The Buerglers

When I retired from youth ministry seventeen months ago, I had no idea what my life would look like. At the suggestion of my spiritual director, I took a full year to just enjoy my retirement and motherhood. It took a full year to really unwind and relax. After nine years of working nights, weekends, and holidays, I was long over due for some R&R. During this time I discovered the aspect of youth ministry that I really missed was teaching. This lead me to working for The Natural Baby where I teach monthly cloth diaper classes and workshops. I love my Saturday morning time working with families on something I am so passionate about. I've also spent a great deal of time growing my photography "business" - taking workshops both in person and online, as well as joining a forum where we share constructive criticism.  I am pleased to say that I am booked through the end of 2015 with Christmas card, maternity, and newborn sessions. In August and September of this year...

It's been a little hairy around here , but in the midst of it all good things have come.  Thanks be to God! I subscribe to a Novena email list ( you can too! ) and if one comes up and I am in need of those prayers and intentions, I will pray it.  A few weeks ago the Novena to St. Anne came up with the intention of holy families and holy marriages.  I decided to pray it with the intention of Eric's job situation changing because it was wreaking havoc on our family time together, as well as his emotional well being.  Although we prayed this novena together I never shared my intention with him.  The last day of the novena he came home from work and said, "I HAVE HAD IT!"  And that night sent out his resume to several contacts in his field. Long story short, he had interviews with three companies and landed two offers.  It was complicated weeding through the pros and cons.  Thankfully, his parents were full of lots of wisdom on the subject. The jo...

I keep sitting down to blog and have nothing too exciting to report, but things have been absolutely crazy around here.  When it rains, it pours, right? Let's start with a few weeks ago -- Evie.   Eric and I caught her limping. I took off her shoes to see if her feet were swollen. Maybe she had been hurt and we didn't know?  When I took off her socks her feet were enflamed, peeling and blistering.  How did we miss this?  Of course it was Friday night just after her pediatrician closed for the weekend.  Saturday morning it was worse. The blisters were now oozing.  I took her to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  The doctor told me she had a terrible case of Athlete's Foot that was now a bacterial infection as well.  During the foot exam the doctor did the routine eye/ear/lungs/heart check on Evie.  She asked me a few questions and then left the room. She brought back the swabs for strep.  In less than 5 minutes Evie's strep tes...

I've had the honor to take some really neat photos lately.  I think my favorite part about being a photographer is sharing in exciting moments in a person or family's life. Engagement The bride had access to a vineyard in North Georgia.  We had a great afternoon playing in the grapes and mountains.  They're super casual together and love to laugh. A LOT!  The groom plays trumpet and the couple enjoys wine tastings.  The bride was super creative in coming up with the props for this shoot.  I can't wait for their wedding in October! Class of 2014 - Seniors! This senior was in my middle school youth group.  She called and was like, "Oh hey, forgot to get my senior pictures taken and graduation is tomorrow."  Haha.  She is an aspiring model and is hoping to work in the nutrition and fitness industry some day! This senior is my beautiful cousin.  She has a heart of gold.  I'm so proud of her and was thrille...

This post has been in the queue since before Maggie was born but I did not have the emotional energy to finish it.  It's now been four months since my discernment to leave ministry to become a full-time mother. Ever since late high school I knew I wanted to work in Religious Education of some sort. I didn't know if that meant in the classroom of a Catholic school or in youth ministry, or what.  After a few years of college education in Religious Studies - focus on catechetics - and a lot of hands on ministry work, I discerned that youth ministry was the starting point for me. I was hired at the second parish I interviewed, my parent's home parish.  I was a part-time high school youth minister and I nannied for two families, and eventually went full time youth ministry while still nannying for one family. A few years later I moved into a different role that was two different hats and two different age groups:  Middle school youth ministry and 10th grade Confir...

One. I am writing this on Thursday to link up on Friday. I'm so behind on blogging I'm actually ahead. Or something like that. Two. Tomorrow we embark on our largest Confirmation retreat to date.  We have 209 candidates on retreat out of a class of 219. Not a bad ratio AT ALL.  We have 35 group leaders, a full band, 3 staff members, a nurse, and some clergy going with us.  I'm so overwhelmed, but I'm actually caught up on preparations (this NEVER HAPPENS) that I'm actually at peace....except.... Three.  Satan has been attacking.  Usually, it's that I binge eat or engage in other indulgent behaviors that result in me being super grumpy and moody.  Today I am feeling super down because our little baby Albert was due a month from today, which means in the original plan I shouldn't have been going on the retreat this year.  It's giving me feelings of doubt as to why I need to be there this weekend, but Satan is also making me fearful that so...

Twenty eight and thirty one.  Those are the years that stand out to me as "older sister years".  As in, everyone's older sister is 28 or 31. Until I turned 28. And now 31. I feel like all my career idols were this age, and now I'm that age and I certainly don't feel as though I should be idolized! Ha! In fact, I think this year I am more aware than ever that I know very little and I am greatly in need of fine tuning in all areas of my life. I am learning to be okay with asking for help.  And to confident in dishing out a little advice now and again. There are many days when I feel like I've accomplished little to nothing in life, but then I realize it's only because I have had more-or-less the same career for 9 years and there is no room for advancement at my current place of employment. But when I look at other areas of my life, I am so proud of the choices I've made and things I've learned (many, the hard way)!  I'm married to an ...

One of the last things Pope Benedict XVI did before retiring was to name my boss/pastor an auxiliary bishop to Atlanta. If you have no idea how a bishop is named (like me a few months ago), watch this , its a super cute video on how to become pope, but since being a bishop one of the steps you'll learn all about that in the video. I found out the news on a Vatican news Twitter account around 6:30am and it was immediately confirmed by Monsignor David via email to the staff.  He is the most humble, pastoral, and no-nonsense guy you've ever met.  He's the perfect choice and exactly what our Archdiocese needs. Our three bishops are so different yet they round each other out beautifully. The Ordination Mass begins with a clergy procession.  I wish I had the final count but there were something like 50 seminarians, 80 deacons, 150 priests, and 13 bishops.  Check out this bishop from Florida, he's like 7 feet tall before the mitre.  And...

Gosh I've missed regular blogging...but I've been enjoying visiting with family and friends and preparing for some pretty incredible things. Last week I spent almost every evening interviewing potential future teen leaders for our Confirmation program and Life Teen program.  It is hands down  my favorite week each year.  Mandi and I get to spend 30 minutes getting to know and picking the brains of a high schooler.  This year we have over twenty applicants!  Needless to say I'm a bit exhausted after I get home from work. Evie and I have had some fun play dates with friends!  We were especially glad that Rebecca could bring Zoe and Evan for an impromptu visit last week! Over the weekend we traveled to Savannah, GA and to Beaufort, SC.  I can't to share all the photos and about our great weekend! Today I was able to spend some quality time with Mandi.  We went to buybuybaby to work on her baby registry.  It was SO fun talking ...

Though these are not the preferred version of the Catholic marriage vows, we are all familiar with the similar vows to these in the secular world, Priest: (Name), do you take (name) for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Bride:  I Do. These last two or three weeks has been a trial against every aspect of our marriage vows. For better, for worse... I just came off my busy season for work. I was tired exhausted, cranky, and drained in every aspect.  I was running on empty.  This coupled with the everything else that happend this week (see below), I wanted to give up.  Not on my marriage, not on my daughter, but on myself.  I wanted to lock myself in my room for a month.  I cried in public. I cried at bible study.  I cried talking to my cube-mates.  Worn thin. This morning Eric calmly said to me, ...