Tag: Zion Lutheran

A Ride I’ll Never Forget: Remembering My Friend, Jamie

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Yesterday, my dear friend Jamie Grimes entered the arms of Jesus. Seven years to the exact date of her cancer diagnosis.
As I sit here this morning, my heart feels incredibly heavy. A few hours before I heard the news of Jamie’s passing, she was on my heart in such a strong way that I felt I needed to write something for her. I remember thinking how we so often wait until someone is gone before we tell the world what they have meant to us. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she could hear those words before she went to Heaven?
I even made plans in my mind to visit her on Monday or Tuesday. My new job has consumed so much of my time these past few weeks, with onboarding and meetings and modules, but next week I’d have two days with a little less. I thought I had a little more time. We so often believe there will be another Tuesday.
Instead, today I’m holding tightly to one of the greatest gifts God gave me this summer, a sunny June afternoon that I now realize was one last adventure with my friend.
After enjoying a delicious lunch and an afternoon of laughter at the home of our dear friend Kimber, Jamie and I climbed into my Dodge Challenger Hell Cat. Kimber was invited to join us but decided to stay behind, leaving just the two of us. We didn’t have a destination. We simply drove.
Looking back, that seems so fitting. We let God lead the way, following whatever road He placed before us. In many ways, that’s exactly how Jamie had lived the last seven years of her life.

Ready for a ride in the Hell Cat!

Our drive became so much more than a drive. There was laughter, there were quiet moments, and deep conversations I’ll carry with me forever.
At one point, the speedometer climbed to 105 miles per hour, but somehow the fast car became the background for one of the slowest, most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had. Jamie talked openly about death. Not because she had given up.
Not because she was bitter. But because she knew where she was going. She wasn’t fearless because cancer was easy. She was fearless because Jesus was faithful. She believed with every fiber of her being that Heaven is real, a place with no more pain, no more cancer, no more tears, and no more sin. She knew Jesus was waiting for her.
Only Jamie could joke in the middle of such a conversation. She laughed and said, “People at church are probably wondering why I won’t just hurry up and die already.”
I assured her that wasn’t true. But that was Jamie. She somehow found humor in the hardest moments. As I drove she shared how grateful she was that her hospice nurse had released her to take one final family vacation to Gulf Shores with her husband and their three beautiful children, ages 14, 12, and 10.
Then she said something I’ll never forget.
“I didn’t want this summer to be the one where all they did was wait around for Mom to die.”
That sentence has echoed in my heart ever since. She talked about her children and admitted that leaving them was the hardest part. She wondered who would mentor them, especially her teenage daughter? Then, with the confidence that defined her life, she reminded me that God already knew. She didn’t know their names. God did. She trusted that He would place exactly the right people into their lives.
Jamie wasn’t placing her children into the unknown. She was placing them into the hands of the God she had trusted all along.
She told me she could leave this earth knowing He would take care of them.
I’ve known Jamie for eight years, but only one of those years was cancer-free. For seven years I watched her receive wonderful scan results, only to have cancer return months later. Again and again she faced devastating news with remarkable courage. It was a journey filled with chemotherapy, surgeries, uncertainty, hope, disappointment, and unimaginable pain.
Yet cancer never defined Jamie. Her faith did. She remained firmly grounded in Jesus, believing that God held her securely in the palm of His hand. She trusted that His plan was greater than her own, even when it hurt beyond words. When you spent time with Jamie, you walked away changed. She radiated joy. She radiated peace. She radiated grace. She possessed one of the strongest, most unwavering faiths I have ever witnessed, especially in a young mother carrying burdens that most of us can hardly imagine.
Years ago during her cancer journey, Jamie discovered the song “God’s Not Done With You” by Tauren Wells. She once shared how deeply that song ministered to her heart during one of her darkest seasons. From that day forward, I could never hear it without thinking of Jamie. It became part of her story, a reminder that God was faithfully writing every chapter of her life, even in the midst of suffering.
As our drive came to an end, I asked Jamie to open the glove box. She looked at me with a puzzled smile. Tucked inside was a miniature replica of my Dodge Challenger Hell Cat down to the exact same metallic Sinnamon Stick color. I had hidden it there just for her. I told her to take that mini car home and give it to her children. Then I made her a promise. “If any of them ever need to go for a drive in a fast car to talk, or not talk, to laugh, cry, or simply get away for a little while, they have an open invitation to go driving with the Noteworthy Mommy.”
She thanked me with that sweet smile that so many of us loved. It wasn’t a grand gesture that could take away the pain of what was coming. Nothing could do that.
But I wanted Jamie to know that while no one could ever replace their mom, there would always be people willing to walk beside her children, encourage them, listen to them, and remind them how deeply they are loved. That tiny Hell Cat car became much more than a toy. It became a promise.
A promise that they would always have someone cheering them on. A promise that they would never have to travel life’s roads completely alone.

Jaime with the toy car.

When I think back to that afternoon, I don’t remember just the horsepower, the winding roads, or even reaching 105 miles per hour. I remember Jamie’s smile.
I remember her peace. I remember a mother whose greatest concern wasn’t herself but her children. And I remember driving home that day feeling incredibly blessed that God had allowed our paths to cross.
I’ll miss seeing Jamie at Zion Women’s Retreats and Advent By Candlelight. I’ll miss playing Bunco together whenever she felt well enough to join us. I’ll miss hearing her laugh. I’ll miss the way she made everyone around her feel just a little closer to Jesus. Jamie was one of the most grace-filled women I’ve ever known.
Faithful.
Steadfast.
Hope-filled.
Inspirational.
She walked one of the hardest roads imaginable with incredible courage because she knew her life belonged to God.
I rejoice knowing Jamie is finally healed.
Cancer no longer has a hold on her.
She is at peace.
She is at rest.
She is home.
She is in the loving arms of Jesus.
Jamie taught me that faith isn’t pretending life isn’t hard. Faith is trusting God even when it is. Our last drive together had no destination. Looking back, I don’t think it needed one. God knew exactly where He was leading us. He gave us one last afternoon filled with laughter, honest conversation, and a promise that neither of us would ever forget.
Thank you, Jamie, for showing me what unwavering faith looks like. Thank you for reminding me that when we let God lead the way, His road always leads us exactly where we need to be.
Until we meet again dear Jamie. ❤️

Jamie and I after our drive.

Click here to watch the video of Jamie’s favorite song.

https://youtu.be/cVHrkYBEgFM?is=RUIq8wszhgaaC8Qs

Friendship, Faith, and the Life We Never Could Have Imagined: A Clarinet Duet Composed by God

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Friendship over the years has a way of revealing something divine: God has plans for our lives long before we ever know what they are.

I met my best friend in high school during marching band camp. She was a sophomore, I was a junior, and we both played clarinet. At the time, our biggest concerns were rehearsal schedules and surviving the summer heat, not realizing God was quietly planting a lifelong friendship that would shape both of our lives in ways we never could have imagined.

We stayed close through college and eventually found ourselves searching for teaching jobs at the same time, me in early childhood education, her in music education. Coming from southern Illinois, we sent out hundreds of resumes across Illinois and Missouri, praying and hoping for doors to open. When I was offered my dream job teaching all-day kindergarten in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, I was thrilled… and terrified. It meant crossing the Mississippi River and leaving the comfort of my hometown after two long years of searching. Still, I knew in my heart it was where God was leading me.

Then, just one week later, my best friend landed an interview in the very same district. What were the odds? I helped her prep, drilled her with interview questions, drove her to the administration building, so she’d know exactly where to go… and she got the job! Suddenly, what felt like a leap of faith became a shared journey.

We hadn’t planned on being roommates, not wanting to risk our friendship, but after apartment hunting, it simply made sense. So we moved into our first apartment and began our teaching careers together in the fall of 1996. Those years were filled with the growing pains of first-year teaching, tears after long days, late-night talks, and constant encouragement. When she wanted to quit, I reminded her of her gifts. She stayed and went on to teach general music in that district for years.

The Noteworthy Mommy and her BFF throughout the years.

In return, she nourished me in ways only a true friend can, through amazing meals, laughter, and by pulling me back into music. I began playing clarinet seriously again, taking private lessons, performing in pit orchestras, and eventually joining the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, where we are still members today. Together, we built a wind quintet, played weddings and receptions, and even created concerts for children.

Over seven years as roommates, we supported each other through graduate school, both adopted cats, hosted dinner parties, watched sitcoms recorded on a VCR with steaming cups of coffee on Saturday mornings, and shared faith conversations sparked by sermons I heard at my church with my bestie even joining me sometimes. Somewhere along the way, we became more than friends, we became sisters. For two only children, it was an extraordinary gift.

Life continued to unfold: seven years as roommates, standing as each other’s maid of honor, marriages, motherhood. Her daughters came first, and when my “mini me” arrived years later, she became my mommy mentor, passing down clothes, books, toys, and priceless wisdom.

The Noteworthy Mommy and her bestie.

Even as life grew busier, we stayed connected through Sunday rehearsals, phone calls, and faith-filled conversations. Scripture and lessons learned from our individual Bible studies began weaving naturally into our talks. Then, last year, she mentioned possibly returning to work. I casually shared that my daughter’s school was always looking for preschool assistants. She applied, unsure if she was cut out for it, and was hired.

Suddenly, my “sister” was part of my school and church family. She became a blessing to our school community, beloved by teachers and children alike. Seeing her there, and knowing she would see my “mini me” at lunchtime brought a deep sense of peace and gratitude.

And then came yesterday.

I was asked to substitute in her classroom.

Team-teaching with my best friend, my “sister”, surrounded by three, four, and five year olds, was pure joy. The inside jokes flowed, the love and respect were obvious, and the kids felt it. It was a truly blessed day, one I will always remember. A church friend saw us together, referring to us as the “preschool dream team!”

What keeps echoing in my heart is this: when we met in high school, we never could have imagined that we would have been roommates teaching in the same school district, and now, 38 years later, we’d spend the day teaching preschool together. If someone had told us back then, we would have laughed!

But God knew.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Working together in preschool in January 2026

This friendship has always been give and take, composed by God’s hand. Proof that when we trust Him, stay open, and walk faithfully, even when we don’t see the full picture, He weaves something far more beautiful than we could ever plan ourselves, a quiet duet composed by God.

God is amazing! His plans are good. And sometimes they begin on that one day in band camp and lead to a friendship that lasts a lifetime!

The Noteworthy Mommy Goes Back to Preschool

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This past semester has been one I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

When I walked into the preschool classroom at Zion Lutheran School in St. Charles, Missouri, something deep inside me stirred. It felt familiar, sacred even. And then it hit me, this wasn’t just a full circle moment. It was a three-circle moment!

I attended Zion Lutheran Preschool in Belleville, Illinois when I was four years old. Those early memories…learning, singing, being loved and cared for in a faith-filled space were the very beginning of my story. Years later, my very first contracted teaching position after graduating college was teaching half-day preschool at that same Zion Lutheran School in my birth church in Belleville. That classroom was where I learned who I was as an educator, where my calling first took shape.

And now, thirty years later, I found myself teaching half-day preschool again at Zion Lutheran School. This time in St. Charles, MO. This time at Mini Me’s school. This time at a church that has become an incredible home for my family of three. God’s timing is never accidental, and this moment was no exception.

When I heard that a teacher friend was in need of a long-term substitute, I felt something I had never felt before. There was no debate. No list of pros and cons. No second-guessing. I felt called…clearly, unmistakably called to step in. The Holy Spirit was working inside of me, nudging me forward. There was only one answer my heart could give.

Yes.

I won’t pretend it was easy. It wasn’t. There were sacrifices…real ones. I no longer had the opportunity to pray with my Moms in Prayer group or meet with my morning Bible study. My energy tank was empty most days, leaving no fuel left for workouts at the YMCA. Our household felt it too with less prepared meals, a little more chaos, a little less order.

But oh, how the sacrifices paled in comparison to the blessings.

When I say yes to something, I’m all in. One hundred percent. And I gave this job everything I had. In return, I was given a class of littles who loved stories. Truly loved them. If they could have spent the entire day listening to books and eating snack, they would have been perfectly content.

So I answered that love with books…lots of them. High-quality, beautiful picture books and some repetitive texts. Some I remembered sharing with kindergarten students I taught years ago like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” and “Mrs. Wishy Washy.” Some I had once read aloud to my own Mini Me when she was in preschool. And a few that were brand new to me like “The Gingerbread Girl.” Every story felt like a gift.

And of course, the reading consultant in me couldn’t help herself. I modeled comprehension strategies while reading. I taught them how to make predictions, how to wonder, how to notice new vocabulary. I stretched them gently, intentionally and they rose to the challenge! The growth these littles made in such a short amount of time was incredible.

The greatest blessing of all was teaching them about Jesus and showing them His love every single day. Attending chapel each week. Praying together. Helping them learn letters and sounds using Open Court Reading and alphabet sound cards. And wow, the instruction stuck! They remembered. They applied it. They grew.

One of the sweetest blessings in this adventure was how much Mini Me loved having her Noteworthy Mommy at school. She beamed with pride every single morning. She and her BFF would often help me set up the classroom, straightening chairs, setting out materials, doing the important “teacher work” before the day began. Watching her move through her school day knowing I was on campus was pure joy. She loved having me there, and I will treasure those moments forever.

The Noteworthy Mommy in 1995 with her students on a field trip.
The Noteworthy Mommy in 2025 with her students at an Advent program.

This position, which was meant to be temporary, ended up being extended longer than originally planned. And honestly, it felt exactly right. Like God saying, “Stay a little longer. There’s still more for you here.”

This semester stretched me. It exhausted me. It blessed me beyond measure. And as I look back, I can say with full confidence this wasn’t just a job. It was a calling revisited. A circle completed. A reminder that God isn’t finished with us yet, and sometimes He brings us back to where it all began, not to repeat the past, but to show us how much we’ve grown.

Celebrating the End of a School Year—and a Remarkable Career

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As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on moments of joy, gratitude, and transition. At the heart of this season of celebration is someone who has faithfully guided generations through Christian education: Mr. Debrick, Mini Me’s beloved principal, is retiring after an extraordinary 41 years in Lutheran education—27 of those years serving at Zion Lutheran School in Saint Charles.

Our school and church communities came together to honor him with well-deserved celebrations, expressing heartfelt thanks for his steadfast leadership, his devotion to Christian values, and his deep love for students, families, and staff. It was a moving farewell—filled with appreciation, laughter, and a few tears as we lifted him up in prayer and sent him off with blessings for this new chapter in life.

While we celebrated the close of a remarkable career, we also rejoiced in a new beginning. Mini Me’s teacher, Miss Schnegelberger, just completed her very first year in the classroom. With enthusiasm and humility, she shared her reflections on social media, writing how much she has learned and how eager she is to continue growing. There’s something beautiful in witnessing both ends of a vocation—a hopeful start and a faithful finish.

“You’ll always remember your first class and your last class.” That truth resonates deeply. I can still recall nearly every face from my first year of teaching, and just as many from my final year, but fewer from the years in between. The beginning and the end stay with you, yet it’s the in-between, the long, steady walk of service that leaves the most lasting legacy.

Mr. Debrick and Mini Me at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Reflecting on Mr. Debrick’s career, I’m awed by the immense change he navigated with courage and vision. The evolution of technology in education alone is a testament to how much the world shifted during his time. From chalkboards and overhead projectors with transparencies (young teachers, go Google those!) to computer labs, then one-to-one devices, and finally Smart Boards—Mr. Debrick shepherded Zion through every innovation. In fact, one of his last projects as principal was overseeing the installation of a brand-new set of Smart Boards.

But it wasn’t just the classroom tools that changed—it was the world itself. Mr. Debrick began his career amid the “Just Say No” era and the AIDS crisis. He guided Zion through the tragic events of 9/11, the heartbreak of school shootings like Columbine, and the implementation of new safety protocols such as intruder drills. My own family experienced firsthand his steady, faith-filled leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that demanded wisdom, adaptability, and deep trust in God. I will always admire the strength with which he led our school community through that unprecedented season.

Yet Mr. Debrick would be the first to say he didn’t do any of it alone. He walked each day hand-in-hand with his Savior, always pointing others toward Jesus. His humble spirit, servant heart, and love for his Heavenly Father were evident in every decision he made, every student he greeted, every teacher he encouraged. That example of faith in action may well be his greatest gift to us all.

One of the most touching moments during his Right of Farewell and Godspeed service at church was a special performance by a junior high choir, assembled just for the occasion, who sang Mr. Debrick’s favorite song: “Make Me a Servant.” He loves this song so deeply that he often invited his staff to sing it together, a musical reminder of the calling they shared.

There’s a version of the song that holds particular meaning, and the lyrics are worth carrying close:

These words echo the life and career Mr. Debrick lives. He taught children about Jesus—not only through chapel messages or religion classes but through his daily actions, his kindness, and his unwavering faith. I will carry those lyrics with me, just as so many others will, remembering the power of humble service and the sacredness of a life poured out for others.

My family of three have been at Zion for 7 years with Mini Me starting preschool at age 3 and just completing the 4th grade. What a blessing it has been to have Mr. Debrick’s leadership at Zion and what a legacy he leaves behind after 41 years in Lutheran education!

From the Talley family: Thank you, Mr. Debrick, for everything. For your warm wave each morning. For your constant smile. For always putting Jesus, children, and families first. Your devotion has made a lasting impact, and your presence will be deeply missed.

We wish you a retirement full of rest, golf, Kansas City Chiefs games, and of course plenty of popcorn! Congratulations on an incredible milestone. May God continue to bless you and your family on the journey ahead!

Mr. Debrick, the Noteworthy Mommy and Mini Me at Mr. Debrick’s “Right of Farewell and Godspeed” Service.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

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Last week was my daughter’s last day of kindergarten at Zion Lutheran School. Although large for a Lutheran School, our school ELP-8th grade, is small compared to our neighborhood schools. She’s just beginning her early years at Zion, simply moving to a different wing for first grade and it will be eight short years until I write about her 8th grade graduation. So why am I having such difficulty writing this post?

I think the reason I’m struggling with the goodbyes has to do with my love of kindergarten. Kindergarten has always been my favorite age and stage. Kindergarten is unique, unlike any other grade. Filled with the imagination and playfulness of a young child, combined with the foundation of academic skills, it is a true unicorn and encompasses everything I love!

My mother began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher and I have delightful memories of her substituting in my kindergarten classroom when I was five years old. My dad would have made a wonderful kindergarten teacher! When they cut the fine arts program in his school district he eagerly applied to be a kindergarten teacher. He was quickly denied, as a male kindergarten teacher in the late 1960’s was seen as taboo. I guess you could say kindergarten is in my DNA!

So it probably comes as no surprise that teaching kindergarten was my dream job. That prayer was answered in my early twenties when I was blessed to teach kindergarten for six years. After that I spent a few years helping college students realize their dreams of becoming kindergarten teachers and when I became an educational consultant I was known as the kindergarten expert, enthusiastically volunteering to train kindergarten teachers over any other grade level! That brings me to the present…the 2020-2021 school year, where I was privileged to be a parent to a kindergartener. If you know my journey to motherhood, this is something I do not take for granted! Little did I know God had another gift for me. When COVID took away my opportunity to do educational consulting assignments, I was asked to be an early childhood substitute at my daughter’s school. I never dreamed of being back in the classroom, and certainly not as a substitute teacher, but sometimes God has unexpected plans for us. This school year I found myself back in the trenches during a very challenging time in our nation’s schools. I worked alongside incredible educators, coming home exhausted, emerged in paint and sticky hugs and earning a wage that paid less than the minimum. But what I gained was far more than money could buy! As I worked in the early childhood wing I was taken back to my roots, back to where my passion for kindergarten began and I fell in love once again. And during a school year where COVID prevented parents from entering the school building, I was blessed to walk among my daughter’s kindergarten class and see her engaged in activity and learning. And as a bonus, I received an intimate view of my mini me’s kindergarten experience when I spent an entire day along side her talented teacher, substituting in my daughter’s classroom as her kindergarten assistant!

Mrs. Reed…the Quintessential Kindergarten Teacher- I’ve always said that kindergarten teachers were special people and Mrs. Reed, my daughter’s kindergarten teacher, certainly falls into that category! Mrs. Reed is kind, patient, full of imagination and full of energy (one of the most important qualifications to being an effective kindergarten teacher). She is smart, creative, passionate and easily adaptable. COVID created great challenges but that didn’t stop Mrs. Reed and her assistants (Mrs. Collins, Mrs. McBroom and Mrs. Horn) from giving my daughter and her classmates a solid face to face kindergarten experience. In fact, there isn’t a thing on the “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” poster left out and I find that more than amazing considering the challenges this year brought.

The many books and kindergarten memories Mrs. Reed put together for each student. The big binder contains art work, writing samples, personal photographs and a personalized note. It put the memory books I made for my students to shame!

Mrs. Reed makes learning fun and captivating. On any given day you will find her dressed up as a baseball player, a doctor, a farmer or as her alter ego, Miss Julia (complete with a French accent, crazy wig and apron)! To this day my daughter and her classmates are unsure if Miss Julia is a real person or Mrs. Reed dressed in a costume! That’s why I love this age…one day they amaze us with reading new words, making connections and writing their thoughts on paper, all the while holding on to the magic of childhood and pure imagination! Mrs. Reed encouraged both in my daughter. She also shared the love of Jesus not only by modeling His love through her actions but by teaching her students weekly memory verses through song. What a gift! My daughter has all of the verses memorized and can easily turn to the word of God in time of comfort and need. She brought home a hard bound published book of every verse with classroom illustrations along with a personal memory book of each verse. And my daughter learned how to share God’s love with others through the kindness project and by creating God is Love flyers that she diligently distributed to every household in our neighborhood. I wish I could take credit for her actions but this amazing event has Mrs. Reed stamped all over it!

From pop corn words to phonemic awareness to literacy stations. From caterpillar to butterfly, pumpkins, leaves and flowers. From Zero the Hero, The Snowman, favorite authors (Eric Carle, Jane Brett and Louis Ehlert) building, creating, questioning, and singing to themed centers, dress up days, Bible stories and everything in between; my daughter had an amazing experience! Mrs. Reed, thank you for a wonderful year. You are the quinentisessional kindergarten teacher and are more than I could have ever prayed for in a teacher for my daughter and for her Noteworthy Mommy!

Now my daughter has experienced the last day of her magical kindergarten year and she is moving on to a new stage in her educational career. I know she is ready because we have seen her grow exponentially! So bring on the rigor of first grade and all the challenges, friendships, and experiences awaiting! While the Noteworthy Mommy may stay in kindergarten forever, I rejoice that my mini me has taken off her training wheels and is prepared to roll into first grade!

Thank you Mrs. Reed for a successful kindergarten year even with masks and COVID!

An Easter Message From the Noteworthy Mommy

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He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! How vastly different this Easter was compared to last year! Although we had to make reservations at church, participated in Easter worship on Saturday night, wore masks, and were unable to gather with my in-laws, it was a glorious celebration! Through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior we find hope.

I know my Easter message is a bit late, Easter Sunday has come and gone after all, but don’t forget, it is still Easter. Easter begins with the resurrection of our Lord and extends through Pentecost, so that gives me 50 days to send my readers Easter blessings! Below is a fun Easter activity that kids of all ages will enjoy. Easter Sunday has passed but we continue to celebrate our risen Savior!

Alleluia Shakers– My church has a special tradition of Alleluia Shakers during the Easter season. A basket of Alleluia Shakers for the young members of our congregation are usually found at the entrance to the sanctuary and the children enjoy shaking them every time they hear or sing the word Alleluia. COVID has prevented us from having the basket of shakers at church so my daughter made her own. We decorated a plastic egg and filled it with rice to make our shakers. CLICK HERE to learn how to make a shaker of your own. We are taking them to church throughout the Easter season and proudly shake them in celebration of the good news that Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! We made extras to share with our home bound friends as part of our Live Generously ministry.

As we begin to see the other side of the pandemic, may you safely gather again with family and friends, rejoice in the fact that favorite activities are being reintroduced into your life and never forget the lessons the past year has taught. Some things may stay forever changed but one thing will never change… Jesus loves you!

A Fun Loving Pastor Who Taught Me To Never Stop Cheering For God!

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If you stay in one place for any length of time chances are good that at some point a friend, neighbor, co-worker, teacher or pastor, will leave your community and you will have to say goodbye, sending them off with well wishes and good speed. My family of three recently participated in a “water balloon” send off for one of our associate pastors who left our congregation to accept a call to serve at a church in West Hartford, CT.

COVID-19 made it impossible to hold a traditional send off but our church staff found a creative way to say goodbye. Pastor Reitz has a fun loving personality, enjoys a good joke and is known to ease awkward situations with a little bit of humor, so, it seemed fitting that our congregation had a send-off for him “water balloon style!” With water guns and water balloons in hand, church members drove through the parking lot drenching Pastor Reitz with water and best wishes. Pastor Reitz and his family will be dearly missed and we wish them the very best!

Fair Weather Fan– A Saint Louis Blues parade passed behind our house prior to our drive through send off for Pastor Reitz. It seemed appropriate, not because Pastor Reitz is a Blues hockey fan but it reminded me of a sermon Pastor Reitz gave shortly after the Saint Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019. The sermon touched me so deeply that I approached Pastor Reitz after the service and let him know how his words had resinated with me.

The Reitz family on the last Sunday they were together at Zion Lutheran.

I remember Pastor Reitz describing our city’s reaction to the Blues during the championship series. It seemed everyone had became a fan with households in every zip code tuning into the games! Blues banners and flags appeared on businesses and throughout neighborhoods. Stores sold out of Saint Louis Blues t-shirts and jerseys, making them impossible to keep in stock! There was no denying it, everyone in the St. Louis area was bleeding blue! Then Pastor Reitz questioned if these fans had always been Blues fans? Have the fans loyally stood by the team during the wins and the loses? Or were they being fair weather fans, only interested in the Blues when the team is playing well and abandoning them when they have a bad season?

Then Pastor Reitz asked us if we have ever been a fair weather fan to God? Have we ever turned away from God? This question hit me. Although I have never turned away from God, I have historically turned to Him more when I was struggling, suffering and in need of guidance. I have spent more time on my knees praying when I was experiencing a struggle than praying for thanks when everything in my life was going great. So in my own way I do turn away when the going is good. During that sermon I resolved to turn to the Lord during the good and the bad and the in-between. I was reminded that God never turns away from us! He loves us when we sin and forgives us of those sins when we ask for His forgiveness. He loves us when we win and when we lose. God is never a fair weather fan to His children.

Proverbs 3:5 happens to be my daughter’s memory verse for this week and I found it so appropriate.

Pastor Reitz and his family served Zion Lutheran Church for close to a decade. We pray for the Reitz family as they begin a new chapter serving the congregation at Bethany Lutheran Church in West Hartford, CT.

Slaw With the Lutheran Ladies

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Who would think that a podcast about slaw would conjure up so many memories? That’s exactly what happened when I tuned into The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast a few weeks ago. (You don’t have to be Lutheran to enjoy the podcast so please read on) It was one of Erin’s recipe card episodes and the title “Slawfest” really got my attention! CLICK HERE to listen to the Slawfest episode.

While the ladies chatted about cabbage and their favorite slaw recipes (are you team creamy or team vinegar) my mind drifted to my childhood and the yummy vinegar based slaw served family style at my church’s annual fried chicken dinner.

Zion Lutheran Belleville’s Annual Chicken Dinner– I have happy memories of attending the annual chicken dinner with my parents and grandma. The golden fried chicken and the delectable homemade desserts made by the Lambs Club (my grandmother was an active member) were simply amazing! There were years where my grandma bought tickets for my aunt and uncle and all of my cousins and my extended family filled an entire table in the gym at Zion Lutheran School in Belleville, IL. The dinner was more than the delectable food…it was family and fellowship and a fund raiser for the school. Although I have many memories, it’s the slaw that The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge helped me remember.

The Quest for the Recipe– After listening to the entire podcast I immediately called my mom and asked her if she had the slaw recipe. Unfortunately she didn’t have the recipe but she set out to find it by contacting the leader of her Juliet’s Group (a social group of retired ladies from Zion Belleville). Many of the ladies were founding members of Zion Belleville’s annual chicken dinner so surely one of them would have the recipe!

The Recipe– Along with the original slaw recipe, an email exchange of memories from the chicken dinner ensued with plans to share photos and stories once the ladies are able to safely gather again.

CLICK HERE to download and print the recipe.

Slaw Glorious Slaw!– I set out to make the slaw and it was just as I remembered, tart with just a surprise of sweetness! AMAZING! I didn’t have any celery seed to add and cheated by using a precut slaw blend to save prep time but it did not compromise the taste. The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge inspired me to “think outside of the box” and next time I might add some tart green apples, craisins or sunflower seeds.

As school fund raisers changed from sit down dinners to auctions, trivia nights and pizza sales; Zion Belleville’s famous annual chicken dinner became a tasty memory some 15 years ago. I’m delighted my mom initiated the discovery of the slaw recipe. Now the memories of Zion Belleville’s chicken dinner can be shared with the next generation through cabbage, carrots and vinegar!

I would love to hear about your favorite slaw recipes! Please share by commenting on this post and connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group and listen to them wherever you get your podcasts.

Unicorns, a Bowling Ball and Bri Reads…Day 57

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Last week was the 27th annual auction at my daughters school, Zion Lutheran. On-line this year due to COVID-19, my family of three walked away with some interesting items! My daughter was thrilled with the Unicorn Basket we won. Filled with a variety of unicorn themed books and a delightful stuffed unicorn, the basket is a little girl’s dream. My husband is looking forward to his winning item, “Pop Corn For a Year,” from a local specialty pop corn shop. And what did the Noteworthy Mommy end up with…a hot pink bowling ball! It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I was the only one who bid on it. Now all I need is a case and a pair of bowling shoes and I will look like a professional bowler! Notice how I said I would “look like,” not “play like,” a professional! In all seriousness, even though it had to be virtual this year, the auction was a lot of fun. The bidding resulted in over $42,000 raised for our amazing school and a possible new hobby for the Noteworthy Mommy!

Unicorns have been coveted for centuries by little girls all over the world, even a tomboy like me loved them as a child. I remember the unicorn fad in the 80’s. I had unicorns on my sweater, unicorns on my stickers and unicorns on my Trapper Keeper! Unicorns have been around forever and have only gained in popularity over the years.

Unicorn Cookies– My husband discovered that Nestle made “unicorn chips.” We followed the cookie recipe on the back of the bag. The result, similar to chocolate chip cookies, was colorful and super sweet!

Unicorn Books– There are many wonderful books about unicorns and our favorites are Thelma the Unicorn and the sequel, The Return of Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey. CLICK HERE to listen to Blabey read his book. We also love the book, Unicorn (And Horse) by David Miles. These engaging books teach children to learn to love who they are. Some days we feel like unicorns and want to wear a little sparkle and some days we prefer to be plain like a horse. It’s our differences that make us unique!

Bri Reads– While in isolation we discovered Bri and her animated story telling! Bri is an educator, actor and dynamic storyteller that my daughter simply adores. Some of her videos are on YouTube, but I encourage you to go to her webpage at www.brireads.com and sign up to gain free access to her entire library. Along with professional readings of favorite children’s books, she has original songs and drawing lessons! One of our favorite videos is Unicorn (And Horse) by David Miles. Since it’s release, just a week ago, my daughter has asked to watch it every night before bed. If you like unicorns you have to watch! CLICK HERE I want to thank Bri for bringing us sunshine on some of our darkest days in quarantine.

Childhood Moments with Gary the Puppet and the Great Outdoors…Day 39

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Today was a good day and at first glance it looked like a typical spring day with a preschool child and her stay at home mom. The weather was perfect, lending itself to lazy walks and carefree exploration. My daughter had early childhood chapel and this Noteworthy Mommy went to happy hour where I laughed until I cried with some of my best girlfriends! When you take a closer look you’ll see that although some things are indeed the same, they have been altered; filled with unexpected adaptation due to COVID 19.

Outdoor Fun– Observational walks around the pond in our backyard have become a staple on peak weather days. Today we heard the chirps and splashes of spring frogs as they quickly jumped into the pond, protecting themselves from our anticipated arrival. We were lucky to discover a big frog, camouflaged among the murky waters, hoping to go undetected. The picture of my daughter blowing seeds off of the season’s first dandelion is accompanied with talk of the abrupt shift to virtual learning. I am brought back to our new reality when she says, “I wish I could go back to school, I really wanted to plant lettuce. I could plant lettuce with you but it won’t be as special.”

Gary the Puppet– The early childhood classes at my daughter’s school have chapel every week and Gary the Puppet often makes a special appearance. My daughter participated in chapel today where she learned that as Christians we continue to celebrate Easter and sing our Alleluias! CLICK HERE to learn how to make an Alleluia Shaker. Even though COVID 19 has shuttered the doors of her physical school, she continues to hear the message of Jesus’s love through weekly virtual chats with Pastor Rouland and Gary the Puppet. She finds joy and comfort in them and seeing familiar faces is a highlight of her week. This will become a cherished childhood memory. CLICK HERE to view this week’s message.

Noteworthy Mommy’s Happy Hour– Occasional happy hours with my girlfriends are cherished but during our busy lives they unfortunately are few and far between. In the midst of the pandemic I am reminded how important it is to spend time with my girlfriends, enjoying a glass of wine and sharing a few laughs! Our happy hours are now more frequent (weekly) and have become virtual with iconic Brady Bunch squares, funny stories and glasses (some weeks, bottles) of wine. Taking the time to relax with friends, even virtually, is helping me navigate the weeks upon weeks spent in isolation.