Church Fellowship

Earlier I wrote about Greg and I obtaining our Safe Food Handler Certificates for the city of Austin so that we may work in the church kitchen.

Today is the first day.

I will be helping with the incoming food for the fellowship meal as well as managing the dessert table.

I will let you know how it goes when we return.

Cleaning, Baking, Teaching . . . an extra 4 kids

Today was a good day. I spent time cleaning downstairs in anticipation of bringing my mother in law home with us next weekend. I also spent time baking cinnamon rolls and pumpkin bread. Early this evening we were joined by four of our nephews.

Their folks were getting some Christmas shopping done. . . I know, I know it is only the 5th of November.
They are on it.
I on the other hand am not.
Not yet.
I am looking forward to a weekend away with my Love next week.

Fancy Cupcakes? I think not.

Last night we attended the 2nd Annual Fall Festival at Veritas Academy. I can honestly say that I did not want to go. My children on the other hand had been looking forward to it with great anticipation. After receiving several emails looking for volunteers for various booths for either the second or third grade, or the fine arts department, I received one that I thought would work for our week.

It was a request for baked goods for the Cake Walk. I thought to myself, I can do that. Especially when I saw that another mom had volunteered to bring Rice Krispy cookies. I can surely do that. They were looking for volume. Mass. Six plates of cookies coming your way.

I mixed the cookies up on Friday morning, so they would be fresh. I even printed the recipe out, rather than rely on my memory. I added coloring. They were cheeto orange. . . They were plated and wrapped.
Not fancy plates or wrap.

Ooops. Lots (not all) of the other baked goods were packaged very prettily - with orange bows, large celophane paper poofs. . . Aagghhh. The cookies tasted ok - hopefully the children that went to Cake Walk last weren't disappointed.

I know I am no Martha Stewart. Now I know to not volunteer for any baked goods.

Responsibility

We have been in Austin for a year and half now. How time flies! It took over 6 months to find and settle in a church. We underestimated how hard that part of the move would be. It has taken another 11 months or so to begin to feel connected at the church we are part of. Sunday evening meetings began about 5 weeks ago - that has been great. The kids are part of the children's choir that meets during the Sunday evening Bible Study. Greg and I have enjoyed the teaching time.

The church we are a part of is in a new building. Their first building. With a new church kitchen. How cool is that? I love church kitchens. In order to work in the kitchen, the city of Austin requires that you have a Food Safe Handler certificate (not a bad idea). Greg and I did the online course to receive our certificates and beginning in November will help with the monthly fellowship meal.

We've served in the nursery once. . . and have been asked to be part of the communion set up team.
That means that we prepare the communion bread for both services and set up the Lord's Table, pulpit and lecturn on Sunday morning.

Today was our second time setting up. I need to make notes about the order and placement of everything. I am not a graceful person (naturally clumsy) and have to carefully remove the containers from the candles that contain the wick and oil and fill the oil. Aagghh. If you pull on the wick, I was told, the candle will smoke. Not what you want to see during the worship service. Greg, (the careful one of us) fills the commuion cups, while I set out the paraments, fill the bread trays and set out the pastor's bread plate and goblet.

I am enjoying the responsibility of being part of a body and serving that body in various ways.

Not to say we don't miss our COTK. We still do. We pray regularly for the body there in Santa Cruz and it's leadership.

God is good to us and has provided a church home, where we are beginning to feel settled.

Thank you Lord for your special provisions.

Providence?

For the past year or so we have been doing Taco Thursday every other week for a family of seven whose Mom has been diagnosed with cancer. I call each Wednesday to be sure it is ok to bring the tacos the next day.

Two weeks ago on the 23rd, I didn't call. The taco delivery two weeks before that Jil didn't look good. She had been in hospice care for a few weeks at that point.

On the 23rd, the kids and I knock on the door and the oldest daughter who isn't usually home answers the door. I notice, but for once don't start asking a million questions. I notice that Jil's sister is sitting in her chair. I mention to the other kids that we are going to get our puppy on Saturday - their dog Bella was part of the inspiration for Abilene.

As I drive home I wonder how Jil is. Didn't want to ask. Trying to be gracious and not too inquisitive.

I get home and find an email has arrived letting me know that Jil had passed away on Wednesday morning the 22nd.

It is hard to imagine being a mom knowing that your days are drawing to a close, trying to care for your husband and five children.

My heart is heavy for Jil's husband and her children as they live life without her.

We aren't going to stop Taco Thursday's until we are asked to.

When this began Greg asked what we could do long term. Until.

Well, until has happened and I believe that this family still needs Tacos every other Thursday.
I don't believe it has to be on the "Care Calendar" to care.

It just needs to happen!

Cuter than . . .

May I please introduce the newest member of the Kloster household . . . .

Abilene!

She is a seven week old black and silver Miniature Schnauzer.

I am sure that you will hear more about her here soon.

The Book of Household Management published 1861

I found a copy of "The Book of Household Management" by Mrs. Beeton for my Kindle - free - as it is pre-copyright. So far it is a pretty interesting read . . .

Preface

I must frankly own, that if I had known, beforehand, that this book would have cost me the labour which it has, I should never have been courageous enough to commence it. What moved me, in the first instance, to attempt a work like this, was the discomfort and suffering which I had seen brought upon men and women by household mismanagement. I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife's badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways."

Ouch!

I am curious to see what else she has to say. . .