It occurred to me that I probably did not mention 1 of the books I read that helped me understand miscarriages better. I belong to several online support groups for women who are TTC ("cyber" for trying to conceive) after miscarriage or just plain TTC. I recommended this book to 1 of the women who has suffered 4 miscarriages and in between each one she hears about family members who are pregnant. It is so heartbreaking to hear that kind of news close to your own loss. Anyway the book offers hope whether you've had 1 or 10 losses. Think of this post if you know someone who might benefit. The book is Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage by Jon Cohen.
1.23.2007
Coming to Term
It occurred to me that I probably did not mention 1 of the books I read that helped me understand miscarriages better. I belong to several online support groups for women who are TTC ("cyber" for trying to conceive) after miscarriage or just plain TTC. I recommended this book to 1 of the women who has suffered 4 miscarriages and in between each one she hears about family members who are pregnant. It is so heartbreaking to hear that kind of news close to your own loss. Anyway the book offers hope whether you've had 1 or 10 losses. Think of this post if you know someone who might benefit. The book is Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage by Jon Cohen.
1.19.2007
Away He Goes
Jason leaves Monday for Mexico. His loooong day of travel will include...
DEPART Charlottesville @ 0655 EST
ARRIVE Ciudad Obregon @ 1900 (pretty sure that is 2100 EST)
Of course I will miss him every day, but I think Indy will too! Razor, hmm, he is so laid back (typical Labrador), I don't think it will scar him too badly. J & Indy are *tight*
DEPART Charlottesville @ 0655 EST
ARRIVE Ciudad Obregon @ 1900 (pretty sure that is 2100 EST)
Of course I will miss him every day, but I think Indy will too! Razor, hmm, he is so laid back (typical Labrador), I don't think it will scar him too badly. J & Indy are *tight*
1.08.2007
Try a New Service Next Week
On Sunday we attended a new-to-us worship of sorts. My friend Matt invited us to their "Gospel meeting." I thought what better way than to use this medium and write about my reflection.
First a little bit of background. Matt wrote about his church, and rather than try to re-explain it, here's the link to that entry.
Since my year in LVC, I have been more open to attending and participating in different religious services. Not just Christian. Baha'i, for example, and Jewish. I am not searching spiritually for a new religion, but I appreciate a better understanding of how other folk live! A tenant of LVC is to grow spiritually, and to do that I feel we must have an understanding of where our friends and community members are spiritually rooted.
I decided not to ask many questions about the meeting and to arrive and go with what happened. These are fellow Christians, after all, how different could it be? I enjoy attending different churches also (Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, etc), but somehow I always end up back in the Lutheran church. I entered with an open mind.
We arrived at the house where they meet, just a few minutes from our house in fact. Since doing my LVC year and learning more about diversity, I have been more in tune with race in different situations and noticed that every soul (about 20 couple) in the room was Caucasian. Nothing good, bad, or indifferent about it, just an observation.
Before the meeting started, everyone was very quiet. They appeared reflective, and some were reading their Bibles. I didn't bring mine, so I prayed. This was very different for me as I'm accustomed to fellowship and sharing before service. Then promptly at 1000, meeting started with an a cappella hymn, followed by the sharing of prayers, communion, general reflections about the week, and another hymn. (I hope I didn't leave out a component.)
Throughout the meeting, I felt that I missed so many parts of a Lutheran service. I found myself trying to remember the Apostle's Creed, a piece of liturgy we say almost every week. I came home promptly to look it up and recite it. I also said the Lord's Prayer to myself a few times. I actually yearned for the rhythm, cadence, flow, liturgy, and responsiveness of the traditional Lutheran service. (A reader or minister calls out or sings and the congregation reads or sings a response.) This tradition has very old roots, I believe dating back to the Catholic church, pre-Luther. Even with communion, as the bread and wine were passed, I said to myself, "The body of Christ, given for you" and "The blood of Christ, shed for you."
Also I missed the message, the sermon, a leader. In the Lutheran church we stand for the Gospel reading out of respect for the Gospel, and afterward the pastor gives a message, or sermon, that relates to that week's reading. I feel that is where I "get something" out of service. Along with the music. I love the musical component of a Lutheran service.
What I learned:
First a little bit of background. Matt wrote about his church, and rather than try to re-explain it, here's the link to that entry.
Since my year in LVC, I have been more open to attending and participating in different religious services. Not just Christian. Baha'i, for example, and Jewish. I am not searching spiritually for a new religion, but I appreciate a better understanding of how other folk live! A tenant of LVC is to grow spiritually, and to do that I feel we must have an understanding of where our friends and community members are spiritually rooted.
I decided not to ask many questions about the meeting and to arrive and go with what happened. These are fellow Christians, after all, how different could it be? I enjoy attending different churches also (Presbyterian, Baptist, Catholic, etc), but somehow I always end up back in the Lutheran church. I entered with an open mind.
We arrived at the house where they meet, just a few minutes from our house in fact. Since doing my LVC year and learning more about diversity, I have been more in tune with race in different situations and noticed that every soul (about 20 couple) in the room was Caucasian. Nothing good, bad, or indifferent about it, just an observation.
Before the meeting started, everyone was very quiet. They appeared reflective, and some were reading their Bibles. I didn't bring mine, so I prayed. This was very different for me as I'm accustomed to fellowship and sharing before service. Then promptly at 1000, meeting started with an a cappella hymn, followed by the sharing of prayers, communion, general reflections about the week, and another hymn. (I hope I didn't leave out a component.)
Throughout the meeting, I felt that I missed so many parts of a Lutheran service. I found myself trying to remember the Apostle's Creed, a piece of liturgy we say almost every week. I came home promptly to look it up and recite it. I also said the Lord's Prayer to myself a few times. I actually yearned for the rhythm, cadence, flow, liturgy, and responsiveness of the traditional Lutheran service. (A reader or minister calls out or sings and the congregation reads or sings a response.) This tradition has very old roots, I believe dating back to the Catholic church, pre-Luther. Even with communion, as the bread and wine were passed, I said to myself, "The body of Christ, given for you" and "The blood of Christ, shed for you."
Also I missed the message, the sermon, a leader. In the Lutheran church we stand for the Gospel reading out of respect for the Gospel, and afterward the pastor gives a message, or sermon, that relates to that week's reading. I feel that is where I "get something" out of service. Along with the music. I love the musical component of a Lutheran service.
What I learned:
- While it would be ideal for us to find a church closer to home, I'm really happy with the leadership, fellowship, and various ministries that Muhlenberg has available.
- The Lutheran service is "comfortable" for me, but I am able to enjoy it even more now as an adult and reflect on each component the more I get to study each one. The more I enjoy a service, the closer I feel to God.
- I was especially impressed with the thoughtful scripture reflection that the members made. I hope this is my "boost" and inspiration to make time for daily scripture readings.
Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow!
I have been saying this to myself the past week or so. I'm not sure why it's gotten in my head. A true message from Him, I'm sure. It's the first line of a Christian hymn, "Doxology." We sung it a lot in the church in which I grew up (Pleasant View Lutheran Church, Staunton), and I probably haven't sung it in years, so it surprised me when I began rehearsing it to myself. I don't typically break out in song, so I got an odd look from Jason at home. :) The verse reads as follows:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;And so, in between breaking out in song singing this tune, I have been mentally Praising God and Giving Thanks for my various blessings this week:
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host.
Praise Father, Son & Holy Ghost.
Amen.
- good health
- vocation I enjoy
- happy marriage
- safe and warm shelter
- new friends who invite me to worship with them
- renewed and growing peace and support during our TTC journey
- and everything(one) else I take for granted on a daily basis
1.05.2007
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, To Mexico He Goes
I don't remember the 7 Dwarfs ever Hi Ho-ing to Mexico, but Jason is on his way there again on the 22nd for ASR. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the locality.
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