Dubois, Wyoming

Pastor's Informal Report of the WY LWML Convention

Now that I have a moment to breathe…. I (Pastor) thought I would write a blog about my experience to my first LWML District Convention. On Thursday I left, bright and early, for Gering to get on the LWML bus. Two men (one of them the bus driver) and 28 ladies gathering from around the Pine Ridge and the Chimney Rock Zones came to stops along the way in Gering, Torrington, and Lusk. The bus ride would be about seven hours with one planned stop in Casper, WY to eat lunch. I thought that if I sat to the back of the bus I might get some rest and some work done. Right. J Between my penchant for talking and that this bus was filled with LWML ladies in which most have the same liking, conversation was the order for the day.

After we picked up the ladies in Lusk, I was asked to lead a brief (LOL) devotion on the moving bus. That was my first “rolling” devotion ever. In case the ladies wouldn’t recognize me as the lone pastor on the bus, I put on my “clerical cap” that Sarah got me for our anniversary. After the laughing subsided, we took a look at the theme for the convention, Psalm 19b, “O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer.” We looked at the context in the Psalms and David’s use of the word Rock.

We stopped around 11:30 am in Casper at Sanford’s for lunch. If you have never been to Sanford’s for a meal, you are missing quite an experience. The menu is enormous and there are a lot of selections on it! The one in Casper is has an auto theme with an awning over an outdoor table that was an actual car. The planter boxes are buried pickups. Of course they disappointed me because they had a real racecar out front, but had a sign that said, “Do Not Climb in the Car.” Some of the ladies thought it would be cute if they took a picture of the pastor IN the racecar. We decided against it. We arrived in Dubois about an hour late, but still in enough time. The town is very old west. At an elevation of 7,000 feet and a population hovering around 1,000 it is a very cute town. Almost all of the Main Street building are old west wood front. Most of the new construction maintains that theme. Some of the motels even have log cabins to stay in. If you are heading to Yellowstone, it is worth the stop.

The convention began that evening with a walk along the river and campfire devotions. Pastor Coniglio, formerly from the our circuit, now in Dubois, led the devotions. He and his wife Jeanette, were also my gracious hosts. (After all, it was all his fault that I was even there.) After the evening festivities, in typical pastor fashion, Pastor Coniglio and I sat up bantering theology and other church related topics.

The convention had several mission related speakers, Chaplain Christiansen, military chaplain recently who recently returned from Iraq, and son of retired pastor Sam & Judy Christiansen, Pastor Nemac (Wind River Mission), and Pastor Paul (Star Valley Mission), both native American missions in the Wyoming District. Pastor Paul shared his journey from South Africa to Wyoming and the cultural differences. Believe it or not, Pastor Paul came from a much more Lutheran area in South Africa than he is now in Wyoming.

The Convention also had several business related issues, deciding on how to use our mission dollars, the use of several memorial gifts, and the election of officers. Two people from our congregation were elected to positions: Connie Cordes, Vice President of Gospel Outreach, and myself as Junior Pastoral Counselor. I was humbled and honored by the confidence shown to me in the election. (One side note, with the election to office, I will get to go to the national LWML convention in Portland, OR. We may make it a family trip.)

The trip home had us stopping at a “famous” malt shop in Shoshone, WY Their record last year was over 700 shakes and malts in one day!. After a long wait, because they were waiting on ice cream and change for large bills, back on the bus we went. After a “quick” stop in Casper for supper, I gave a brief motivational talk on “Be Who You Are,” encouraging LWML societies to rejoice in who they are, no matter their age and serve those who are not able to be a part of their societies, so that when the opportunities arise, those who have been served will rejoice in God’s gift of the LWML. Our concluding devotion on wheels was on the smooth rock that David struck Goliath, and how our Rock, Jesus Christ, strikes down our enemies of sin, death, and the devil.

All in all I had a great time with the LWML ladies on the way to and in Dubois. I look forward to using the gifts and talents that God has given me in service to the district LWML for these next four years.

Mundane Week with the Strawn's

A boring and mundane week was had by all here in Bridgeport.

The weather was nice, but hot. Monday, while Eden was at daycare, Lars and I mowed the lawn and did some gardening. As long as he’s in the backpack, he’s fine.

Monday night, I met my Weight Watchers Goal, then went home and had a huge bowl of ice cream with M&M’s. I’m sure I blew it, but I was very happy.

The rest of the week, Lars cried. By Friday morning, he had a tooth on top and a 2^nd one trying to pop through next door. On Saturday, I discovered a 3^rd tooth creeping up on the bottom. Needless to state, he had a miserable week trying to get those teeth in. I am so glad that we have discovered teething tablets, however. It’s a miracle non-drug for all those who like homeopathic stuff that actually works.

Eden is beginning to develop a new sense of defiance and mouthy-ness that we’re not sure where she found it. I’m sure it’s something that every almost 3 year old finds somewhere along the line, but still, I hoped to shelter my child from it. Alas, I grit my teeth and deal with the punches as they come.

Eden: “I want a snack”
Mom: “No, you just finished breakfast, it’s not snack time.”
Eden: “Yes it is”
Mom: “No, it’s not. If you take a snack, you will have no more snacks the rest of the day.”

(Five minutes later)

Mom: “Eden, where are you?”

Slience

Mom: “Eden, if you are eating a snack, I’m going to be mad.”
Eden: “I not”

Mom finds Eden, crumpling up the pouch that held the fruit snacks she just finished up

Mom: “There will be no more snacks today.”
Eden: “Yes I will”
Mom: “No there won’t”

We go outside to work in the back yard. I’m digging and moving sod with a 16 pound baby on my back. After a while, Eden wants her shoes and goes to the garage to find them. When she doesn’t return, I go looking for her. She’s not in the garage. The basement door is locked (meaning, she’s doing something she’s not supposed to and now I have to walk around the house). I find her in the downstairs living room, sitting at my desk, eating the last bite of an ice cream sandwich.

Of course, I go ballistic and send her to her room after a quick butt swat. She’s screaming, which wakes Lars from his nap and makes me even more happy. She quiets down immediately, and I just go outside for a few minutes. When I come back in to free her from the evils of her bedroom, she was waxing off the last of a bag of animal crackers that she’d hidden under her bed.

The rest of the week was much of the same…Lars crying and Eden being defiant, Mom pulling her hair out.

Al was pretty busy getting ready for a renewal of vows service for an out-of-town couple that had all of their family here. He also had new member class on Monday and Tuesday evening, which took care of those days completely.

On Wednesday, he and I went to Scottsbluff to see “On Golden Pond” which was being performed at Theatre West and was very well done.

We were saddened to learn, earlier in the week, that the main character of last month’s play, “A dog’s life” was killed in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming. He was a talent and an asset to that theatre department and had a wonderful role in the last play.

The weekend was fairly relaxing. The kids and I had dinner with Douthit’s on Friday, as Al had a rehearsal. Eden took two naps in two days, just as Lars was waking up both times (naturally). I finished McKenzie’s Christmas present and washed the kitchen floor. Nothing too exciting, but sometimes, that’s good.

Denver Trip, Take Two!

More Greek Dancing!

Denver Trip

A weekend of fun

From Monday until Wednesday, things were business as usual. I had weight watchers (I’m less than one pound from my goal!), the window washers came to clean my windows (only to have it rain the next three nights), Samson got a bathed, groomed and his nails clipped, and Payton came to baby-sit so Al and I could have a date night.

On Thursday, Al had to be in Gering by 0700 to catch the bus that would take him into the depths of Wyoming for the LWML District Convention, where he was a nominee for the Jr. Counselor position. They were headed to Dubois, which is near, well, nothing.

Since he had no cell phone reception, I didn’t get a daily detailed report from him; therefore, I cannot speak about his going ons in this entry. I know that when he got home late Saturday night, he said he had a really great time, got to relax a bit (being away from ornery children and a nagging wife will do that for you) and generally enjoyed his time with the ladies.

For the rest of us on Thursday, we picked up the house, mowed the lawn, and packed the Blazer for a trip to visit Cousin Lea in Colorado Springs, CO. I was all prepared with bottles of water, snacks, several pacifiers, fun ‘kid’ music, and the like. We strapped in, topped off the tank, and hit the road. And a LONGGG road it was, too. The idea that they would nap on the way down backfired and they mostly whined and needed ‘stuff’ constantly. I had to stop 6 times to find pacifiers and calm Lars, and this all before hitting rush hour traffic in Denver! I could dwell more on the ride down, but I’d rather not remember it all that well.

We arrived about the time Lea was arriving home from work. She and Eden walked to the nearby park to play while Lars went right to bed and I collapsed on the couch with a magazine, glad for the moment of quiet.

Friday, Lea had to work, so the kids and I headed out to walk around the Garden of the Gods, which is in the middle of a bunch of tall rock structures, with an excellent view of Pike’s Peak. According to the signs, the gardens have been there for some 300 million years. Those of us with a most basic Christian belief will know that this is simply not true, so I waited around to ask the guide where he based his information off of. The guide, leading about 25 faithful followers astray, was not sure exactly, other that that’s what his studies had taught him and that’s what his cheat sheet told him to say. When I asked his ranger boss, the question was met with a chuckle and a comment along the lines of, “This is a basic concept that scientists have discovered to be true.” Based on what, we’re still not sure. I think somebody’s been drinking too much sewer water and reading too much National Geographic.

Anyway, I digress.

God’s beautifully CREATED Mountains were amazing and spectacular all at the same time. The red rock is really something to look at up close. Eden loved running up and down the paved trail and wanted to wander into some of the more advanced hiking trails. Unfortunately, my 36” stroller didn’t fit, so we both had to stay on the main trail.

After a morning of hiking around, we set out to do some shopping. Much shopping was to be had in this metropolitan. We hit the Pet smart, then Michaels, then Home Depot. I was up for Bed Bath and Beyond, followed by nearby Kohl’s, but the kids wouldn’t have anything to do with it. It was most certainly nap time. We headed over to get a quick tour of Lea’s office, and then headed back to her place for some down time.

When she came home, we got dressed up in cute skirts and headed out to Famous Dave’s bar and grill where a gay couple at the table next to us loudly complained that their romantic dinner out was being seriously disturbed by ‘that crying baby’ (Lars). Maybe, my thoughts directed towards them, this is a sign from God. I thought about complaining back to them about their overt affection towards each other in front of women and children, but I decided I didn’t need to get into a bar fight in a skirt. Been there, done that.

Saturday we looked, quite unsuccessfully, for the flea market in Co. Springs. When we couldn’t find it, we headed north to Denver, where the annual Greek festival was being held. What a show! Lea found an awesome parking place and we headed in to eat some Greek food. Lea’s friend, Shane, joined us for the afternoon. Eden loved the jewelry and the dancing. Lars enjoyed the shade and baby food. I was enthralled with the atmosphere. It was just like being in Greek town-Detroit when I was a kid with Lea. OPA! I had my favorite, Saganaki on Pita bread, while Lea tried the Loukoumathes, Greek bread and Koulourakia. I think Shane and Eden nibbled off everybody. In the end, it was a great time and by 5:00, we were back on the road to Nebraska. Unfortunately, the Blazer overheated and I had to deal with that before leaving Denver. With Al not having cell phone reception, I had to call Mark, who talked me through what to do and what not to do. We made it back to Bridgeport by 9:30p. Al arrived sometime before midnight. We all slept very well that night!

Last night, we invited Douthit’s out to the lake to make pizza pockets and blueberry pies and S’mores. It was a perfect evening and the only mishap was when Eden fell hand first into the hot blueberry pie and burnt her hand. Luckily, we were only a stone’s throw from the lake and I was able to dunk her accordingly.

So goes another week in the Strawn household.

check back

Looking for a pacifier....it's 10:30 p.m....check back tomorrow for exciting news on our eventful week.

Happy Father's Day

Before yesterday, I’d never had to use sun block on anybody’s butt before. Every day is new as a parent. Read on….

Last week our church hosted VBS, to a tune of about 25 kids, 10 of whom were in my pre-K, K class. It made for an interesting week, because I also had Eden and Lars hanging on me most of the time. I always have fun teaching the little ones for the week, but I’m always glad when Friday rolls around!

I bit the bullet and finally went in for an allergy shot on Monday. It’s been a relief the rest of the week, and I probably should have done it before. The camping trip last weekend didn’t do me much good at Weight Watchers on Monday, but I didn’t gain, so that’s Ok. Had an EMS board meeting that night that was very productive but also very long. I came home exhausted, only to spend the whole night rocking my teething son before another day of VBS.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Olan Mills was at the church to take photos for our new photo directory. We had a sad number of participants, partly due to a stomach bug that swept the area last week, but hopefully some will submit photos before July’s deadline.

Eden fell asleep at the top of the stairs

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!

Friday, Al had a wedding rehearsal and I took both kids to Carla’s daycare and headed to Scottsbluff for the day. I had several stops to make and it was much easier without the kiddos!~ I was still late getting out of the Bluffs and had to call Laura to bail me out and pick up my kids from Carla’s house. Without car seats, Laura and her girls walked them home, arriving at the same time I did. This was a huge benefit to me, because they helped me unload bags from the car. In turn, I fed them supper (Ok, so Mark had to stop and get a propane tank for me, then grill the burgers). In the end, everybody was fed and happy!

Saturday was the wedding, so we didn’t see much of Daddy. Eden and I worked a bunch outside, and Lars rode on my back in the backpack. As long as I was moving, all was good. I mowed the lawn, fertilized, watered, and weeded. Eden stripped naked (hence the sunblocked butt) and played with the hose and the wash tub. When I started walking the yard with the Scotts’ Spreader, she grabbed her fire truck (which pushes) and said she was helping me. Buck naked, she walked up and down the sidewalk, fertilizing. She disappeared to the neighbors’ front porch at one point, and I had to hunt her down. She was sitting in the rocks, playing. That evening, I took the kids out to the Lake where Mark and Laura were camping, then went alone to the wedding. We stayed a while at the reception, then went out to the campfire. Nobody really wanted to get up for church this morning, go figure.

This afternoon, Al watched the race and took his customary ‘mid race’ nap. Lars slept a while, Eden and I spent most of the day outside, then she napped. She and I ran up to Douthit’s to deliver a propane tank while Daddy worked on putting training wheels on Eden’s little bike. When we drove in the drive she exclaimed, “Daddy fix my bike!!” which was promptly followed by, “Let me out! I want ride it!!” Needless to say, Daddy & Eden biked back and forth on the sidewalk while I made supper. It was hard to get them in, even for pizza.

Eden's new bike!

A week of firsts!

Monday morning started out as usual. I took Eden to daycare at 0730, hoping to get right back home and start on getting ready for our camping trip. I had prepared Eden for a ‘new’ daycare provider, as her beloved Tammy had sold her daycare to a younger, newly married girl. However, when we arrived and went in, we were told that Eden wasn’t on the list for the new daycare and there would be no room for her at all. Obviously disappointed, we came back home. Eden asked for her friends all day long and I tried not to cry.

Later in the day, I made some phone calls and found another daycare that had room for her. We took a walk uptown and checked it out, staying for about an hour, visiting and watching. So, if all goes well, tomorrow Eden will start her first day at Carla’s house with some new friends. Carla is even willing to take both kids if Al can’t come home for a fire or ambulance call, so that’s going to be a nice bonus. I hope Eden enjoys it as much as she did before. I know I’m nervous!

The rest of the week was getting laundry done and packing up for a three day trip. Samson was getting excited as he saw each item being put in the truck. He knew he was going, because his food was the first to go in.

Wednesday night was game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. I was parked in front of the TV, with the baby safely tucked in bed and the other one fully entertained with toys and coloring books. During the 2^nd intermission, I ran up to my fire meeting, which turned out to be almost pointless. When there was ten minutes left in the game, I rushed home to watch the end, along with the glorious festivities. What a great season and a great finish! Now I have to change my answering machine message, which had Eden saying, “Go Red Wings!”

Thursday morning, we were up early and out the door to hook up the camper and be on our way. We arrived at Lake Ogallala around 10:30 a.m. and picked out the perfect spot. We were meeting both the Jenkins and the Stoddard’s, so we needed to find three spots somewhat together. Easier said than done, let me tell you! We found spots and had pretty much everything set up by the time it started raining. Eden found the swing set right off the bat, and was doubly excited to see that it was surrounded by pea gravel, one of her favorite things in the world. You know how much pea gravel can fit in 24month jean pockets??? Lots! I’m so glad I threw in the buckets and shovels at the last minute. Stoddard’s showed up in the afternoon and Tyler, 3 and Eden were glad to see each other. We drove down to the dam and watched the water spray out for a while, then we grilled out burgers and dogs, just as the Jenkins Six arrived to set up their tent. Since it rained most of the evening, we huddled in our party tent and played euchre at the picnic table. Strawn’s stomped Jenkins’ twice, but I think everybody had fun. The girls took Eden into the pop up to read stories and play with a partially inflated beach ball and Lars slept fitfully in the pack-n-play. That night was pretty cold and when Lars woke up at 0430, he was a little popsickle. Al turned on the furnace and warmed the place up a bit. It was still raining, but Saturday promised to be warmed.

Breakfast time rolled around and the sun came out. Jenkins made pancakes and sausage for everybody and we set out on a four mile hike to another, smaller dam. The way there was fine, but I forgot the snack bag, so Eden and Lars screamed much of the way back. Oops. Got to chat with Lana and Lisa on the way there, which was nice. Found some firewood on the way back and hauled it to camp. After lunch, we all set off for the beach. Martin’s Bay across the big dam is on Lake McConaughy and is definitely a favorite spot for the locals. White sandy beach for at least a mile to the west. For all the Michiganders reading this, that seems like quite a tiny beach, but for those of you familiar with these parts, that’s quite long! With eight years of drought, much of the lake is dried up, exposing the beach. The men all played Frisbee, and Samson and the kids played in the water and built sandcastles. Lexi built a waterfall and Reilly and AJ built a big castle with several surrounding lakes and a moat connecting them all together. Then the toddlers came over and ‘helped’. I was watching with a smile, thinking how wonderfully mine was going to sleep that night!

Supper was my favorite, as we made pizza pockets over the fire, followed by S’mores. We finished off the evening with a beautiful campfire, thanks to Matt, who brought along hose and copper pipe to color the fire. A starry night, it was a perfect end to a wonderful day with friends.

Saturday, Lars slept through the night for the first time ever. It was magical. It was the longest stretch of sleep I’ve had since I was about 7 months pregnant. I was up and bouncing off the walls at 0600! By 0700, I sent Eden over to wake up the Jenkins’ bunch. It was time for breakfast! Scrambled eggs for everyone, then the dreaded ‘pack up’ to go. Eden and Tyler had one last bit of fun at the swing set, then we loaded up and headed for home.

A beautiful day for a drive, we got home shortly after lunchtime. Al crashed on the couch for the afternoon and I fed the kids before hitting the shower. Slowly, the pick up got unloaded and stuff unpacked. Most of it went in my CLEAN garage. Laundry will wait till Monday.

Lars had two firsts this week. Our last night of camping, he slept through the night. Then, this morning in church, he sat up unsupported for about 45 seconds. He has completely given up bottles and has no interest in formula what-so-ever. Pureed food, however, better be ready and available at all hours of the day!

Today, my allergies have gotten the best of me and now I sit with a box of Kleenex. Hoping to get the lawn mowed this afternoon and the flowers watered. Vacation Bible School is this week, along with Olan Mills coming to do a new church directory for St. Paul’s. Hoping for a good turn out for both, but one never knows.

Until next week……

Camping with Friends

Mini Hail Storm

Garage Sale Fun

And again I say, “another week is done? What happened to the last one??”

The parsonage was fitted with an underground sprinkler system this week! “Hip Hip Horray!” as Eden would say.

Ceme upstairs one day, looking for Eden. When I hit the top step, I heard her say, "Lars was poopy!" She'd made it this far and was having trouble with getting a clean one on.

Since Monday was Memorial Day observed, Eden did not go to daycare. Instead, she stayed home and helped me get ready for the grill out we were having that night with friends. The weather was yucky, rainy and cold and I was not at all impressed. Instead of putting up horseshoe pits and tables in the back yard, we set up toys in the basement and tables in the garage, closed the door and put on the portable heaters. Folks started coming with their food choices about 5:30 and Al grilled some burgers and dogs. We ate & drank, shivered and shared stories. All of our kids were having a great time, so we adults put several decks of cards to use in a rousing rendition of Peanuts. To all my Michigander friends, this immediately sounds fun and puts a smile on your face. To all my new friends here in the West, you have no idea how much fun you could be having.

"Peanuts!"

The rest of the week was busy getting ready for the weekend’s garage sale. I was well prepared, had many boxes in the basement of the church office, others in our storage unit, and yet others in my laundry room. Put the ad in the local paper (the only garage sale listed this week), and checked and rechecked the weather. I continued to clean out closets and cubbys, adding something to the ‘sell’ table every day. On Thursday, Eden went off to daycare and I dedicated the day to setting up tables and tagging. Nearly everything I had was .25 cents, mostly because I wanted to get it out of my sight.

Friday morning, I was up early and ready to go. A phone call came shortly before 0700 and I headed out the door, hoping I’d make it back in time to get stuff outside on to the driveway before 0900. I pulled back up to the house at 0830 and had to park across the street and down the block. My street was lined with cars, all full of people anxious to get to the first big garage sale of the season. At ten minutes till, I went out the side door and into the garage, hoping to get the stuff that was blocking the garage entry onto the driveway where I intended it to go. No luck. The people bolted from their vehicles and ran up the drive. One guy actually dove under the table to get INTO the garage, knocking several antique chairs over in the process. I yelled, “Everybody back for a minute!” and they looked like, “lady, your garage is our domain now. Everything is fair game”. I didn’t know how to say it in Spanish, so for that half, they just looked at me funny and continued to push their way in to shop. The camper sold immediately, and I had several more offers as the day went on. By 11:00 a.m., I was able to see past the person in front of me and find a chair to sit in for a moment. What a rush! Al ventured out briefly with the kids, but took them back inside when it looked like a mad house. I think he feared for their safety.

Most of Friday stayed that busy, and I quickly watched tables go from overflowing to full. Friday night, Al and I got a sitter and took off for Scottsbluff to see “A Dog’s Life” at the theatre. What a great production! I was laughing nearly the whole time. The play was about three dogs and their journey through life at the pound to life on the prairie. The subplot was, of course, their owners. It was a great way to end the evening. (And I finally fit into my red dress!)

Saturday, Laura came over to open the garage sale and the Strawn’s headed up town to get the rigs ready for the Camp Clarke Day parade. Since the fire department is the last entry of the parade, we pulled a blanket out and watched the parade, then got in and drove through it. Eden and Lars sat on daddy’s lap, Eden eating a sucker, Lars holding to his daddy’s arm on for dear life, and Al throwing candy to the kids. I was driving, watching for darting children, and working the siren. It was fun, per usual. We hung around after the parade for some festivities, then went home for naps. Laura was doing well getting rid of our stuff and I was already planning ways to fill up the empty spaces in my house!

By later afternoon, we started packing up boxes for donation and sorting what was left. By evening, we were all pooped. The Red Wings started at 6:00, so I made an early supper and we were all sat down on the couch, ready for the puck drop. After the game, Eden went peacefully to bed, I took left again, and Al went to work finalizing his sermon.

When one chair just isn't quite tall enough

Today was a beautiful day. After church, Eden and I worked outside in the camper, getting ready for our first camp of the summer next weekend. The camper was pretty dirty from being unused all last year, and I had boxes of camping stuff that needed sorting. I got everything packed up and ready to go. Since there was a threat of more hail late in the day, we decided to fold it down and take it to Mark and Laura’s barn. Just in time, too, as it began to hail when we got back into town. After that mess, the sun came back out and we continued to work outside. Al tilled up my vegetable garden and I got my tomato plants in the ground, as well as my peppers. He moved some sod to a dirt patch, Eden took a bath and now it’s bedtime for everybody.

So goes the week.

Confirmation Party