Check out the live chat gadget on the left! I saw one of these over at Brandy's and had a chance to try it out by chatting with her. It is very easy to use and very easy to embed into the blog. So when you stop in here, take a peek to see if I, or others, are signed in and we can chat! If you want one of your own, go to meebo and look for meebome under Products.
...is not even in the house!
I don't know if this is a trend where you live, but the big thing in home decor around here is the "Outdoor Room". People spend a small fortune on outdoor furnishings, lighting, flooring and accessories. The idea is to turn an outdoor space into a "room" as nice as your living room. Which, if you live where I do, you can only use about 2-3 months out of the year and then you have to store it somewhere for the rest of the year. Pretty extravagant.
Well, long before this was a trend, we turned our back porch into a back room. (Except we didn't spend a ridiculous amount of money on outfitting it - we used mostly stuff we already had.) The back porch is quite protected with a clear, corrugated plastic roof. It holds the heat from the sun nicely in the spring and the fall, so it really extends the amount of time we can use the porch. In the summer it gets quite hot and we hang sheeting up to block the sun from coming in, otherwise it would be too hot to use. It's a really nice place to have morning coffee.
Here is what it looks like...
...from the back of the porch. We have the sheets (actually they are tablecloths that I found at a clearance outlet) up already. I took these pictures a couple of nights ago. It was a really warm night and I came out to read for a while. The hanging lights we got for $5 each at the Habitat for Humanity Restore. Same thing with the carpet. The patio furniture and the old couch we already had. The only thing I actually bought were the tin ceiling tiles that I have hung on the wall. And I bought them with a gift certificate I had, yippee!
This is the view looking towards the back yard. (Which you can't see because it is night.) I do quite a bit of cooking out here in the summer. I use the bbq a lot and I have a little two burner hotplate that I use out here so I don't have to heat up the kitchen when it is really hot.
So I am actually "in style" for once, which is weird because we are usually the last to get whatever is new. (Like we just got our first DVD player last year.) Anyways, I like my room and I wanted to share it with you!
Before I got sick, Lisa, Sharon and Debbie all tagged me to do an "8 random things" meme. (I had to actually give this some thought - it's not as easy as it looks!) Then I noticed today that KitKat has tagged me for this "Literary meme". So here they are:
That was random
~ I read, write and speak pretty decent French and German, and I know a little Spanish as well. Enough to get by if I went to Mexico for a week. ~
~ My husband thinks that this is a bit weird: Say we stop somewhere for a burger. My husband will simply unwrap his and begin eating it. I, however, must first open up the burger and inspect it to make sure that the condiments have been evenly distributed. If they're not, I'll move them around so that the burger is evenly covered. Then it's ok to begin eating. ~
~ When I was a kid, I took lessons in baton twirling, judo and synchronized swimming. I am only proficient in synchro. ~
~ I have this thing about public washrooms and will go to great lengths to avoid using them. Too much info? ~
~ I flew in an airplane for the first time in my life last year when I turned 40. ~
~ I am a history buff. I enjoy reading historical novels or non-fiction and watching the history channel. I have a particular fondness for the American Civil War period, the ancient Egyptian dynasties and the period in British history leading up to the Battle of Hastings. ~
~ I love riding roller coasters! It's one part terror, one part exhilaration. ~
~ When I fix myself a coffee, I always put the cream in the bottom of the cup first and then fill it up with coffee. I can tell the difference if it's been prepared the other way. Really! (Ok, maybe I have a few neuroses...) ~
A little light reading
Here's how the literary meme works:
1. Grab the book closest to you
2. Open it to page 161
3. Find the fifth full sentence
4. Post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. Don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.
6. Tag five people to do this meme.
Ok. The book that is actually closest to me is a book belonging to my daughter called The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes. Unfortunately this book only has 121 pages. The book that is next closest to me is The Book of Concord.
Page 161, 5th full sentence reads: "We are renewed, as Paul says (Col. 3:10, 2 Cor. 3:18) "in knowledge, " and "beholding the glory of the Lord, we are changed into his likeness"; that is, we acquire the true knowledge of God, enabling us truly to fear him and to trust that he cares for us and hears us."
Good quote, huh? Makes me look smart, doesn't it?
I am supposed to tag 5 more players, but I am curious to know what Shortybear Denise, Sharon and Sharon, Sara, Lisa, Denise H. and Debbie are reading these days. Beth, you are off the hook since you are travelling and on a break, *wink*.
An update...and some pictures!!
This is the Martin Homestead. It is just on the outskirts of Waterloo not far from our place. It is a sixth generation Old Order Mennonite farm.
This is the kitchen garden. The crops here are for their own use (ie. not for livestock or to sell). So far they have onions, sweet corn, strawberries, sweet peas and something else that we couldn't quite tell what it was. Plus a whole bunch of raspberry bushes at the back. 
The back of the main house.
Notice the hand pump at the very left of the porch. Indoor plumbing is considered "worldly".
The smokehouse. It smelled incredible as we walked by!
The orchard and barns. Like the kitchen garden, the small orchard is just for the family's use. 
Some pictures of the surrounding area:
Having some complications from my new meds and I am kind of in rough shape right now. Will post soon when I am in better shape.
Warning! Unabashed bragging on daughter follows. Proceed at your own risk!
Last night we attended a "Spring Arts Concert" at my daughters school. We were treated to performances from the string symphonies, the Concert Choir, the Jazz Choir and a number of vocal and instrumental solists. My daughter sings with both the Concert Choir and the Jazz Choir and I can say without any bias whatsoever that the Jazz Choir was the highlight of the evening! *wink*
The Concert Choir is open to anyone who is interested and there are about 75 members, but the Jazz Choir is only 20 voices and you had to try out to be in it. It's an all-girl group, too. Both choirs are outstanding - last week each choir took first place in the Kiwanis Music Festival in their respective categories.
My favourite piece of the night was the old southern spiritual "Free At Last", performed by the Jazz Choir. My daughter has a lovely soprano voice, strong and clear, but for this song she sang an alto part. It was something to see - all their little faces shining with joy! As they sang, I could feel the tears pricking my eyes and I thought I would burst with pride. What a wonderful testimony they gave, singing about their redemption in Jesus!
Unfortunately, none of the pictures that I took (from my prime spot in the front row, of course) turned out well. Alli was in the very back row and I didn't get any clear shots of her. I have some really nice ones of the back of the choir conductor's head though.
I'm on round three now with my meds. My doctor has prescribed a new anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication that I have been taking now for about three weeks. At this point I am cautiously optimistic.
I have struggled on and off with depression since I was in my teens. Beginning around grade 10, I started experiencing SAD every fall/winter (though it was undiagnosed for many years) and I had two bouts of moderate postpartum depression after Brent and Alli were born. Then about 5 or 6 years ago I became severely depressed, to the point that I could not function. Because it came on gradually, at first I didn't realize what was happening, but my family - my husband especially - noticed that I was sinking deeper and deeper into depression. For me, I don't get sad or "blue" feelings - I experience more of a feeling of being overwhelmed and not able to cope.
The first time I became severely depressed, my husband gently suggested (many, many times before I would listen) that maybe I needed to talk to the doctor. He didn't use the word "depression" for a long time, though he suspected it for quite a while. When he finally said he thought I might be depressed, I strongly resisted the idea. The thought that I might be depressed was humiliating to me. I saw it as a weakness and a character flaw. I, who had formerly been so strong, so capable, could not possibly have this defect! For a while I continued to insist that I was just under enormous stress and I simply needed a little more help around the house to help me cope. Meanwhile, I spent the better part of my days in bed.
What finally woke me up was this: One day, up in my bed, I could hear Brent and Alli squabbling over something downstairs. I immediately felt that familiar tightness in my chest and throat - the anxiety of having to deal with their fighting was simply overwhelming. But almost as quickly as the sensation hit me, I heard my oldest son Kirk (who was about 12 at the time) say to the other two, "Stop it you two! You HAVE to stop! Don't you know that you'll make mom upset?"
In that moment, I understood what my pride was costing my family. Our roles had become reversed. My son was now my protector when it should have been the other way around. That evening when my husband came home, I talked to him about seeing the doctor. He made the appointment for me the next day (I was too depressed to even make the call) and he accompanied me to my appointment. I could not have even taken those steps without him.
If you've ever been treated for depression then you know that finding the right antidepressant can take a bit of time. The first thing we tried - W_____ - had no effect whatsoever. (I don't want to use the actual names of the drugs lest I attract the attention of search engines for those terms.) The next thing we tried was Z____, with pretty good results. Within a couple of weeks I could tell it was working and I ended up taking it for almost 2 years. Then I was off meds for about 2 years and doing well. But last year the depression started creeping back in. This time nobody had to tell me, I knew it. So I went back on the Z_____ and it was okay for a few months, but then the depression started to return. So we upped the dosage and I was good for a while but again the depression/anxiety returned. After talking it over with my doctor, we decided to try a change in meds, so now I am on E_____. I have noticed that my concentration and focus are returning and I don't have the desire to hide out in my bedroom all the time now. I am still experiencing anxiety, but my doctor says to give it some time. He also says that maybe I may need to go on them each year in the fall when we know the SAD is going to be a problem - sort of as a pre-emptive strike - or maybe I will have to be on meds long-term.
Having depression has been very humbling for me. I have always taken great pride in how organized and capable and efficient I am, but more than that, I disdained those who were UNorganized and INcapable and INefficient. And you know what they say - God humbles the proud. By this depression, I have become the very thing that I scorned in others. When I expressed this to my husband he merely said, "Humbling, isn't it?". Yes, indeed.
Of all the kindnesses that others have shown to me as I have struggled with depression, the most compassionate thing that anyone has ever said to me was from Sara. It was about a year ago, and in discussing my struggle she said "Maybe the Lord will deliver you from this affliction or maybe it will the "thorn in your side" - either way His grace is sufficient for you." I wonder if she remembers making that comment? Or if she knows what a profound impact it had on me? For the first time, at least as it applies to coping with depression, I understood that His grace doesn't just kick in when my own abilities are insufficient. He IS my sufficiency. Funny how you can know this and NOT know this. Everybody's got their blind spot I guess.
Guess I shouldn't have been so quick to chuckle over the visitor Sharon recently had in her attic. We have visitors of our own.
A family of squirrels has taken up residence in the roof of our back porch.
This is where they are living. It's hard to see, but little bits of the nest are peeking out. It's mostly leaves and newspaper and plastic bags that the mama squirrel has shredded into a nice comfy bed.
There are four babies. This one is the runt. There is something wrong with one of his front paws. He seems to be missing a finger. Can you see the little light coloured patch between his eyes? He has no fur there and there seems to be a scrape in the skin. I have a friend who takes care of wild animals that have been abandoned by their mothers - she said that probably this damage was done to him by his stronger siblings. But you could feel that his tummy was full, so his mama must be making sure he is eating.
The babies have been playing all over our porch for about a week now, but I haven't seen or heard them for a couple of days. It's hard to see in this picture, but there's a squirrel at the back of the porch on the window sill.
I think the familiy may have moved on now. Once we're sure they've moved out, we'll have to board up the entrance to their home to prevent a new family from moving in. As cute as they were to have around, I will be glad to have them gone because I am itching to use the porch. I have been nervous to go out there while the mama was hanging around. Hey, those things have big teeth you know!
Ok, listen up now. A vicar is kind of like a "pastor in training".
To be a pastor in the Lutheran church you have to meet the following criteria:
There might be more qualifications - these are the ones I'm aware of. Anyway, during seminary, students attend classes and then do "field work" at a local congregation. They will spend most of their time studying though. Then, during the third year of seminary, each seminarian is placed with a congregation for a year of "vicarage". During this year, they do "on-the-job training" and work under the direct supervision of an experienced pastor. They often have to relocate for that year only to have to move back the following year to finish their last year of seminary. Once they receive their M. Div. they may be ordained and receive their first call.
Not all congregations are in a position to take on a vicar. It requires a tremendous commitment on the part of the congregation. The vicar is paid a full salary for the year he is vicaring, so there is a financial component. But there is a - I don't know exactly how to describe it - a spiritual maturity component as well. Not all congregations would make for a good vicarage experience. The congregation needs to be spiritually healthy and mature enough to teach the vicar along the way. As well, the pastor needs to be experienced and a good teacher/trainer/mentor.
We are blessed to have such a pastor at our church. (Truth be told, being placed at Redeemer, Waterloo for vicarage is considered a bit of a "plum" assignment among the seminarians!) Our congregation requests a vicar from the seminary every year - this congregation is VERY committed to training men for the pastoral ministry. Over the years, money was set aside to purchase the house next door to the church as the vicarage residence. We LOVE our vicars and it is a blessing to be a part of their training.
Our current vicar, Galen Purpura, will be with us until August and then he will return to St. Catherines for his final year of seminary. Then our new vicar will come. We don't know who it is yet - we will actually find out tomorrow at the Call Service. (A service where candidates are given their first pastoral calls or vicarage assignments.) The service will be in St. Catharines and my husband and I will be attending. We are very excited to find out who our new vicar will be!
**I know this raises a lot of eyebrows. All I can say is that it is our sincere belief that that is what Scripture teaches. Obviously, not everyone - including other Lutheran bodies - have that understanding. But I assure you, it's not an attempt to perpetuate misongyny.Last week we had our vicar, Galen, his wife Jenny, and their adorable baby son Brandon over for supper and some fellowship. We had been trying to get together for a while, and finally got to do it on Friday night. We had such a fun time!
Galen mentioned to me before that he and Jenny lived for a while in New York City - they are both originally from Depew, NY which is just outside of Buffalo. Anyways, we got to talking about it and it turns out that he was in NY on Sept. 11, 2001. He shared with us what that was like.
He had only just arrived in NY 2 weeks before and was attending Concordia College in Bronxville. One of the first things he did when he got there was to go sightseeing and just a few days before 9/11 he had taken a picture of the towers from across the river. Jenny hadn't joined him yet at this point.
On Sept. 11 his mom called him around 9:30 and woke him up. She asked him if he knew what was going on - he had no clue, of course. So she told him to turn on the TV and the two of them watched as it all unfolded.
He went on to tell us about some of the aftermath: how he once went down to Ground Zero and saw these street vendors hawking "souvenirs" while family members of victims looked on in horror. He said he felt like Jesus must have when he overturned the moneychangers tables in the temple.
Then he told us about the funeral for Ronald Bucca. I must admit, I didn't recognize the name at first. Ronald Bucca was a fire marshall and he died (along with others) trying to help people caught in the first tower. (If I'm getting some of these details wrong, forgive me...I'm going by memory here.) He was the first NY fire marshall ever to die on the job and his death was mourned in the city. He is remembered as a hero.
Ronald happened to be Lutheran, and his home church was too small to accommodate the number of people that were expected to attend the funeral, so it was arranged for the funeral to be held at the Concordia College chapel. Galen was honoured and humbled to be among those who assisted during the funeral. He estimates that about 1500 people attended. He said that at some points it was all he could do not to break down and sob. The most moving moment came, he said, during communion. One mourner bent his head to receive the cup that was brought to his lips and as he did so a tear came tumbling down into the cup, splashing the wine. Lutherans do not ordinarily practise open communion, but on this day all who wished to be comforted and strenghtened by the Body and Blood of the Lord were welcomed to the table. In such a desperate time of need, how could they turn anyone away? I think it was the right thing to do and there is no way of knowing how the Lord may have used it.
It was really moving to hear a first hand account of what those awful days were like. We often say the world was changed forever on that horrible day, but hearing how it changed one life - someone I actually know - really hit home.
