Sunday was a good day, but also a somewhat sad day . . . OK, a really sad day . . . because it was our pastor's last Sunday. After 18 years at Trinity, he is moving on to a new ministry at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. The service last night was very special and I'll admit, I cried on and off through most of it. Pastor Phelps is a very tender-hearted man and he and of course his whole family were all getting teary, as were many in the congregation. Jim and I were talking about it on the way home and saying that if we were having this hard a time with him leaving, after only being at Trinity for 2 1/2 years, how much worse must all the people be feeling who have been there so much longer!! On the upside, however, we will be looking forward to hearing what great things God will use Pastor Phelps to accomplish at Maranatha. And, we hope to see more church planters heading over to New England from Maranatha in the future . . . since Pastor Phelps has a huge burden for New England, and we know he will pass it on. :)
Here is a silly picture I took of Julia yesterday. Jim had put this fishy toy on her head, and she was clowning around. :)
And here is a picture of me in my new outfit that I made recently. Remember the shirt I mentioned in a previous post or two? Well, this is it . . . complete with coordinating skirt that I just finished yesterday. The skirt fabric cost $1/yard at Walmart! The shirt fabric cost $5/yard at Joann's . . . but I couldn't resist it because I just loved it. An extra special blessing is that I had enough of the two fabrics left over to make a matching dress for Julia. Haven't started sewing that yet . . . but it is all cut out and marked. I made it big, so it will hopefully fit her next summer, since this summer is all but over already! Anyway, here's the pic--click to enlarge if you want to see the fabrics better. This pattern is available here. The shirt was very simple, and the skirt (New Look #6354) was the easiest one I've ever made. I already got more fabric to make myself another shirt--probably will make the next one long sleeved or 3/4.
My yellow rose has opened fully now, and I got a much better picture of it this morning, which I just had to share. Isn't it gorgeous?! I love the pink edges. There is another bud starting to open, too. Now . . . if only I can keep it alive through the winter. :)
Well, it's getting late here and I need to head for bed. It's taken me all day to get this post done! It was a very long and tiring day . . . I think the kids were not the only crabby ones in our house . . . but hopefully tomorrow we will all be more cheerful. :) Hope everyone's week is off to a good start!
8 comments:
AWESOME JOB on the skirt and top!!!! That top is so cute and modest. Was it hard to make? I LOVE the feeling of having a project done. Don't you feel so proud to have made something yourself?
Sorry to hear about moody monday. :( We had a tiring monday so hopefully tomorrow won't be a terrible tuesday for us.
What's Pastor Phelps' new role at MBBC? Does your church have a replacement pastor yet? Wow, 18 years is a long time to be at one ministry - I can understand why you all will miss him so much!
Btw, good luck with your rose this winter. All but 1 of our roses died last winter. :( How do you plan to insulate it?
Alicia, thanks for the compliment on the skirt & shirt! The shirt was super easy and came together really fast. Of course the sleeves always take a while, but they were easier than a lot of sleeves I've put in! And yes, it is a GREAT feeling to get a project done. :)
Pastor Phelps is the new president at Maranatha. Pretty exciting for them . . . but we were sad to lose him! Yes, we do have a new replacement pastor--Brian Fuller, who has been the youth pastor at Trinity for the past 9 years. He has the same heart for ministry as Pastor Phelps and it will be neat to see the church continue to move forward under his leadership.
As for the roses . . . I'm not sure how we'll insulate them. I was thinking just mound tons of bark mulch around them and cover them with plywood "tents" too . . . I'll have to read up on it and see what sounds good!
Pretty in pink! One of my favorite colors. I probably have too much of it in my closet:). You look lovely and you did a wonderful job sewing your ensemble.
I can totally empathize with losing one's beloved pastor. Pastor Stertzbach left after 17-1/2 years at Trinity and his last Sunday was a "Sob Sunday" for sure. God was in it and God is using him greatly in a ministry out in AZ. The new pastor at Trinity is younger and is bringing new vision to the ministry. God will raise up a man to come and be just the right servant for the the calling there at your church. Keep us posted on what takes place:). I will be praying!
BTW - Isn't funny that there is are two Trinity Baptist Churches just a few hours away from each other?
Carrie,
I cut my roses down and bury them with dirt and mulch. One yellow rose I had didn't survive because I waited too long to do it.
I got the same yellow rose from Wal-Mart. I also got a Imperial Rose which is red. That is doing the best so far...when the deer don't eat them. :-(
-Zan
Carrie,
I LOVE your outfit. It looks perfect for spring and summer. Even though I don't comment much, I enjoy reading your blog. I have all of LMM's books. My parents started my collection when I was in elementary school.
Melinda Murrell
(NBBC grad 2001)
Thanks for the compliments, Rachel & Melinda!
Rachel, I don't own much pink (I love blue, and my closet demonstrates this fact!) so it was nice to make something pink for a change. :) It is funny how there are two TBCs in close proximity. I heard a lot of good things about the Sterzbachs over the years, and my mom and I met Mrs. Sterzbach at a ladies' retreat at DCA several years back . . . probably at least 5 years ago or more, actually! She was very sweet. One of their sons was a good friend of a guy in my class at DCA, also. We do have a new pastor already; he is a young man who was the youth pastor at Trinity for the past 9 years. The similarities between him and Pastor Phelps are interesting--for example, the Phelps were also in youth ministry for 9 years before coming to the senior pastorate at Trinity. Pastor Fuller is an excellent preacher and has a heart for people, and we are excited to see how God uses him in the senior pastorate.
Zan, Thanks for the tip on the roses! About what time of fall did you bury yours? Hopefully I will be able to keep mine alive. :)
Melinda, Thanks for commenting! I do remember you from Northland, and I'm glad you enjoy the blog. :) Hope you are doing well and having a lovely week!
Bury them before the first frost. I think I waited too long and they were exposed to a couple frosts, so that is why so many of them died. The cool thing about the dead ones is that the wild graft came back, but not the tea rose. Weird. The graft must be a lot hardier.
-Zan
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