Potluck Etiquette and Life in Our Fishbowl Link-Up!

I have been cooking and baking for church potlucks for YEARS. Now, I know I am not all THAT old but since I was about 10 I've been contributing with my mom for potlucks. After my dad became a pastor however, the food we prepared GREATLY increased. 

Let me just add that our church does a phenomenal job in preparing food for potlucks! We had a fantastic one last night and I came away stuffed to the brim and even asked for a couple of recipes! Both signs of a wonderful potluck! 

Some churches I have been to however, are not all that great. So there are some common rules of etiquette to bringing food to a potluck for everyone and then an additional set that may be helpful to you Pastor's wives out there!

Potluck Etiquette for Everyone

1. Bring food for everyone you are bringing to the potluck and everyone you invited to the potluck. If there are 5 people in your family bring enough food that will satisfy their needs. You obviously don't have to eat your own food but that way there is plenty to go around. If it is only you - just bring one dish, not three little ones :0) 

2. Bring your favorite food! If you love it, others will too! 

3. Stick to proven new recipes. It's okay to try new recipes just make sure that they are tried and true - for example your sister gave you the recipe because she loves it! 

Check out this ranting review potluck dish from www.womenlivingwell.org!

4. If you can't tell what's in it, LABEL it please! I don't know how many times I've passed by a casserole because it is unintelligible and they go home with just a few servings scooped out of it. A card on a toothpick, or a folded card beside the dish, even masking tape on the spoon! Just label it! 

Potluck etiquette for Pastor's wives

(At least for those that don't have social committees to do these things for them!)

1. Bring twice as much food as your family can eat! Just in case others don't follow through or people who usually bring a lot of food get sick or are on vacation. 

2. Scout out the church kitchen. You may have someone in your church who already does this and if so that's fine - just check and make sure there are plates, cups, silverware and that the kitchen is clean and ready to go. If you are missing something call someone and ask them to pick it up or get it yourself. 

3. Delegate for Holiday potlucks especially for Thanksgiving potlucks. You somewhat want all of the bases covered. Pies, Turkey, Potatoes, Gravy, stuffing. I think this Pastor's wife learned the hard way and did NOT delegate this Thanksgiving and while it all turned out perfectly, it would have been nice to know if other people were bringing the other components. 

4. If you struggle with cooking, do not despair! This may take an extra little dose of humility on your part but tell a couple of key people that you typically don't cook very much and that you may need extra help in the food department. Then when potlucks roll around think veggie trays, cheese balls and crackers, potato salad and cole slaw, chocolate cream pies. All of these things can be found in your local grocery store and you can still be the hero of the day. I have yet to have a homemade pie that tasted better than some of those frozen pies out there! Sometimes they are even cheaper than buying the ingredients yourself. 

5. It's okay if other women bring food that the pastor loves. I have seen some women bring the pastor's favorite dishes in lieu of their husband's favorite dishes. THIS IS OKAY. Remember your husband is the pastor and they want to show appreciation for him. Oh and if your husband rants and raves about a certain dish, just ask for the recipe. It's okay and your husband will thank you for it! 

After reading this set of guidelines just remember that every church is DIFFERENT and the people in it are different. These are just some ideas based on the numerous churches that I have been a part of. What ideas do YOU have for potlucks? Any special recipes to share that have gotten rave reviews at your own potlucks? If so, please share in the comments!!

Ministry Wives Link-Up!!

I've gotten a few questions regarding Chaplain's wives and YES they count! Of course they count!!! 

Therefore if you are a Ministry wife: Pastor's wife, youth Pastor's wife, evangelist's wife, Missionary wife, or a chaplain's wife, LINK-UP a recent post not just your blog - ANY TOPIC - so we can blog hop and meet one another! Oh, and be a sweetheart and include this button so other Ministry wives can get in on the fun too and so you will qualify to be featured! Please make it apparent somewhere on your blog that you are a Ministry wife! 

<center><a href="http://www.stringermama.com/search/label/Life%20in%20Our%20Fishbowl"><img border="0" src="http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx253/samandann/LifeinOurFishbowl-1.jpg" /></a></center>

In HIS Grip, 
               

Life In Our Fishbowl: Pastor Appreciation and Link-Up

My family was loved on yesterday. We are loved on every Sunday but this past Sunday was Pastor Appreciation Night and while we had planned a family night (something we do in the months when there is no  fellowship get together) around a Soup Supper, the church had planned a Pastor Appreciation for my hubbie which actually became a Pastor and family Appreciation.

There were decorations using the St.Louis Blues colors (my hubbie's fave hockey team)

the pink blur is my daughter :0) 

a cake - also hockey themed

Gifts, games and the best part of it all - testimonies from the people about how God had worked in their lives through us. 

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful church family.

Have you thanked your Pastor and his family for their service? If not Pastor appreciation month may be over tomorrow but anytime is a good time to let them know you love and appreciate them! 

Now it's link-up time! What have you Ministry wives been up to? 

If you are a Ministry wife: Pastor's wife, youth Pastor's wife, evangelist's wife, or a Missionary wife, LINK-UP a recent post - ANY TOPIC - from your own blog so we can blog hop and meet one another! Oh, and be a sweetheart and include this button so other Ministry wives can get in on the fun too and so you will qualify to be featured! Last week we had five sweet ladies link-up but we need to get the word out so please help share this link-up to other Ministry wives - I know they are out there!

<center><a href="http://www.stringermama.com/search/label/Life%20in%20Our%20Fishbowl"><img border="0" src="http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx253/samandann/LifeinOurFishbowl-1.jpg" /></a></center>

In HIS Grip, 
               

Life In Our Fishbowl: Announcing NEW LINK-UP Party!!

I've been praying for a while about what kind of link-up I wanted to host and God finally landed me on one! I'm really excited about it! 

I am now going to be SHARING my Life In Our Fishbowl!

I've been writing about how God is impacting me as a Pastor's wife and I have had SOOOO many wonderful Pastor's wives find them and contact me about how encouraging they are! Pastor's wives find it very easy to connect with other Pastor's wives and ministry wives so if you are a Pastor's wife or Ministry wife - you can now MEET each other via blogland! Each Monday along with my Life In Our Fishbowl post I will be hosting a link-up for any and all ministry wives - NO MATTER the topic! My only requirement is that it is easy to see that you are a Ministry wife somehow on your blog. Basically so I can find it!

In case you were wondering, my Life In Our Fishbowl posts are NOT just for Pastor's wives! On the contrary! My purpose in writing these posts is to appreciate the transparent life that God has placed me in and ALLOW people to look in and see that God is shaping and growing ME TOO! I have NOT arrived and I won't until I reach heaven and receive my sin-freed body! So even if you are not linking-up - check out the Pastor's wives who ARE linking up and you may just find someone a LOT like you!

If there is enough interest - I will be updating my linky to a photo link - so even if you don't like to link up to a simply link - please do it if you would if it was a photo link-up! Thanks! 

So there you have it - if you are a Ministry wife: Pastor's wife, youth Pastor's wife, evangelist's wife, or a Missionary wife, LINK-UP a recent post - ANY TOPIC - from your own blog so we can blog hop and meet one another! Oh, and be a sweetheart and include this button! Not required, because I know sometimes I forget when linking up but I would love to see it there!

<br /><a href=" http://www.stringermama.com/search/label/Life%20in%20Our%20Fishbowl "><img src=" http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx253/samandann/LifeinOurFishbowl-1.jpg " border="0" /></a>

 In HIS Grip,


           

Free Advertising for Ministry Wives and Pastor's Wives

I have a burden for ministry wives especially Pastor's wives because I am one! I also know that sometimes churches are unable to fully support a Pastor's family the way that they need and they have to supplement their income. A Pastor is a VERY busy man and there are MANY Pastor's wives who take on a job either outside the home or from home. I want to support you! Here is how it will work!

Every month I will do a free 125 x125 advertisement in my sidebar for THREE Ministry Wives! 

To qualify: 

You must be married to a male pastor, missionary, evangelist and be able to prove it to me - a website is best, a copy of a bulletin or a picture of a church sign will work too.

You must be trying to make money with your advertisement and have a link on your advertisement that will link to your own website or blog. If you need help doing this or making an advertisement check out this tutorial.

You must be in agreement with my "Child of God" (or I Believe) page and must state so in your submission email. It's very basic - to be summed up in a short statement - Salvation by grace alone.

You must submit your advertisement via email including these things:

1. Your advertisement in HTML format
2. Your proof of being a ministry wife
3. Link to your business website
4. Link to your blog if you have one
5. Statement that you agree with my Child of God page. 

If you are missing any of these elements you will not be considered! 

The first of every month I will chose the top three submissions and post them in my sidebar and announce them in a blog post. I will also post reminders to send them in via my Facebook page if you need help remembering! 

How Am I Going to Choose? To be honest, I have NO IDEA!! That may seem CRAZY but here is my plan of attack. 

1. PRAY. 
2. Check out all of the advertisement emails
3. Contact you if I have any trouble with viewing your advertisement
4. Contact those advertisements I receive that will not be considered and explain why. Hopefully VERY few! 
5.  PRAY again and CHOOSE. I may do it at random, I may do it by what I like the most, or I will do it as God leads. I have no idea but I can tell you that I will be fair and honest. 



Normal Advertising Info

6. Email those I choose.

If you are NOT chosen, submit again! I can only chose three and those three will not be chosen for the next month. Submissions must be made MONTHLY or I will not consider them! So to be considered for November, you must submit in October. So go ahead! Email me at Ann@StringerMama dot com! I can't wait to see what you have! 

If you would like to advertise on a normal basis - please see my regular advertising page and then contact me via email for special ministry wife rates. Thank you! 

In HIS Grip, 
               

Life In Our Fishbowl: When the Pastor's Wife Misses Church

Sunday morning I was on top of my game. By 8:45 am I had lunch going in the crockpot, breakfast cleaned up, 2 out of 3 kids dressed for church and I was even dressed and ready to walk the fifty feet over to go to church. I just had to wake up my oldest and get her ready in the next 20 minutes. Easy peasy.

Then it happened. 

She woke up and threw up. 

Okaaaay. . . 

All of a sudden this entire pastor's family would not be going to church today. Except for the pastor. And I dreaded telling him. You see, any time that I cannot be there to hear my hubbie preach or even just be in the building in the nursery, it is hard on my man. I am the one person that he can look at and he can know is 100% rooting for him and praying for him. I'm in his corner. It doesn't mean that there are not other people that are doing that, it's just that he knows I am for sure. 

But this Sunday was even more important that I be there. This Sunday several people from my hubbie's part-time workplace and their families were visiting church that morning to surprise my hubbie. And I couldn't be there. Now, just so you understand, I don't HAVE to be there for my hubbie to do a great job as a Pastor. God has that covered. But if you could see my hubbie's face whenever I have to tell him that someone is sick and I can't be there at church today - you would understand. It's like I am missing the big promotion dinner or something. 

So when my little girl woke up and threw up, I was heart broken. "Lord! Not today! Lord, don't You know!  This is going to be a somewhat stressful Sunday for my hubbie! All of those people saved and unsaved walking into church to hear my hubbie preach for the first time! I need to be there to encourage him!" But then I knew that this is all part of His plan and I my plan doesn't have to mesh with His plan, in fact, my plans should always be thrown out and be replaced by His. So I whispered an apology to the Lord for my attitude and I shifted gears. If I can't be there, I will do what I need to do with prayers for my hubbie from a distance. Since I was all dressed and ready to go I settled my sickie onto the couch with a video and walked over to the church to tell my hubbie the dreaded news and to drop my son off at his Sunday School class. Then it happened. God took the reins for me. 

A sweetheart in our church offered to go over to my house and watch my kids so I could be there for the service. What? I almost naturally refused because of COURSE I wasn't going to let someone else risk getting sick by watching my kids! But then I could hear that familiar still small voice telling me to accept this offer. So I did. And I went to the service and I met the families that were visiting and I heard my hubbie's sermon. Just like regular a Sunday to anyone else. But this one was special to me because I was there right where God wanted me to be. 

Next time you see that your Pastor's wife is sick or can't be there for some reason, say a little prayer for her husband, because most likely, your prayers are joining hers. 

In HIS Grip, 

               

Modesty for Curves: Tips & Tricks

One of the jobs that comes with being a Pastor's wife is talking to teenage girls and sometimes grown women about modesty. The biggest frustration I have found among girls in churches today is not explaining the importance of modesty but HOW TO DO IT! 

Modesty is a challenge for me! But not in the way you may be thinking. The way God shaped me creates a CHALLENGE! I'm always hiking it up, or down, or around, or SOMETHING to make sure things are just as they should be. Oh, and it seems that EVERY time I carry my baby around I have to do a modesty sweep to check and make sure baby's hands are not pulling my clothes in the wrong direction. 

I've heard MANY amazing, godly women talking about modesty and covering up what should be kept for your husband's eyes only. But I have yet to hear of some practical ideas on HOW to do this! For women like me who desire modesty but have the curves that are somewhat harder to hide, this is for you! 

There are some tricks I have learned to help my curvy form be modest! Check out these "immodest" pieces turned "modest!" 

1. Tank Tops - wearing these under my shirts are probably my number one way of being modest!  I even have some tank tops that I wear BACKWARDS! Sounds strange I know but when you hold up a normal women's tank top, the BACK is usually higher than the front (go figure!). 

2. Tube Tops -These can be difficult to find but are very helpful to cover where it counts. Tube tops are nice because they stay put really really well - sometimes they are not high enough so try it on in the store and move around a lot to make sure it accomplishes the task. Wear them under the low-necked shirts that you have always wanted to wear but never could! 

3. Biker shorts - Yup - I love these! They are perfect for wearing under my skirts. I picked this up in my college days when skirts were required daily - even in 10 degree weather and on the windiest campus on earth! But I appreciated how much more modest I was when wearing them! It covers you completely in the back because they are cut higher than your normal pants and skirts. And if your toddler comes up behind you and pulls on your skirt just a little too hard - no worries! (They also have a nice shape helper factor too!) 

4. LDS shopping for formal wear. I am not Mormon and I don't like to support their venues - but let's face it, when it comes to modesty - they have it covered - literally! LDS formal wear is typically more reasonably priced than other modest clothing shops because they don't present modest wear as specialty clothing - let me know if you have found a non-LDS site that is reasonably priced for formal wear. 

Those are a few things that have really helped me in my quest for modesty. Do you have any more creative ways to being modest? 

In HIS Grip, 
               

Raising Mighty Arrows Guest Post

Guess what! I am not the ONLY one who emphasizes Pastor's wives on Monday! Heather at Raising Mighty Arrows is a fellow Pastor's wife and she has a heart for those of us serving alongside our Ministry hubbies. She has Minister's Wife Mondays and I wrote a guest post for this series! Here is a little precursor but you will have to hop on over there to read the rest! 

Room At the Cross for You

Room at the Cross for Pastor's Wives

It was Sunday morning worship and the service was drawing to a close. My pastor was giving an invitation asking those who needed to strengthen their relationship with God to come forward and make it public. My heart was heavy and God was speaking to my heart and I knew I must make a change in my life. 

But... going forward? “That’s hard Lord! I can’t do that! Everyone will see me!! It was always hard to go forward before but NOW? I am the PASTOR’S WIFE!!!...

For the rest - head on over to Raising Mighty Arrows! 

In HIS Grip, 
               

Life In Our Fishbowl: Pastor's Kid turned Pastor's Wife

Source

I was recently asked this question by one of my friends and it was one of those things that I really had to learn a LOT (and am still learning!) about when I first became a pastor's wife. Her question was this:

"What do you think I need to know about being in a church planter's family [as a Pastor's wife] that I wouldn't necessarily know by having grown up in a pastor's home?"

Now, I have NO EXPERIENCE as a church planter's wife - but my mom is the wife of a church planter! But I WAS a Pastor's daughter (still am but you know what I mean!). The things I learned as a Pastor's kid was how to be a Pastor's kid. I had NO CLUE what it was like to be a Pastor's wife. Honestly, in my experience, being a Pastor's kid in NO WAY prepared me to be a Pastor's wife. The only advantages I think I've had so far were things like knowing that you have to buy the grape juice before communion! 

Picture it this way. Remember when you were a babysitter as a teenager? Remember when you got pregnant for the first time and you thought - I was a babysitter and I know a lot about kids. I've changed diapers and I've given babies their bottles and I've tucked kids into bed and . . . the list goes on of all of the things that you learned how to do as a babysitter.

But then you became a mother. And all of a sudden EVERYTHING that you knew formerly about parenting no longer makes the complete sense it did! I will never forget bringing my oldest daughter home from the hospital. We were not there longer than five minutes when she began choking and coughing and sputtering. I was seconds away from calling an ambulance when all of a sudden she threw up a TON of amniotic fluid that was causing her to choke. Then she became completely happy and went right to sleep. I COMPLETELY broke down and was convinced that my child would not make it to see her first birthday! I thought for sure I was going to be the cause of her death!

The difference between being a babysitter and a mother is simple - who carries the ultimate responsibility for the child. The same is true for a Pastor's wife. The difference between being a pastor's kid and a Pastor's wife is you are there alongside your husband supporting and encouraging the man who holds the responsibility. You don't hold it yourself, but you do hold the man's hand who does carry the responsibility. It is a heavy burden that your pastor husband carries and often he will lean on his wife to help him carry the burden.

So in answer to your question - there is a LOT that you will need to learn but just like being a mother - you can't know what it's like until you're there. But it's not so woeful because just like becoming a new mother - God is right there helping and carrying you along. 

In HIS Grip, 

               

"To Our Pastor's Wife"

Maybe you need to encourage your Pastor's wife today! As you head off to church ask God how you can be a blessing to your Pastor's family(ies) today! You may be surprised what comes to mind or how God chooses to use you!

TO OUR PASTOR'S WIFE

When we thank God for our pastor

We must give Him thanks for two,

For when your husband came to us,

God also sent us you.

A pastor's wife must be many things, 

You have many hats to wear;

And we say thanks for all you do

And lift you up in prayer.

You adjust your life to meet the needs

Of your husband's congregation,

And it seems that you can always cope

With most any situation.

Your presence blesses all of us

Who know you from day to day.

As our pastor's wife, you are serving God

In a fine and worthy way.

Author Unknown