End of an Era
Our youth director told me that she is preparing a letter for the confirmation students next fall, and that her list of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade kids does not include a Stahlke. That's the first time since 2006!
Here's Peter's confirmation photo, taken in late March:
Adorable
I have watched the following Youtube video multiple times. This puppy is incredible. The best aspects about owning a dachsund are their playfulness and communication skills. Look at those eyes! For your information, the dog's name is "Apple."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjeUlajn82Y
Beauty
My sister-in-law Lois avidly pursued photography. She also loved her home state of Texas. This photo combines those two passions, with a gorgeous image of the state flower, the bluebonnet:
P.S. About Mother's Day
On Sunday morning, our pastor gave a wonderful prayer petition about Mother's Day:
Lord Jesus, we thank you, on this day when we honor mothers, for all the faithful women who have served you by loving and caring for us. Because you are so good and gracious, we have experienced mothering from many women, and all women have the opportunity to love and nurture children, whether biological or not. We pray that you would empower all women to use their gifts to teach and form children to serve and worship you.
Mothers Day 2001
Jonathan and I milled around the meeting rooms in the downtown hotel, surrounded by hundreds of other people. We chose from a myriad of topics from which to learn, all related to infertility. The organization running the conference had specifically chosen Mothers Day as the date for the event, since people facing infertility often find Mothers and Fathers Day to be difficult emotionally. Through the years, I've known many otherwise faithful churchgoers who avoid attending services on these days. It's just too painful for them to be reminded of this loss in their life.
Yesterday on Facebook, a wise friend of mine wrote the following post:
While celebrating Mothers Day, please remember those who would love to be mothers but can't be, those who have given birth to stillborns, women who have had abortions or miscarriages, and those who have difficult relationships with their mothers. This can be a very difficult day for them and the reminders are everywhere.
In Memoriam
Lois' father, Glenn Sawyer (87), died last Friday morning in his sleep. His funeral takes place today in Austin, Texas. Glenn has joined his wife Erna and only child Lois in heaven.
Kentucky
Jonathan teaches college, and some of his female students requested a photo of our dachsund. Since I'm the computer guru in the family, he asked me to find and forward Kentucky's photos to him. In doing so, this is the one that tugged at my heart:
The Lost is Found
As a parent, ever yearning,
Longing to be reconciled,
Seeks the prodigal’s returning,
Loving still the wayward child,
So my many sins and errors
Find a tender, pard’ning God,
Chast’ning frailty with His rod,
Not in vengeance with His terrors.
All things else have but their day;
God’s great love abides for aye.
- LSB 977, st. 4
