Michelle Wegner

Found Poem

I used to write poetry like a maniac.  I wrote so many poems in high school, college, and early in our marriage that I started to think in poetry.  Then I had kids.  I've probably written 5 poems in the last 5 years.  I used to write 5 a day.  It's amazing how having children can change so much about you.  I feel like I am at a time in my life where I can start to think about seriously writing again.  I can piece two sentences together without someone puking on me or needing their diaper changed.  I am very, very glad about that.  For all the parents that can not yet piece two sentences together, don't worry, it will happen again soon.  It may take a while, but consider what you are doing right now "material" for future use.

Here is one of the poems I came across from my old journals.  More to come later this weekend.

Imagine

silver bells and silver shells,

butterflies and pale green skies

dragon tails and moon lit trails

party hats and fancy pants

purple punch and guests that dance

flying fairies eating green berries

long haired mermaids drinking sherry

fields of flowers

castles and towers

beautiful gardens

the tallest sun flowers

Isabelle Update

Isabelle had her yearly check-up today.  She's been having lots of back pain lately which is a new thing for her.  Since I have rheumatoid arthritis, our doctor is very suspicious that this may be the source of all Belle's joint pain and her delays.  On top of finding an orthopedic pediatric specialist, we are now setting up an appointment with a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis doctor.  Pray for Belle's Mommy, (that would be me).  I am NOT a crier at all, but when Belle tells me she hurts, I am one step away from losing it.  (Mostly because we don't know the source of her pain.)

Again, I have to make this disclaimer every time, but don't send me any prayer cloths, anointing oil, or Holy water.  I don't need your Grandma's recipe for what cures all her ailments, or your really friendly advice on what you think we should do.  I just need you to pray for Belle and her doctors, that they would be able to help her.  Thanks so much.

More Typepad Love

I told you Typepad loves me.  They sent me a shirt so I will always know it is true.  What have I done to deserve such unconditional love?  I will wear my shirt proudly for all to see.  Thanks Typepad.  You made my day!

You Asked....

Here are my answers to your wonderful questions!

Susan:  Do you think you will always live in IN?

This is a loaded question!  Susan also added that she used to attend GCC and wants Rob and I to move to Tennessee to start a church there.  Although Rob and I love Tennessee, I don't think we will move there, or anywhere else any time soon.  We are confident we are in the middle of where God wants us to be here in Indiana.  And as we always say, "Wherever you travel from here, it's always better!"  So, everywhere else we go in the world is wonderfully exciting compared to Indiana.  Why would we want to ruin that sense of wonder?  :)

Mandy: What is your kids' favorite meal that you cook for them?

Without a doubt, pancakes with scrambled eggs.  All three girls would give the same answer. 

  Renee:  What is your biggest struggle on a daily basis?

Dealing  with rheumatoid arthritis compounded with a relatively bad back problem make it really difficult to keep a smile on my face for my family.  Aside from staying positive, it's just really hard to work up the energy to do laundry, clean the bathrooms, make beds, fold socks, do dishes, brush and fix hair for 3 girls, make dinner, play Polly Pockets, Do 4th grade math, listen to endless jokes, and brush Belle's teeth.  It is exhausting enough without dealing with the arthritis and back thing.  I've been learning a lot about trusting in God for strength and endurance when I just don't have it.

Jessie:   if you could visit anywhere in the world with your family, where would that be?

With my family?  Hmmm...First of all, it would have to involve easy travel.  Lets pretend we have our own jet to transport us.  Then, I would say I would want to take them on the same safari on the Nile river I took when I spent a summer in Uganda.  It is something I have told the girls about over and over again.  I wish they could just see it for themselves.

Rick:  what's the funniest/funnest thing Rob has ever done for you?

One of the things I loved about Rob when we first met, (I was 12, he was 15) was how he made me laugh.  I laughed so much when I was with him, that it made me always want to be with him. I'd have to say he still can make me laugh like no one else can. 

Probably the one of the most elaborate things Rob has done to make me laugh is when he had his college friends reenact a dream I had down to the minute details.  They all had scripts and props and if I remember right, Rob was there directing them.  At first I had no idea what was going on, but then I started piecing it together.  It was both weird and funny.

My life with Rob since then is kind of like a never ending comic strip.  We have a lot of fun together.  There is always something funny going on in our house, whether it be intentional or not.

You Ask, I'll Answer

Lurkers, come clean!  I know you're out there.  I don't know quite who you are, but I know where you live.  Well, not exactly, but remotely.  Ok, well, really I don't know too much about you and you know all this stuff about me.  It's kinda freaky.

So, I was wondering why you read my blog?  What is it about my life that is interesting?  Do you enjoy laughing at my mishaps?  Do  you think my kids are weird?  Do you secretly wish you could live in Northern Indiana like me?

Well, it's your turn to talk.  What else do you want to know?  Your options are wide open.  Ask me anything you want, except for any questions about s-e-x, because my parents and my Uncle Bud read this blog.

Ok, your turn.  What do you want to know?

How Big is Your Jesus?

Michelle Wegner

You Write The Caption

A Hundred Pounds of Memories

I pulled an old box from the top shelf of the garage today.  I was standing on the ladder thinking, "This is very bad.  This box is probably 100 pounds.  How in the world am I going to get it down the ladder?"  Of course I did what any intelligent person would do, I gently slid it out and let it crash 10ft. to the ground.  I didn't know there was glass in there.  oops.  Anyway, it was totally worth the broken glass.

In this box that I have not opened in the 4 years since we have lived in this house are my journals.  I started journaling when I was probably 12 years old.  I had a counselor at summer camp tell me that writing down my prayers was a great way to connect with God.  I took her up on her idea, and have been journaling ever since. 

100 pounds of journals.  My most precious belongings.  I am so glad I took the time to write everything down as a teenager.  I'm glad I have my entire relationship with Rob chronicled from the first time he walked in my house when I was 12 until today.  I am so glad I wrote down my thoughts and feelings the first years Rob and I shared in ministry.  I learned so much in those days.  So much I would most likely have forgotten otherwise.  I am so glad I wrote about what it was like to be pregnant for the first time.  Then, what it was like to see my daughter get a sister that we were sure was going to be a brother... And then one more sister.  I'm so glad I wrote it all down. 

I Can't wait to dig into the pile of journals tomorrow. And NO, you can't look at them.  :)

O.M.W!

My friends are amazing. Seriously.  Amazing.  Serious props and kudos go to Kem for her inspiration and Lisa for her genius and creativity for this new blog banner.  It makes me want to cry when I look at it.  How did they capture my life like that?  Amazing.  You guys rock.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

Some kids are intellectual.  Some kids retain every bit of information that comes their way.  Maddie, my oldest daughter had her ABC's down by 18 months old, as well as all her colors and a full vocabulary.  Whitney was a whiz with numbers, colors, and also had a huge vocabulary.  With both older girls, I hardly had to motivate them to learn anything...still don't.  I didn't try to potty train them, they did it themselves by 2 1/2.

God gave me Isabelle to realize I am not "Super-Mom".  She never crawled, never slept through the night, didn't potty train until 3 1/2, has no interest in counting, ABC's or learning her name.  She is 100% visual learner.  She also has a huge vocabulary, extraordinary people skills, incredible imagination, and serious creativity when it comes to coloring and outfit designs. 

So, at the end of Belle's preschool last year, I had a conference with Mrs. Derbin.  She said with tears in her eyes, "I love Isabelle.  She is one of the most affectionate kids I have ever known.  I can't wait to get to school every day to see what she is wearing."  On top of that, she said, "Belle has to learn her name by the time she gets in the 4/5 class.  They don't take much time to work on printing names in that class."

Since that meeting, it has been my driving force.  TEACH ISABELLE TO WRITE HER NAME.  In everything we have done this summer, I tried to get her to write her name.  We have been working on I-S-A-B-EL-L-E since last year, but realized this was way too much for her brain and hand to cooperate with.  As the summer has come to a close and the 4/5 class is about to begin, I have gotten sneakier.  I bought finger paint, chalk, let her color on the windows, walls, etc. (Only designated spots).

Finally, today of all days, it paid off.  The name is mastered.  If you're not a Mom or Dad or teacher, you might not understand how I can get teary over B-e-l-l-e.  5 simple letters.

Today was a great day.

Blissfully Domestic

Ok, it's official.  I am writing for an online magazine called "Blissfully Domestic."  For those of you who are laughing out loud right now because you know me and you know that I am anything but a "blissfully domestic" kind of person, STOP IT!  You are a meany. 

I will be writing for two different channels.  One is the Parenting/Family channel, and the other is the Inspiration/Faith channel.  You will find me periodically hyperventilating because I am so excited.  It's not a paid gig, but it's wonderful practice at being a "real" writer, and the audience is huge.

I am really hoping that I can use my writing gift to influence Mom's to be better Mom's and at the same time bettering their own spiritual lives.  This is an amazing opportunity, and  I would really appreciate your prayers!

Typepad Loves Me

Hi Michelle:
I saw a Tweet from you offering to help another user with TypePad decisions. Thanks so much from us – it’s always great to see users helping other users. We’re going to be getting a forum going soon for help with things like this, as well as moving to some great new features. Thanks again for reaching out, though – it’s what I love to see.
--
Ginevra Whalen
TypePad Community Manager
Six Apart

What My Kids Have Taught Me

 

I've been a Mommy for 10 years.  Long enough to know

• My girls can easily divide and conquer me and their Dad if we let them. 
• Every day is a new challenge
• I will never cook like my Mom
• I could never put enough helmets, knee pads, elbow pads or safety glasses on my kids to keep them from being hurt
• My kids are awesome, but other people's kids are awesome too
• There are no easy answers
• It's never too early to teach them about character and integrity
• I often do the wrong thing.  Saying sorry to my kids is invaluable
• There are other Mom's and Dad's that are way smarter than me.  I try to learn all I can from great parents
• My parents did so many things right.  I hope I do too.

Submission

On my Bible study blog about Spiritual Disciplines, Further up, Further In, we have begun a discussion about submission.  I thought it would be cool to post it here too to get some more thoughts and input about this. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments.

I appreciate the way Valerie Hess writes about submission.  So often when I hear that word, I automatically think of submitting within the context of a marriage or in church.  I have no problem with either, but I am glad she broadened the use of the word and the discipline. 

I think the area of submission within church and marriage and  has been talked about to death.  In studying submission this week, lets try to think outside of those two boxes.  Lets think of submitting to God in other areas of our lives.  Some examples might  be submitting to God by:

• Giving up the need to be right
• listening to and accepting criticism from others
• Not speeding
• Not littering
• Being on time for events

Those are some of my ideas.  What are some of  yours?

The Pillars of the Earth

   I'm a little slow to the game.  I know this book came out a while ago, but I am just reading it now.  It's a book about the building of a cathedral in the middle ages.  Sounds simple, but the story is intriguing.  It's not too often that you are absolutely convinced by an author that the characters are real and you are a part of the story.    The story line is fascinating.  It's the kind of book that gives you a stomach ache when you start to see the demise of one of the characters.  Like in the movie The Never Ending Story I recently watched with the girls, I have found myself talking out loud to the characters in the book.  It is over 1000 pages long, so I have been busy.  It's funny how when you find an amazing book like this everything else goes on hold for a while.  At least that is how it is for me.  What's the best book you've read lately?

When Schools Go Green Update

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you help me figure out what is important and what I should keep?  I went to college and I can't.

100 pieces of paper after 5 days of school.  The girls are in 3rd and 4th grade.  How much money does it cost to print off 100 pieces of paper?  How many weeks of school are there?  Figure 100 pieces of paper times the weeks of school and I'm sure that's a small fortune, and that is for two children.  Just two.  There is something terribly wrong here.

Top 10 Moments From the First Week Back to School

1. Isabelle hugging her sisters tight every morning before they leave for school.  She really misses them.
2. Rob swinging on a trapeeze during his sermon.
3. Sleeping in on Saturday past 7am
4. Sleeping in on Sunday past 7am
5. Watching Whitney hug her teacher, whom she adores.
6. I started writing for the GCC writing team.  I especially love the leader of this team.
7. I started writing for an  online magazine. 
8. I made a new friend.
9. The Twitter world saved the day once again.  Maddie's in the door/ER crisis handled with love from all my Tweeps
10. My friends think My Dad and Mom are pretty cool people.

Blogging For Dummies

I've had a few different people say it to me.  I don't get offended.  I just laugh.  They say thing like, "I read Rob's blog, and it's so...well...deep.  I read yours to get a laugh or to check in on your family."  Does this mean I am not deep?  Ha!  I don't know.  Sometimes I can be. 

But...if you come to my blog to get a laugh, I hope you are entertained.  However, I am real smart and educated.  :O)

I did remove all the books from my blog page a few days ago.  Those books are all good, but I got tired of looking at them.  Most of them are non-fiction, really smart people books.  I don't always learn the most from those.  The books I tend to learn the most from are biographies and stories of how people got to where they are today.  That doesn't mean I'm dumb.  If you are an avid fiction reader, I think you are just as smart as people who read books with titles I can't pronounce or spell.

My new book list includes the 10 fiction books that have shaped my thinking just as much as a non-fiction book would.  It's funny how God made us all different, isn't it?

What fiction book has shaped your thinking?  I'd love to hear about it.  Maybe I'll pick it up!

Innovate '08

Are you coming to Innovate08?  I am!  If you are, I hope to meet you if we haven't met yet.  Sheila Beeson and I will be hosting one of the Casual Q&A sessions on Friday afternoon of the conference.  Here is a brief description of what that means:

Casual Q&A’s are very specific topics where attendees have the freedom to ask questions and dialogue with Granger staff. They are not as structured as teaching breakouts but designed to be informal Q&A sessions with the questions being determined by the attendees themselves. 

Got questions on: boundaries between your private life vs. the church life and how to support your spouse through the challenges of day-to-day ministry? Pastor's Wives: Sheila Beeson, wife of Granger’s Senior Pastor and Michelle Wegner, wife of Granger's Pastor of Life Mission will be hosting this Casual Q&A session.

With that said, if you are a Pastor's wife coming to Innovate, you need to come to this session and meet Sheila Beeson!  She's amazing!  I have known her and served beside her and Mark for 16 years.  I watched her be an amazing Mom to Amber, Aaron, and Angela.  I can credit my parents and the Beeson's for the way I parent my own kids today.  Not only that, Sheila has been an amazing role model to me as to how to be a "normal" person and a Pastor's wife.

I am thinking of doing some cross-stitching or needlework together while we chat.  Or, we can sing old hymns around a piano.  WAIT!  I AM KIDDING!

We won't be doing those things.  Really.  I was kidding.

If you are  a Pastor's wife (or even if you're not) what would you want to talk about during this Q&A?  What are some things you would NOT want to talk about?  I'm curious.  Let the research begin!

When Schools "Go Green"

When schools go green, I will most likely roll over in my grave.  My grave?  Yep.  I think it will take them that long to take advantage of a little thing called the Internet that most likely every person in our school district has in their home.  Today was the first day back to school for my girls.  It may sound weird, but one of the things I dread the very most about them going back to school is all the paper.  Forms for this and that.  Newsletters.  Permission slips.  PTO announcements.  Market Day forms....you get the idea.  These papers stress me out and make my life very complicated.  Where do I put them?  Are they important?  Do I really care about Market Day?  Maybe I really should, but I don't.

This is what came home in my girls' folders today. 

I counted about 40 pieces of paper.  I decided I'm going to do an experiment.  From now until the end of the school year I am going to keep all the papers the girls get sent home in a bin.  How many trees will be cut down to supply my two girls with endless forms to fill out and redundant announcements about How to drop off your kid in the morning and the new food policy at PHM?  We'll just have to see.