Now you know and I know that there can't be a season 2 if Richard is REALLY returning and Marian is dead. I'm thinking that the draft that the evil doctor gave her during her surgery was really a "Juliet" type of draft, and that at some time, she will revive...but that is just my theory....What say you?

"L" is the Luckiest Letter in the Alphabet.....

Actually, in this case, it isn't a letter, it's a number...Because the Lutheran Carnival is having its 50th!!! Woohooo!!!

Thanks to Random Dan for putting it all together, both this fortnight (because bi-week doesn't sound right), and for starting it all originally, too! Hail!

To DVR or Not to DVR

I have to admit, I'm rather fond of my DVR (digital video recorder, I think). It has made my life much easier in many ways, especially in relation to homeschooling. I can record things off the History Channel to pre-screen and then show my kids...and that comes in handy because they have a plethora of things on the Middle Ages (though not as much as last year when we were learning about the Romans).
It also is much easier to preserve order in the battle of who has rights over the t.v. and when. Two years ago, my son's favorite show was on at 11 a.m., really just as we were finally getting into our lessons. It was the only time it aired, and even though for the life of me, I can't remember WHAT it was, I remember it was one of those things that I thought was beneficial. Now, I simply record it and all I have to do is click on the show, press the "R" on the remote control...and I can even press the little "R" button twice and the every episode is recorded. I am picky about the shows my kids watch, so I can simply record what is okay, and then set up the rule that the t.v. doesn't go on until after 3 p.m., and they can still watch good things, not the garbage that passes for entertainment during the after school hours.

Not only that, but I could be 3/4 of the way through a show, and if I decide right then that it is worth keeping around, I just press that magical "R" button, and the show is recorded. I can also rewind to review baseball plays, fast-forward through commercials, and skip through parts of shows that I don't like. I can record something and watch something else. I can record two things and watch something else. And it is INFINITELY easier than a VCR!!

However, there is something missing, and I never could put my finger on it until it occurred to me tonight. It takes away the sense of ceremony that gathering around a favorite show has. That sense of importance - "we need to get home because 'Airwolf' comes on at 9:00" type urgency (okay, so I was a wierd kid). I know that it will be recorded, and so I know that I can watch it whenever. In the end, I like that convenience, but I miss the ritual...the sense of time and space brought by having a favorite show that was on at a particular time and if you weren't there you missed it until Summer reruns or syndication. I miss the "we have to get the kids in bed so that we can watch "Law and Order" or "Get the popcorn ready because American Idol is on" (or something like that, I haven't gotten into reality shows). And boy do you really become aware of the cyclical nature of cable. Delete an episode of "Mythbusters" and that episode will be back on our queue next week.

(then again, on the whole other end of the spectrum, I miss NOT having a TV, too).

Time to go watch "Robin Hood." It's part of the two part season finale.....but it was recorded, so at least I'll get part of it in. Sigh.

Tagged, I'm It

Jane tagged me to write seven uninteresting, unrelated things about myself.....How do I pick uninteresting things about me? I'm completely interesting!!

Okay, here's a try.

1. I like stick shifts much better than automatic transmissions.

2. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a marine biologist (whales), until I realized I hate swimming in the ocean (actual swimming, I can handle wading).

3. My college roommate taught me how to crochet. My first project was an afghan for my sweetie. It has long since fallen apart. Luckily, he married me anyway.

4. I'm claustrophobic. I'm not very fond of heights either. Needless to say, I'm rarin' to go up the St. Louis Arch again (not).

5. I truly and devotedly believe that there is no better burger on this earth than In-n-Out Burger. If you disagree, you haven't had one.

6. There is 10 years difference in age between me and my older brother and 10 years between me and my nephew. There is 12 years between me and my older sister, and 12 years between me and my niece. So I was stuck right there in the middle.

7. I like to sleep with the tv on.

I tag Designated Knitter, and you, too!

Beautiful Service

I don't link to my husband's sermons because it would just be too easy for some nutcase to find out where I live. I figure, if you're Lutheran, you probably can figure it out easily enough, but I'm not going to make it easy for them by literally linking to the address. :)

Anyway, I always kind of regret that because I think he is an excellent pastor, and a very gifted preacher.

Today, he preached and served as celebrant at Concordia Theological Seminary chapel. If you've never heard the chapel service, it is beautiful. The liturgy resounding with that many men's voices is just so completely striking. The seminary posts the morning service every day, so take a listen. If you'd like to hear my husband, click on Wednesday.

Missing in Action

It's been a beautiful week, and one where it has just been way too difficult to resist the temptation to be outside....so blogging has been neglected.....

First of all, dumping bunny manure on the garden all winter must have worked, because the darkest, thickest, lushest grass in the whole yard was in my garden. So the week was spent clearing a couple of rows to start planting. It's dusk, but you can see that the row where peas have been planted against the fence (that will be wired up tomorrow), and where the chili peppers have been planted are clear. There is a lot more work to do....(yea!). It looks a big pathetic right now....but it will improve (unless the bugs have their say).

After all, as you can see, cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, and more tomatoes are waiting to go in...as well as carrots, beets (for kvass), onions, and two raspberry plants. I bought asparagus roots. I have always put off planting asparagus roots because there is something in me that says "if I do that, my husband will get a call somewhere else, and I'll have to start over."

Well, if I'd done it our first summer here, I'd be enjoying my asparagus right now. I figure if for some reason it does happen, then I've given a present to the next pastor's wife.

I also finally got around to making some of my own lacto-fermented sauerkraut (ala Nourishing Traditions) (I buy heads of cabbage and only get as far as letting them rot in my fridge. I'm really good at letting things sit around...that's why I'm good at making kombucha and kefir). The one that looks above the water level wasn't until I shook it today to see how it was doing...it will be the first jar eaten anyway.

Maggie and I also made salsa today. I use my own recipe rather than Nourishing Traditions, but then I add whey and let it lacto-ferment. Since I don't seed the tomatoes, I don't need to add water since it's own juice is in there....I LOVE my salsa.

Also, we had a WONDERFUL time last night at Indiana Jane's. Susan and her family came through on their way to vacation and we got to hang around and have fun while our kids chased each other around with swords and lightsabers and all else (Melynda brought the most incredible pie and we had some great laughs). Only in Martin Looper circles (and Lutheran blogging circles, of course) could you get two Magdalenas in the same room (at one point our little Lutheran homeschool email list had four, I believe).

So sorry for the neglect....when Spring Fever is over and the garden is planted, I assume I will get back to blogging.....Thanks for your patience.