It's officially Spring Break! Well, actually, it's been Spring Break for a couple of days already but basketball has consumed the start of my break. This is the first I've gotten to sit down and really think about what I want to do. I have long waited for this break and now it's here. I'm ready for the change of pace. I have lots that I need to do and lots that I want to do. Here's what is on my list for Spring Break. Go to the National Lutheran Grade School Tournament. Clip, sort and organize my coupons. Go grocery shopping. Read at least two books. Celebrate my 30th birthday. … Read More...
25 Years of Ministry at Crown of Life
25 years ago, my Dad accepted a Call to serve as Pastor to God's people at Crown of Life. 25 years ago, this February, the Barz family packed up our brown mini-van and moved across the country from Saginaw, Michigan to San Antonio, Texas. 25 years ago, our family only numbered five and we were (obviously) all a lot younger than we are today. 25 years ago, I thought Texas would be full of tumbleweeds and people riding horses while now I know that the hill country is indeed beautiful. 25 years ago, we were just meeting God's people at Crown of Life. Many people have come and gone … Read More...
My 2012 Goals
Last year, I wrote about my goals for 2011. I met some of them and others I didn't. This year is a new year so it's time for new goals. Goals are good and necessary to give purpose to one's life. As I reflected, many of my goals this year are continuations of things that I've recently started and / or want to improve upon. Here are my goals for this upcoming year. 1. Continue to read. I love to read, as you know if you regularly visit my site! My goal this year is to read 100 books. I've tried to do so the past two years and have only been shy a couple books. This year, I'm going to do it! … Read More...
Christmas Vacation
It's CHRISTmas vacation! I've made it through 83 days of this, my eighth year of teaching. Whew! I welcomed a new student and wrapped up our lessons with my old students. I directed the CHRISTmas service and organized our piano recital. I made ornaments for my third graders as well as my piano students. I wrote my lesson plans for our return in January and cleaned up my classroom. Now, it's time for vacation! I have lots of plan for this vacation. I know the next 12 days will pass by all too quickly. I have gifts to wrap and shopping to do. I have CHRISTmas cards to send and thank … Read More...
CHRISTmas Tour 2011
One of the highlights of our CHRISTmas season when I was growing up was our Epiphany Open House. Yes, Epiphany is the 12th day of CHRISTmas, so it still counts! On that day, we'd invite the entire church over to our home. (My Dad's a pastor, in case you didn't know!) We would bake with Mom for weeks, getting all sorts of delicious treats ready. Of course, the house looked wonderful as well, with all our CHRISTmas decorations out and about. Andy and I don't invite the whole church over to our house, but I'd like to invite you over for a virtual visit. Let me show you how our home looks this … Read More...
Snow and Advent
On Tuesday night, it snowed! It was our first real snow of the year. The trees were lovely, just like this... I didn't take this picture. Martyn E. Jones did. I wish I had. I haven't picked up my camera as much as I would like recently. I wanted a snow day yesterday so I could spend some time getting ready for this season. Today marks the first day of December. I'm excited and a bit not. Does that make sense to you? It does to me, because this is what I have figured out. I love CHRISTmas! I love decorating our CHRISTmas tree and singing CHRISTmas hymns. I love the snow outside and … Read More...