It has been way too long (read as an excerpt from a devo journal). I have deleted my Facebook and have only twitter as my connection to social networking so in keeping up with letting everyone know my business, I decided to keep up a little better with my blog. We are currently in Atlanta Georgia with our wonderful friends, the Denny’s for a bit of a family vacation. So what better place to update a wordpress than in the home of my beautiful BFF who is a very skillful blogger!! Look Erin Denny up to be entertained, and in awe of a great cook, mom and super woman.
So what is going on in my business today besides being away? I’m wishing my children saw vacations as a time be abnormal…meaning NOT waking up at 6:30am. But alas, I guess sleeping in a room full of toys that you have barely been able to break in and the thoughts of seeing lions, tigers and giraffes in a few hours is enough to wake you up. We are off to the Atlanta zoo today for some fun in the hot Georgia sun!! Pics to follow…
things i’ve learned from my dog…so far
So by now you all know of our new addition…Hubert….Mr. Long Ears. Puppies are definitely challenging. I’m not going to lie and say that it has all been love and cuddles…He chews, he barks, he pummels poor Marla and James with his clumsy body just wanting to play. He even thought my iphone would make a good chew toy…thank the Lord for a otterbox strong as nails cover and a thick privacy screen protector…But the fact that he is with us after all that just solidifies the craziness that we live as dog lovers. But through his short span of life with us thus far, Hubert has taught me a few things. I have one that is blog worthy at the moment: Housekeeping. You see, Hubert came from a “farm”. When I say farm I don’t want you to picture rolling hills of beautiful jersey cows in pastures flanked with white fluffy sheep and pink resting pigs. No. I want you to picture Hubert’s previous home, the place he was whelped. This place, with 2 muddy sows in a 12 x 12 pen, that was conveniently placed beside the huge catch-all garbage pile that looked like it had been set ablaze at some point in the last week. This farm had about 8 goats all gathered together bleeting at Hubert and his new owners through the wire enclosure along with two very boisterously loud geese that the misses of the ‘farm’ informed us turned out to be two females and since were no good to her. Next to this enclosure was a ‘barn/shed’. It had newly scattered hay (which thankfully was were Hubert spent most of his time). Also here behind the ‘barn/shed’ were 3 mud slinged milking cows behind a one acre barbed wire fence. And littered all around were other “rescued” animals. This woman had a great heart. She loved animals. I think she really does take good care of them as a woman on a farm in Huger, SC would. She spoke very highly of her cows, almost like they were her kiddos…so I say all of this, not to judge, but to let you know of why Hubert taught me something-It has to do with where he came from. Back to his new home, a modest home in a neighborhood with ducks in the pond behind his picket fence as the closest familiar thing to farm life, we now find Hubert. Along with all the puppy antics aforementioned he also poops…a lot. So this brings my puppy responsibility up another notch…scooping and cleaning our yard. The first time I performed this chore, Hubert sat in the middle of the yard, cocked his head to one side and watched me….you could almost read the bubble over his head…”why is she doing that??” He had never been in a house before let alone have a poop-scooping butler. I know the advantages of a clean yard-he had never experienced one. So I started to think. Sometimes those who know the advantages of a clean life tend to look down on those who have never experienced one. But at that moment Hubert showed me that those who live among dirt, mud, filth, otherwise known as SIN, don’t really notice it as gross. This life to them is just life. It isn’t until they experience that sovereign cleaning that they can see how life is meant to be lived, righteously after Jesus Christ. But as with my pal Hubert, sometimes we have to get out and help them clean. We can’t be too grossed out to pick up our poop scooper. We also can’t expect them to stay sterile…Hubert still makes a mess. It is through acts of kindness and showing love that they will see how fulfilling that clean life can be, and with discipleship you hope that the righteous life will forever become more and more like Christ putting off that which they once lived as ‘normal’ and strive for holiness. Clean and a new creation like the passage in Ezekiel that we received at ladies retreat this year, it says in chapter 36 verses 25-27: 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Let us be available and not too worried about getting our hands dirty to reach out to those who just don’t know of the clean life they are yet destined for!
Now if I could just get Hubert to scoop his own business….and live a clean house dog life….
our family is growing!
So, we have been a family of 5. Jason, myself, our 3 adorable kids Sam, Ben and Jack, a family of 7 if you include our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ‘Marla’ and our curly tailed domestic short-haired feline ‘James’. Most would think that is a big enough family. We are already beyond the the average ‘ideal’ family situation of one boy, one girl, one dog and a white picket fence. We just love adventure here in the Burgbacher house. We like to go above and beyond the norm. So since we do include our furry four-legged pets as part of the family, I thought it necessary to network our newest addition! Welcome Hubert Burgbacher to the clan!! Born October 14th 2010, he is a new bouncing baby boy Bloodhound. He weighs in at 20.8 lbs at his young age of 14 weeks. He is Red with black on his muzzle. His ears are ridiculously long and his hound eyes will melt your heart. All 3 of our boys are smitten with him and call him their best friend. Jack is right at nose nipping height for now and so he tends to get bossy with the sit command when Hubert tromps up. We questioned whether or not the time was right for another big dog. Marla is so low maintenance with the fact that she would rather sit on the couch and watch the boys play then ever dream of getting up to chase a toy. After pet sitting for a few friends for a couple consecutive weekends, we (I) knew we needed to do some research. That is when Hubert’s sister happened to be adopted by a facebook friend. Her picture was posted and after some social networking dialog we were on our way to Huger (pronounced hugee) SC to meet Hubert. Now at his new home for 2 weeks, he has taught us a bunch. We were definitely ready for some more adventure here!! Some think I’m crazy, but that is ok. Some don’t have a love for dogs, and that is ok too. As for us in this house, we love us some Hubert, and that is all that matters. He loves visitors and can’t wait to meet all our amazing friends. But beware, he doesn’t understand those who don’t love dogs…he will love you regardless!
‘Tis the season…
I sit here with my peppermint mocha in a very quiet house aside from Christmas music on Pandora a room away. I sit with the awareness of my complete unworth to the blessings that have been given to me. It is in this time of quiet peace, (that is few and far between) that I put aside my list of ‘things to do when I get a free moment’, and I remember advice that has been given to me by numerous wise women in my life…I rest. Jack is nestled in his bed for his afternoon nap and Jason is out with Sam and Ben at the stores, no doubt buying ‘mommy’ something else I don’t deserve. So much I can get caught up in the “what I need to be doing” when there is silence. Planning the next meeting, getting some students together so I can ‘speak into their lives’, run a quick inventory to make sure we are doing all we can do, make a checklist for the New Year, etc… So instead in this rest I am aware of my sovereign God. So wonderful to me. In control of our time, minute, hours, days. I look around and think if I cannot be content in THIS, what is to become of me. So I am thankful. SO thankful. For what Christ has entrusted me with today. I want to treasure it and cultivate it, so that He can trust me with His plan and purpose. My ‘season’ that I am in. I want to relish it! A wife and a mommy of little men. I look around my home…Christmas is my ultimate favorite time of year. My husband will second that as he had to pull out all of my Christmas decor…which had grown in lieu of the Christmas sale of 2009. In the front room is a beautiful Christmas tree decked out with blue and gold ribbons, gold poinsettias and blue, red and antiqued glass balls. It ties together all that is in these two front rooms with all the trimmings on everything possible…kinda formal like…and in my opinion, humbly stunning. But I sit in the heart of our home. The site where games of candy land and treasure hunts take place. Here stands a Christmas tree with handmade ornaments, snowflakes and candy canes. This spruce’s needles decorate the floor underneath it due to the ornaments being shifted daily by little hands. “My snowman ornament looks like it’s eating this candy cane mommy!!” The hearth is jovial with red bell garland and all looks ‘festive comfortable’. The recipe for rolled sugar cookie dough is on the next tab on my MacBook as I am preparing for the boys to fill the house with noise again. Yes, this is my favorite time of year, but I’m realizing that THIS is my favorite season of life! As I know it that is! Days of lunching with friends and quiet dinner parties will be in my future, but for now I love the times of floured faced 2 and 5 year olds. I love the pitter patter and sometimes stomping of little feet through the house. I love the disputes over toys and turns on a favorite chair. Because THIS is what He has blessed me with. And I want to treasure it and cultivate it. He has trusted these beautiful little men to me….and ‘Tis the season for these blessings to have all I have to give!
the verdict is in…
I AM crazy. Universal and Islands of Adventure kicked my tail!! It was fun nonetheless and I would do it again. Ben and Sam will soon be old enough to thoroughly enjoy a theme park adventure and I’m happy to say that their mom will be able to keep up with them. We conquered all there was to do at these 2 parks. The bands didn’t disappoint either. It was great to see NTB perform in front of a mass crowd and the people screaming out lyrics with them. These guys have tremendous talent and their hearts are in it for the right reasons. All the students enjoyed themselves a weekend away from school…I’m hoping that they stayed awake at school today. As for me…a 3 hour nap helped a bit…but I’m in need of another.
long week…
Some weeks are short and fly by. Those being the ones when things are going great and you want to slow time down. Others…as in this week….drag. This happens probably because things just haven’t gone ‘according to plan’. These aren’t my favorite of the 52 that we have been given. Those weeks that the kids are amped on some magical dose of crazy, the weeks that you seem to run out of all the staples of the kitchen at once, the weeks that you say things you regret, the weeks that you loose your patients with earlier said kids, the weeks that you just want to put behind you. But I, as I hope as you do, serve an amazing sovereign Creator, who creates all weeks and sends me messages in scripture form…even if it isn’t until Thursday of this very long week. This morning I read from a devotional that I am blessed to be going through with a bright young lady. The scripture for this week’s block of study: Isaiah 55:8-9. It goes like this:
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
In the version from the Message it sounds like this:
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
I am so glad His thought are higher than mine…and that His work surpasses the way mine does! It gives life and purpose to these long, dragging weeks…
am i crazy…
getting ready to leave at 6 am tomorrow morning to put my almost 33 yr old self on some crazy roller coasters at Universals Island of Adventure…..what am i thinking??
momentum
Objects in motion are said to have a momentum. Summertime for youth ministry brings momentum. Missions trips, Camps, Summerfest, Beach days. These all bring students involvement to a new level of higher momentum. As Youth Pastors we we like movement. Keeps us young! This summer has been the fastest moving of our 5 1/2 years! So I’m feeling around 25 as I journal this…But I do journal for a reason other than to let everyone know how up and down ministry can be. This “summer momentum” of 2010 is different than in previous years. God’s hand is heavy on our students. This momentum has permeated deep into their hearts. They have started this school year and have received a second wind for the lost. They have gotten bold about their faith. It is more than their parent’s belief, it is theirs. We are so proud to be a part of this momentum, giving all Glory to the Lord. When we give the reigns to the One to whom they belong, things can soar to their purpose. We saw this with our last event: The Awakening and the ONE BIG PARTY. Our annual youth “back to school” recharge had so much spark! We started preparation with a 2 week ministry wide fast expecting God to move. Our speaker Jesse Watson brought amazing word for 3 nights that challenged and instilled boldness in our students and leaders, while worship band Ascend the Hill ushered us into the throne room in a tremendous way.
All week the students canvased their neighborhoods, prayed for friends to invite, and some schools allowed us to do pizza drops to advertise for the ONE BIG PARTY finale. This event was tailored to bring in many unchurched and to be able to share the gospel with those who wouldn’t normally come to a church setting. I love how God showed up in this place. I couldn’t stand still! Worship went off and the presence of the Lord settled. Over 600 students packed in to the Collision Center and at then end of a powerful salvation message around 55 students raised their hands for salvation and so many more seeds were planted! Beyond our expectations to say the least! The night ended with an amazing DJ throwin’ down some beats (remember I said I feel young) and a talented dance crew keeping us entertained while we ate free Moe’s burritos, cotton candy, hot dogs, sno cones and climbed a rock climbing wall
and had fun on an inflatable bungee course as a friendly jousting competition went on. If that isn’t enough we had some ‘writers’ tagging a semi trailer for us on the 
side. All in all a great night and in risk of losing all our amazing youth leaders-I would love to do this every week!! God moved mightily and I’m so blessed to serve a God who cares about this generation so much that he would use us to reach them!! Be proud of your youth Faith Assembly! We have some true leaders in Kinetic!!
Here’s to July
July is a crazy month…but a pivotal month. It is full of great time with friends and family for the holiday, and times in the sun and any body of water safe for the kids to swim in. It is also time for Kinetic’s Summerfest. So much fun every Wednesday night! July is also full of spiritual emphasis. CAMP. Jason is gone 50% of this month directing our district Junior and Senior High Youth Camps. This time is looked forward to for so many reasons. The students look forward to the time away with each other and they expect God to rock their worlds. And as always, when expected, He does. We love this month and what it means for students. I look forward to going for day/night to sleep on the floor of a cabin to hear some great things that God is doing in our young ladies lives. And also to engage in a little friendly competition between cabins :). So here’s to July…cherishing it now, because with all the business, it will be over before we know it!!
Nicaragua
We are here. Safe and sound. We are currently driving the windig roads to S. Thomas, a 4 hour trip to our first destination. We will be staying in a hotel tonight-much more rustic than our normal hyatt place that we are used too. In fact I don’t know when I will be able to send this to actually show up on the world wide web. We pass houses that would not classify as sheds back home. The kids are running around, playing soccer, happy. Or sitting on their front porch that they share with cows and dogs. We just passed a little girl walking along this highway she can’t be any older than Ben and Sam. He students are excited for what tomorrow brings: our first medical clinic. I am excited as well. It is nostalgic for me to be here. With people who were last here with our dearest Tania. They share stories and I just can’t hear enough. Joyce and Bruce Ball are among these people. I can’t help but get emotional when I see Joyce. She was such a dear friend of Tania’s.
We hope to pull in to the hotel in an hour to get some planning and prep done and most importantly some sleep!
the comforts
This last week was another trying week for the Burgbacher family. We lost a very dear and respected man to a short but very difficult battle with cancer. Don, Jason’s grandfather, passed away last Thursday morning. He will be greatly missed. Things like this are never easy. Family is such a blessing. And Don’s part in this family was so vital. The great example of a Father, a Husband, a gentleman, and a servant of the Lord. We owe him so much. So saying goodbye was difficult. Even more difficult that Tania was not here in flesh to help us through. In fact, we stood in the same place looking at her name plate as Don was placed in the mausoleum above her. The day went very well though, and we were yet again made aware of how blessed we are with a supportive church family and community. All came out to give condolences in person, by letter or card, or on Facebook, or text. Some also in beautiful plantings and flowers. But then some made food. After the celebration of Don’s life we gathered out of town friends and family to eat. The wonderful comforts of food. I don’t know if people realize the impact of food-(especially with Burgbachers). All weekend we were blessed with delicious therapeutic meals. Southern barbeque that had our northern family thinking twice about where they called home, to good ole’ pot lock with all the fixins that had all going back for thirds. And desserts…..I have two words: Earthquake Cake.
I want to thank everyone who have given so much. We love you all. We feel your prayers. Please continue to pray as our dear Pauline faces these next lonely days without her beloved. The Lord has helped her through so much and I know your interceding will continue the peace that she feels.
i feel yellow
There is yellow stuff on EVERYTHING!!! But I am not complaining. With the dust of pollen comes spring. I love spring. I have great ideas of getting out and getting our yard in order and planting some attractive foliage and a veggie garden. I like to think that I am a good gardner. But like with everything that is beautiful, it takes a lot of hard work and patience to till, plant and sow. Come to think of it, Spring brings tons of hard work: spring cleaning, yard work, dieting for summer… It is a season. I love the change and look forward to the blooms. Cookouts and great time with friends are right around the corner!!!
Oak and Pines 