Wartburg Retread

It has been nearly 3 years since I have graduated from seminary.

It has been nearly 3 years since we were sent out from Wartburg, ordained as pastors, and placed into congregations.

It is the tradition at Wartburg Seminary that nearish your 3 year mark your class returns to "retread."

We had a marvelous time. I AM SOOO thankful that many of my dear friends and I were able to get together, to snuggle the babies that have been born since we left, catch up on life, and be together once again. There was a sense of going home for sure.



Those few days were good for my soul.

I wish I had taken more photos - I feel like I often say that however, I was consumed in just being with friends.

We did have to take a few "classes" while we were there, they were pretty low key, but we did take a few, conversation was good. I am thankful to no longer be bogged down by classes that is for certain.

Who knew going to a neighboring state would find me in beautiful 75 degree weather and sitting on green grass.... talking about having a debate as to why we live so far north. It was beautiful weather and from the time we left Iowa till we pulled up and into my northern Minnesota drive way 50 degrees had dropped. Mother Nature is cruel indeed.

I wish I knew when we'd all be together again or at least those who I hold nearest and dearest to my heart. We have already begun talks of where we will meet again and when - we are thinking that we won't be at WTS but rather somewhere fun somewhere random for us all. We have debated our options - perhaps a camp or a fun place. Hopefully we can commit to doing it and get it on all of our already way too busy calendars.

High Heeled Cupcakes

A few weeks ago a friend called and asked a few of us if we would be willing to help make "high heeled cupcakes" for her daughter's graduation party. I, along with several others, agreed, and the following is the photos from the project - I must admit they turned out WAY better than I anticipated.

The cupcakes before they were decorated

Taking a chunk out of part of the cupcake to fit in the bottom
portion of the shoe

Decorating the bottom portion of the shoe
first the graham cracker had to be cut to the right shape
then the bottom had to be colored
and then the outline color had to be added to the graham cracker

More decorating

Once the bottom of the shoe was added to the cupcake
the whole cupcake was frosted and the bow was added

heelless cupcakes 

finished product
the heel was added as a very last step

I'm back.........

Alright, it has been far far far far too long since my last post, I'll be the first to admit, and time slipped away from me and I know that I haven't posted in forever. I kept thinking to myself that I should have posted but life happened and posting didn't. Now that life is semi-settling down I think it is time to get back on the horse and start up again.

Changes in life:
May 15, 2011: I graduated from WTS with my Masters of Divinity degree
May 21, 2011: I ran my 2nd Half Marathon (I am excited to run another)
May 28, 2011: I was ordained to word and sacrament
June 4, 2011: I got a golden retriever puppy, her name is Dakota
June 21, 2011: I bought a house
June 26, 2011: I began my first call as an ordained minister in the ELCA

Ahhhh it has been nuts and I give thanks for my family and friends who have loved me and supported me through this all.

I have a few projects (a couple practical and a couple fun) I am working on and some fun ones to try that  I have found. My project list at the moment:
-take down the wall paper in my bedroom
-paint the bathroom my house
-unpack boxes
-continue working on a crocheted blanket for a friend
-coasters -I saw some coasters that someone had made and I can't wait to try to make them myself
-continue to train Dakota (I LOVE HER)
-train for the Oktoberfest run in Fargo

Life is good.

Yesterday

     Yesterday was one of those days that, as seminarians, we have dreamt about since before we even begin seminary. It was reading and research days here on campus and I stuck around campus for the break. The day was as normal as an empty day on campus could be. Most milestones here on campus are marked by: the community gathering, the community upholding in prayer, the community worshipping, and the community rallying around the days events. This one however was semi-unexpected and as I walked down to my mailbox I had no idea what I was going to find. I got to my mailbox and did the normal, squat down and was excited to see that there was something in my box, I am semi-convinced that my mailbox is a black hole for what can feel like weeks at a time.

     I spin my lock to open the box and naturally couldn’t get it to open, so I tried again (3 times) and finally opened my mailbox. I was expecting to find a letter from my mom, my grandma, or another loved one, I could see that it was a larger envelope (the kind that holds a full sheet of paper) and so I was trying to think through what my mom may have mailed me that she wouldn’t have wanted to bend. When I looked at the envelope I realized that it had come from the Northeastern Minnesota synod! I was surprised and anxiously opened the envelop there standing in the hallway, not a person in sight and no one could be heard.

     As I opened my envelope I found a letter from one of the assistants to the bishop describing a bit of what I would find behind the letter, A CONGREGATION’S PAPERWORK! The moment was surreal, I couldn’t believe what I was holding in my hand. A congregation’s paperwork describing themselves and a little bit about what they are looking for in a pastor. The assistant to the bishop has sent my name and paperwork to them and their paperwork to me?! This is a step in the direction of taking a first call.

     I realize that just because this is the first set of paperwork that I have gotten it does not mean that it is the call I will take, but it is still something to discern. I must discern, the congregation must discern, and together we will see what God is calling us to do. Is God calling us to journey together or is God calling another to live and serve amongst these people and calling me elsewhere? Time will tell.

     While this doesn’t really seem like a very big milestone it was one that caught me a little off guard, while I knew the paperwork might be on its way, it was still a surreal experience. It is hard to believe that while I look forward to graduating, it is a little strange to think that my classmates and I are now the candidates being sent out to congregations all across the United States. I am excited at the ways the Spirit is moving and calling us and meets us in all the unknowns that are before us. I am nervous and unsure at the same time. I trust the Spirit’s moving and guiding, knowing that the Spirit is everywhere and I am being called to live alongside God’s people in a new place, and the Spirit is already there working and moving, and will be there while I am there, and will remain when I am called elsewhere. God is present, God is moving, and it is humbling to see the ways God is moving and that God is in fact calling me to love and serve a particular congregation.