The Big Move, Part 2

We have been in Las Cruces for 2 weeks and most of the boxes have been emptied! There are still a few things that I must find a place for, and pictures to hang on the walls, but gradually our little apartment is looking more like home. Wow! It is really hard moving from a big house to a 2 bedroom apartment!! To me, Las Cruces is a huge city (90,000), but we are gradually learning our way around. Remember, I grew up in the country----the tiny hamlet of Browningsville, MD. I'm not sure it is even on all the maps! But, Paul is good with directions, so he is helping me learn the street names, and having me drive to various places to learn my way (he is in the car too, of course!). I now know how to get to the grocery store (Lowes Fiesta Foods), K-Mart, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, our storage rental and Savers (a wonderful thrift store). Of course, all these places are on the same street, so that helps! I still need help locating Walmart, Walgreens and Hobby Lobby! Ha! I haven’t ventured out on my own yet. Maybe this week! Rest assured, I will take our Garmin with me! I also know how to get to our 2 churches! Yes, I said churches! Joe is active at University Church of Christ, and wants us to worship with him, so we have been there the last two Sundays. One of their services is at 11:20, so we will go to that most of the time. They have an earlier service where they only have accapella music, but THIS later service has a praise group, WITH INSTRUMENTS! It is a very uplifting service, with a wide range of age groups. During the school year, many college students attend this later service, Their young pastor is a very gifted spiritual leader and the sermon we heard our first Sunday here was very evangelical and challenging! They emphasize outreach a lot! We will be well fed spiritually! BUT, since we ARE United Methodists and since Paul has a conference obligation to maintain contact with a Methodist church during our leave of absence, we will also attend St Paul’s United Methodist church! It is just a mile from our apartment! We went to their earlier 9:30 “New Day Praise” Service this past Sunday morning. It also was very uplifting and worshipful. Their pastor is James Large, and they just received a “new associate” pastor – Tammy Valentine. Paul knows James, from our connections with our NM Annual Conference. They have FOUR (count ‘em!) worship services! 8:15 (traditional/gospel), 9:30 (informal with praise music) and 2 at 10:45 (one contemporary and one traditional). We will go to the 10:45 service sometimes too, because Ben said he wanted to go with us sometimes. When we go to the late Methodist service we may go to the early Church of Christ worship. How’s that for being eccumentical?!

Paul continues to look for employment. But, we are not worried. We know that the Lord will take care of us and He is going to open the right doors and opportunities of service for us. We are trusting Him! He has applied to many places he would enjoy working----it will be interesting to see where the Lord leads us to minister and work! Even though he won’t be the pastor of a church we know that EVERYONE is always a MINISTER of the Gospel wherever we work! As for me, I am enjoying setting up our apartment, and just being at home. I have a couple of possibilities that may open up for me, outside the home, to help with our income. But if not, it’s okay. I have applied at the public schools as a teacher aide, but with budget cuts, that probably will not happen. One option I am considering is to give piano lessons here at the apt. Paul purchased for me a wonderful Yamaha Portable Grand piano, full-sized keyboard, with a beautiful tone! It’s perfect for an apt! Even if I don't give lessons, I will love playing it! I already do love playing it! Also, in the paper the other day, AND at worship on Sunday at St Paul’s, I heard of another job possibility! St Paul’s Methodist has a Child Development Center/Preschool, and they need a preschool teacher for the next school year! That’s right down my alley, since I taught preschool for 6 years at Lil Dogs! I met the director on Sunday, and am sending her my resume this week! Pray with us that the Lord will show us the paths he wants us to take that will enable us to be the best witnesses for Him!

It is wonderful having all three kids here in town! Emilee is back home with us for her last year at NMSU. She is busy this summer, working 2 jobs – at Wet Seal, a clothing store at the mall, and as a waitress at the Lemon Grass Restaurant (Thai food). It's good to have her here, though she is gone much of the day! The Lemon Grass Restaurant is a great place to eat. The food is different from other Asian foods we've had, but is good! They use peanut oil, peanuts, ginger, and curry in their cooking! I love their iced Lemon Grass Tea! Joe has completed (and hopefully passed) his LAST final exam of his college career and is now completing his internship at Fitness One, as a personal trainer (and getting paid too!) He loves it! It looks like he will graduate in December, and Emilee will graduate in May! Ben will enroll at the Dona Ana Jr College Campus in the fall! It is connected to NMSU. He is enjoying his work at the Doggie Dude Ranch! It is a boarding kennel and DAYCARE for dogs! Can you believe it?!?! People who go on vacation board their dogs there, but ALSO, some people just bring their dogs there for the day while they are at work! I never heard of that before. Ben says they want their dogs to socialize! They bathe them, feed them and take them out to play in the big yard. I guess they have nap time too!? Just maybe he and I both will have jobs at a daycare! He likes this job---so that’s the important thing.

We had our first dinner guest Saturday night (Not counting our kids – who AREN’T guests)! A Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (which is in Artesia) student that attended our Artesia church last winter is now living in Las Cruces and working with the Border Patrol in Deming! We had him over for veggie pizza last night (since he is vegetarian!) fruit salad and icecream! We hope to have more times of fellowship with him in the future. If you've got any veggie recipes, send em on! ha

So, our life is beginning to take shape here in Las Cruces, the city of the 3 crosses. Come back soon for more on what the Lord is doing in our lives, and what he is teaching us!

The Big Move to Las Cruces, NM - Part 1

It's been a long time since I posted anything on my "blog" so I will try to fill everyone in! Actually I'm lazy and I don't want to write the same thing more than once in a snail mail letter or email and so I am directing all my Facebook friends and email buddies here to "read all about it"!

Most of you know that we moved from Artesia, NM recently --- Tuesday, June 21 to be exact! There have been some big changes in our lives----ones that have required a giant step (no, LEAP!) of faith! I am guessing that the Lord knew I needed to grow in that area!!! Hopefully I can poetically ponder my past as a pastor's wife and tell you what the Lord is teaching me (or a least TRYING to teach me! But I don't think I am being a very good student these days! Just ask my x-preacher husband, Paul!)

What's this? "X-Preacher" , "Past preacher's wife"? NO we haven't "GIVEN UP THE MINISTRY" or backslidden or walked out on God or anything! Let me back up a bit! In the United Methodist church, about this time of year (late May and June) it is "appointment time". In the spring, the bishop and the district superintendants meet and pray about where to deploy their pastors. Taking into consideration the desires/needs of the congregations, the desires/needs of the pastor, and the needs of the churches/conference, they have the huge, daunting task of trying to match pastors with churches, and churches with pastors. They take into account the pastor's gifts and strengths and the churches' mission field and needs, and they match the two together. Hence, in 2001 we moved to Artesia---a match literally made in heaven! We have been in Artesia 9 wonderful years, and we thank God for what he has done in our lives and in the lives of our congregation. But just as surely as God calls you to a location or a job, God also can call you out of it. Let me explain: For a little over a year, we have sensed that it was time for us to move on from here. You've heard of "wearing out your welcome"? Well, I'm not sure we did that, but we wanted to leave before we did! Ha! We just sensed that God was telling us to step aside and let someone else plant some new seeds, and also water the seeds that we had planted under God's direction. So. . . we initiated the request for a change. Paul requested a leave of absence, and then early retirement from the United Methodist church , to be effective next May of 2011 (30 years). It wouldn't be fair to take another church for a year or so and then request early retirement. Churches need more continuity in leadership than that. So, since Paul has wanted to try his hand at something different, we decided to request a leave of absence for a year, prior to retirement. Paul is a hard-working preacher! He puts his heart, soul, and mind into studying the Scriptures in order to preach a Biblical sermon weekly. He works hard to guide the members of our congregation in a direction that the Lord is leading. In Artesia, he was very active in the community and attended many of the school and community events, besides visiting folk in their homes. He also wrote a devotional article weekly for the Artesia Daily Press. Now, it is time for break. His cup need refilling. He wants and needs a break from this line of ministry and wants to do something different. So, we decided to leave the pastoral ministry and move to Las Cruces, NM! A little over 28 years ago, the late Rev Maurice Stevens, founder of Missionary World Service and Evangelism (now Go International) told us something very profound.. As we were eating a meal with he and his wife, Beverly, one evening, he said to us, "Never become so content in a job that if the Lord tells you to leave it/move on, you won't be able to do it!" He told us that in reference to his life and call, but it has remained with me to this day, and I think it may have been a word from God for us, even now. It was and is a huge step of faith for us to leave the pastoral ministry, as we still aren't really clear on what the Lord would have us do here. But one thing we are certain of: God has told us to move on. And since He has told us to move on, we believe he will guide us on to the next thing. Now, lest you think that I am a person of great faith and strength, let me be quick to tell you that those words are easier said (or written) than done! My head knows all that for sure, but my heart is a bit further behind. This move has been a real struggle for me. I have been so content, fulfilled, loved, secure and happy in my role as pastor's wife. I have a definate call to full time Christian service. God let me know that back in my teenaged years. BUT, all Christians are to be in "full-time Christian service"! There is no place where we are exempt from serving the Lord. Now I just need to find the "next place" where God wants me to serve Him! And that will be the only place where I will find true contentment, fulfillment, love, security and happiness---in the center of His will!

One thing we DO know for certain, now that we've moved to Las Cruces, is that our children need us here at this time of their lives. Joe is finishing up his college career and will graduate from NM State University in December. Emilee is approaching her Senior year at NMSU, and Ben will be enrolling in College in the fall!!!! This is a rare opportunity that we have to be a source of encouragement to our 3 grown young adult children! Who knows when we will ever again all be located in the same town. We must not take that for granted! We thank the Lord for that blessing. AND that each one actually seems to like the idea that we are here!

So, there you have it. We have moved. Read on for some other details of our first days here. And maybe even some more lessons learned (or working on!)
Thus ends this segment of my "ponderings". . . And by the way. . . I'm still a pastor's wife. . . I'm the bride of the Greatest Pastor and Teacher of all time. . . Jesus Christ!

Homemade Applebutter

As I was growing up, I looked forward to apple butter making time every fall! The ladies in my home church made apple butter outdoors at the local Browningsville hall parking lot, in 4 or 5 huge copper kettles, over an open fire. Other little churches in the farming community where I grew up also made apple butter! It was community tradition! But the applebutter from Bethesda United Methodist Church was well known for miles around. Jars of their apple butter has been shared with family and friends all over the states, and even in other countries! My Aunt Ruth Beall taught school in San Jose Costa Rica, and my sister and brother-in-law were missionaries in Honduras. They received some at Christmas!

The evening before apple butter day, we all would meet at the “hall” and pair apples for the next day. It was a fun time for our church family. All the kids came with their parents. Our job was to either hand apples to the men who were putting the apples on the parers, or keep the ladies supplied with the pared apples, so they could core and quarter them. We anxiously awaited the times when someone would give us one of the crisp, tart apples to snack on --- or sneak one for ourselves!

Early in the morning, the next day (about 6:00 or 7:00), the men would build the fires and the ladies would put the apples on to cook. They stirred the apple butter with big wooden paddles. The men kept the fires going and took turns with the ladies, stirring the bubbling brew.

(A funny thing happened one year during applebutter makin'! Our church was growing and we were getting "newer" members---city folk that worked in/near Washington and Baltimore (prounounce "Baltmer" in my part of the country!) and who wanted to 'live in the country" OR who traveled through the country to get to the interstate! Some of those folks drove by the hall on their way to work and saw the ladies outside with scarves on their heads, aprons and long coats. They saw the kettles over the fire and the men and women stirring the kettles with big long wooden paddles. What a strange sight, so early in the morning! Some wondered if it was witches stirring their brew!!!! For sure, they were "new to town" and knew nothing of a "good ol' homemade applebutter makin' "! )

After the apples had “cooked down“, they added the sugar and spices. That usually happened after lunch. . .

It was so hard for us kids to go to school that day, knowing what was happening at the hall. My cousin Sandra, my brother, Dwayne, and I couldn’t wait for the last bell to ring at 2:30 so we could get on the bus and head for the hall. About the time we would get there, the ladies would be ready to dip up the bubbling, spicy applebutter into quart jars and seal it. We would get there just in time to “sop” up the leftovers in the kettles with bread! Mmmm! Good!! Folks who wanted some apple butter would bring their jars and they would be filled. I don’t remember how much they paid per jar, but they always sold out. They always held some back to use at mealtimes at the annual Damascus Camp Meeting held each August. The recipe was passed down from generation to generation. The original recipe made 40 gallons!! My Aunt Bernadine Beall wrote the recipe down and then “pared” it down to make 4 gallon. She gave me a copy of the original and her 4 gallon recipe. With my mom’s help (Catherine Watkins), we halved it several more times to make 1 gallon! Over the years we have adjusted the spices until it is just right! It is still my favorite and has become a favorite for my children as well. We ration it out when we get down to a couple of jars left! Several years ago my home church stopped making applebutter. The price of sugar became too high, and the “original” ladies were getting older and none of the newer younger ladies wanted to carry on the tradition. So, for a while, only small groups of relatives would make it. The last time I remember “makin’ applebutter” was “up at Ann and Alfreds”, Sandra’s parents’ home. I think it was Ann and Alfred, Randall and Sandra, Aunt Mary and Uncle Milton, and possibly Doris and Alton.
Now, most of the ladies who knew how to make applebutter have passed away. It has becoming a “lost art”! But when the weather starts to get cooler and the leaves begin to turn colors and fall from the trees, my thoughts turn to Browningsville, MD and applebutter makin!! I can still close my eyes and remember the sights and SMELLS of that annual tradition!
I like to carry on that tradition as well! There is nothing better than homemade rolls with applebutter!

Old Fashioned Applebutter
(Beverly Duerksen)
(adjusted from the original recipe used at
Bethesda United Methodist Church in Browningsville MD)

Apples - enough to make 1 gallon sauce
Core and pare apples. Cook down to sauce.
Place sauce in roaster, in 350 oven.
Add ½ cup sugar per cup of sauce (8 cups/1 gallon sauce), reserving 2 cups to add later mixed with the spices.
Cook for a while until bubbly (I start in morning and cook till after lunch)
Mix the reserved 2 cups of sugar with:
2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Add sugar/spices to boiling sweetened sauce and cook until thickened.
(Time depends on how juicy the sauce was)
Dip up into sterilized jars and seal. It’s safe to let them seal on their own since the apple butter is boiling hot, but I usually put jars in pressure canner just to insure tight seal, though it’s not necessary. Yield 7 ½ - 8 pints.

Quick Recipe
(For those who don’t have access to fresh apples --- or are too lazy to prepare the apples! Ha!)
Open a gallon can of prepared sweetened applesauce and put in large crock pot. Add 2 cups sugar mixed with spices (above) and cook all day or all night and day. Spoon into jars! Seal!

A Ride of Faith

Two weeks ago, Paul and I went to see our oldest son, Ben. Since he had a couple days off from work, we asked him what he would like to do while we were there. He said that since we never took him to an amusement park when he was little,he would like to go to Cliff's Amusement Park! And. . . if we went, we would have to ride the rides with him! Not realizing that we had deprived him of a childhood dream, we thought we better indulge him and go. But, after we said "sure, let's go", we thought more about what we'd agreed to do! We started getting cold feet, and wanted to back out. "Were the rides as wild as they say they are?" "Will our bodies (not to mention our hearts!)be strong enough to take the trauma?" "We're in our 50's! We're too old to do this!" Fear and trepidation began to set in! But, any of you out there who have ever had kids, know that once you commit, you better be ready to follow through! So. . . off we went to Cliffs - 2 very nervous, gray-haired 50=somethings and one very strong and muscular 25 year old, who had been through Army boot camp and a tour in Iraq! To him this was a piece of cake! He smiled as he watched his ol' mom and dad walk to the ticket gate, knowing what was in store for us that day! The first ride, at first looked harmless enough -- that is, until we got a closer look. It was a circular contraption with seats attach firmly (hopefully!) around the perimeter. When the wheel began to move, the seats went around and around with it. "Oh, this won't be too bad, right? It's like a ferris wheel. We can do this! So, we got on and the young attendant lowered a iron vest over our shoulders and lap. "Oh no, this isn't good," I thot! It was then we realized that at the top we would be UPSIDE DOWN, and this was to prevent us from falling out! Well, it was too late to back out now, so off we went, around and around, faster and faster! All I could do was close my eyes and pray. Paul nearly lost his glasses, and when we thot that we couldn't hang on much longer, we slowed down and came to a stop! Mercifully, we found our legs and were able to walk away from it all. But it was only to be confronted with the next ride - "The Rattler". We heard screaming and saw kids flying past us on a roller coaster fit only for the young and restless! Paul said, "I'm taking my glasses off for this one." I sat on my hat. Ben just laughed! After we were barred in, a young lady started the ride. Now, I'm sure the view from up that high must have been spectacular, but we were moving so fast and jerking so violently, whipping this way and that, no person in their right mind would have appreciated it, much less have seen it! Besides, I had my eyes closed the whole time (praying out loud, of course) I looked over at Paul and he had his eyes closed too. He told me to be quiet. "Don't talk any more. I need to concentrate!" After what seemed like an eternity we rounded the last sharp turn and flew down the incline and the coaster slowed down. We couldn't wait to get off! Ben and I got out and we stood there waiting for Paul. He was still in his seat. His lap bar was stuck and he couldn't get out. We thought he would have to ride the course again, but the attendant came to his rescue and released him. After having endured those first two rides, we felt we could handle anything. Little did we know which ride Ben had in mind next---"The Cliff Hanger". Paul quickly bowed out and so as not to break our promise to Ben, I bravely said I would go with him. We buckled ourselved into our seats---bars across our shoulders and lap. The attendant went around 3 times and checked to make sure we were were fastened securely in our seats, and then the ride began. Slowly we were transported straight up this tall pole-like structure, until we were at least 10 stories high! Of course, my eyes were tightly closed the whole vertical trip! I wanted to get off, but it was too late. Up and up we went. I received no comfort from my oldest son. He said, "I don't like heights. Oh this is bad." When I am sure we were up in the midst of the clouds we stopped. Here it comes, said Ben. Before I could even catch my breath, we plunged down to the ground at lightning speed. My heart was in my throat, my hair stood on end, and my sitter was NOT in the seat! As I saw my life flash before me, I prepared to meet my Maker! And then we stopped, inches from the ground. I opened my eyes, and caught my breath! I'm alive, I thought! It's a miracle! If I hadn't been so grateful to be alive I would have wondered what all those young people around us were thinking when they saw a pale 52 year old woman staggering off the Cliff Hanger. I now knew why we had NEVER taken our kids to amusement parks when they were younger!
I won't bore you with any of the other rides we went on. Suffice it to say that they too were hair-raising---at least for middle aged folks who are only used to the thrill and excitement of fishing at Clayton Lake State Park! After about 2 hours at the park Ben informed us that he had had enough. I'm sure he was thoroughly embarrassed to be at an amusement park, accompanied by his parents, who were aging more and more by the minute! But as I reflect on our adventures at Cliffs I am reminded of the importance of FAITH in our lives. It took a LOT of faith for Paul and I to ride those wild rides at the amusement park. We had to have faith in the machinery that operated the rides. We had to trust that they would run safely and properly, stay on their tracks and stop when they needed to stop. Sure, we were apprehensive and even afraid, but in the back of our minds, we knew they must be safe, or else they wouldn't allow people to ride them. It's the same with faith, and our ride through life with Jesus Christ. Sometimes the ride can be scary. We encounter twists and turns in our life, and we can't see where we are going. We feel like we are falling, but in the back of our minds, we know who is in control! We know that Jesus is there and he won't let us fall. He will guard and protect us at every twist and turn. He walks beside us in the journey of life. When things get rough, he carries us. We can and we should trust him. If we are trusting enough to risk life and limb at the hand of man-made machinery at an amusement park, how much more should we trust a Savior who loved us enough to die on the cross to save us from eternal death?

The Family of Christ

Que maravilla es tener una familia (How wonderful to have a family)
Una familia en Cristo Jesus (A family in Jesus Christ!)
Que maravilla es tener una familia (How wonderful to have a family)
Una familia en Cristo Jesus (A family in Jesus Christ!)
Una familia unida (A united family)
Una familia real (A real, genuine family)
Una familia que ama (A family that loves)
Una familia celestial (A heavenly family)

Vol 5 Beautiful Honduras

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vol 4 Building Relationships

Make a Smilebox slideshow