What's new?

It is funny when people come up and ask me, "What's new?" or "How's it going?" I really struggle with how to answer this because most of the time it is not going so great. In fact, not to be the proverbial Debbie Downer or anything, but I really can't remember when things were going awesome. Right now Fran is doing badly in school. She kicks other kids. She bites. Spits. Opera sings. Has to sit in solitary confinement when she is naughty because traditional methods don't work with her. But in all honesty, she is not a traditional kid.
Gus is having a hey-day being defiant. I know he's only four, but I am getting tired of being opposed everytime I make a request of him.
Craig is grumpy. He doesn't listen to me when I talk. I sorta feel like I am just talking to no one at times. I could say really rediculous things and he wouldn't even realize my mouth was moving. He is stressed being the only one at church again and it is weighing on him. All the work falls on him as well as all the hateration. It sucks. I can't even explain what it feels like to have people mad at you just because they don't like the songs your husband picked out for worship or because they don't like where the cross is displayed this week. I got nasty looks from a church member today because someone was spreading lies about me. I kid you not. I have never done anything to merit this treatment, just someone believing a bunch of crap that they have been fed.
I am always bummed out. My house is a disaster, the toilet overflowed, the flooring has to be ripped up, Gus spilled about a gallon of water on the carpet in his room and now it smells like poop, I have no closets in this house and no where to put all the crap that seems to collect in certain hot spots all over my house. My ironing board is overflowing. You can't walk in my office because of the junk from the bathroom where the toilet overflowed is in there. We have mice. My only friend in town moved away. All the moms at church think I am weird. Or evil. Or snotty. Or something else. I don't have a job. Or anything. Oh and my car makes weird noises when you go over a bump.
This is not even getting into the drama that I suffer from having constant family drama. Stuff comes at me from all sides. So how could I ever just tell people all this stuff? No one cares, really. I have decent health, kids, a house, a husband... I really don't have much to complain about other than the fact that I can't remember a time I was really, truly, happy.
I really like to watch this show called LA Ink. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It is all about tatooing, the artists who tatoo, the people who get the tatoos, why they get the tatoo they get, and everything that could go along with it. I got to thinking about what kind of tatoo I would get and why. I have always loved that swallow tatoo that Jack Sparrow has on his arm and I thought that would be cool to get, cause pirates are pretty rad. I like the idea of a bird, all free and happy... So I came up with this. Two swallows holding a banner that says "FAITH" and "HOPE." Now this is just in my mind, don't get all freaked out yet. If you think it is too cliched, that's cool... just bear with me. So the reason that I choose these two words was because I cling to them. I have to have hope, every day, that things will get better. I don't know what else I have if I can't at least hope that God has something really awesome for me around the corner. I can't even know what that is, I just have to have hope. And the faith part? I have to have faith that it will come true and that it is what God wants for me.
I guess when people ask me how things are going, I could answer, "Faith and Hope," but I think I will stick with, "I'm ok. How are you doing?" And leave it at that.

ValleyFair! and Other Antics

So yesterday we went to ValleyFair!, a really great amusement park. (It is owned by Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH which I hear is really great, too, but have never been there.) Anyway, I have not been to an amusement park since I was in high school. We lived right by Six Flags Great America for 5 years and never went. So I told Craig that I was making an executive decision for our family. This summer we would be going to ValleyFair!.
Yesterday was the day. My parent's had the kids for a week and a half and the plan was to meet them at ValleyFair! and spend a day there. Craig balked at the idea, but went along with it (he said he liked rides, but didn't want to waste a day there.) He went, although rather unwillingly. He didn't last long, though. He gets sick easily and bored quickly. But after a little while, he started having fun hanging out, and I found something out, too. My dad and I were having a blast, just like in the old days. You see, my dad and I love rides. A lot. We will go on any coaster you put in front of us, the faster the better. We went on all the major coasters, the High Roller (the original coaster attraction from 1976, the oldest and most classic), the Corkscrew (yes, upside down), the Excalibur, The Wild Thing(a 200ft 60 degree drop that goes over 76 mph... it is the one in the picture), The Renegade, and we even went on the Power Tower. (I exited this ride saying that I thought I had just had an embolism. They drop you 250 feet, and you are weightless for over 3 seconds. Believe it or not, it is taller by 75 feet than Valleyfair's number-one rated ride -- Wild Thing. Only FAA height regulations from Flying Cloud Airport prevented Power Tower from being even taller.)
Anyway, my dad and I went on a bunch of rides together and we would get off laughing and relating to my mom how awesome the ride was. She would laugh and call us crazy, just like when I was little; the routine hadn't changed a bit. It was great.
I didn't know how I would how I would feel, I mean a lot has happened since the last time I went (ie kids) but it was really great to feel like I was 12 all over again. And being scared silly is pretty fun too.

No kids? What will you do with yourself?!

I will get all of my recipes on my computer, that's what I'll do. I am doing this because I want to put together my own recipe book for new brides. We go to at least 5 weddings a year and to have a gift ready and waiting, put together with my own time and talent will be awesome. So here is one of my entries so far:

White Chili
from Jenah

3 15 oz cans great northern beans, drained (or equal amount of reconstituted)
8 oz cooked and shredded chicken breasts
1 cup chopped onions
1 1/2 cups chopped red or green bell peppers
2 jalapeno chili peppers, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (optional)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
sour cream
shredded cheddar
tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker except the last three. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or on High 4-5 hrs. Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream, chips and cheese. A Hensel favorite.

Serves 8.

So Cute

Why can't we have cute stuff like this for our little girls and preteens here in the States to watch? Look at them! They're wearing Hanna Anderson, for crying out loud! What we do have are skanky 'hos like Lindsay Lohan for our girls to look up to. They parade around flashing their bare butts at everything that moves while high on coke and crashing their Escalades into inanimate objects. Man, I love our country.

The Hard Stuff

There are some good things about being a pastor's wife, but most of the stuff is hard. I'll be honest. Really hard. Like today.
I only have two "best" friends in the world (other than family members) and my friend Ingrid is one of them. On Saturday, three of her friends were in a car accident. Two of them died. It is not fair to Ingrid, or anyone else for that matter, that these two young men were taken from family and friends long before it would be expected.
Yesterday was the reviewal and today was the funeral. And let me just say, they sucked. As a friend, I am required to be there for my friend emotionally, but as a pastor's wife, I need to drop everything and physically be there. Don't get me wrong, I would not have wanted to miss being there for Ingrid, but these things are some of the hardest things that cross my path. No one likes to go to funerals, but it is sometimes even harder when you are there to be support for the mourner and not mourning yourself. I hate having to see my best friend cry and sob and go through that stuff.
So here's to my brothers and sisters in Christ: Just know that yes, this is my job. But I love you and would do it anyway, because that's what its all about.