Happy Birthday Roxanne!

Well, it's officially here. Roxanne is now 25 years old as of about 5:30am on July 30th, 2005. I think you're showing your age here by how sleepy you look (J/K)! I know Roxanne that it feels weird to be 25, but don't worry it's not that old of an age. Actually, today we had a lot of fun. We went to Frankenmouth, MI and went to Julian's Winery. Then we went to a few of the Prime Outlet shops and got some pretzel dip, a pair of dress shoes for me and I bought Roxanne a jewelry box to go along with the Ruby ring, being her birthstone, that I bought her earlier last week for her birthday. It was really a fun day and we got to see St. Lorenz church and school as well, which has about 5 pastors and a friend of my coming on as their new vicar, Christian Strickland. The current vicar at Faith Lutheran, Chris Nitzel, showed us around and we had a lot of fun.

The Rear Parking Lot of Immanuel Lutheran

Here's a picture of the rear parking lot of Immanuel Lutheran. Roxanne's classroom is actually in between the church and where the school is.

More of Roxanne's Classroom!

Roxanne and I have just set up all of the chairs and tables in her classroom and cleaned the chalkboard. Whew! That was a lot of work.

Roxanne's Classroom!

Here's another picture of Roxanne's room that she'll be teaching Kindergarten in at Immanuel Lutheran.

Roxanne's Classroom!

On July 29th, 2005 Roxanne and I went to Immanuel Lutheran School in Bay City, MI in order to organize her classroom, clean up the carpet and do some inventory of the toys and other things within the room.

More of my Uncle Wayne's Train!

Another picture of my Uncle Wayne's train.

Cool Train Set!

My Great Uncle Wayne had an awesome toy train set in the bottom of the basement of his town home in Mt. Pleasant, MI. It was pretty cool to see how much work he had put into it. Plus it was great to see the train race along the track through the small village he had made including a little cave for the train to go through!!!

My Great Uncle Wayne!

My dad's Aunt Eva and Uncle Wayne Hayes were nice enough to allow us to stay at their lovely home in Mount Pleasant, MI just before Roxanne and I moved into our apartment in Bay City, MI. It was a lot of fun and I learned a little bit more about my family history. My mother Elaine is on the left.

"Can you tell me where the whirlpool is?"

My arms were pretty tired after I "funyacked" (I know it's not a word, but this really wasn't a kayak I was in), across Round Lake at Camp LuWiSoMo. It was a lot of fun. This was a day that Roxanne and I spent four hours on the lake doing everything from smallboat sailing, to canoeing, funyacking and paddle boating.

In the Flower Garden at Fanny Hill!

Here we are in Eau Claire, WI on our honeymoon enjoying the flower garden of Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre and B&B. It was a nice place to go to. The show was hilarious.

Now You Don't!

Oh no! I've disappeared from the last photograph. Don't worry it's only a picture. :)

Now You See Me...

Here's a photo of me in front of a huge loading dock that was once used for taking the mining ore from the trains that came into Ashland, WI onto the ships that came in and out of the Bay many years ago when the mining industry was huge in Ashland.

Ahoy Matey!

Here I am on the Island Princess, which ironically was made in Bay City, MI where Roxanne and I are stationed at for the year. It was a great tour of the Apostle Islands that we went on, which was on the 4th day of our honeymoon. I'd like to think that I'd make a good skipper, but I think I will stick with being a pastor instead.

Dining out at Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre

Here's a picture of my lovely bride on the 5th day of our honeymoon in Eau Claire, WI. She was drinking her favorite drink at the time--a grasshopper. They are quite tasty, but I for one was having a Brandy Manhattan. The theatre was nice to attend. They were showing Wally's Diner, which was this hilarious comedy about a couple who moved out to the Mohavi Desert in Nevada to start up a Diner out there. It was a really funny show, especially in the second act.

In Ashland, WI

Here's a picture of Roxanne near an abandoned pier where they used to load and unload shipping supplies onto boats in Ashland, WI. As you can see there's not much of a pier left, but it was still fun to walk around Chequamegan Bay and see how large the mining industry was at one time in the city of Ashland. This picture was taken on the fourth day of our honeymoon. It was a little cold that day.

Don't let the alligator scare you!

It was sort of freaky to see an alligator get up close to you as much as it did on the tour, but it was still fun to watch them go for the food that the guides were throwing at them.

Aaaahhh! Get it away from me!

Actually it wasn't that bad to hold the alligator. During the Bayou tour they were throwing out marshmallows at the alligators because they think that they are white birds instead of marshmallows. It was sort of weird to see a giant lizard such as an alligator chomping on marshmalllows instead of meat, but it was still cool to watch!

Don't let that Alligator get too close!

Here's Roxanne holding an alligator while we were on a Bayou tour down in New Orleans. It was taken just after we had gone to two different plantations on the same day. This alligator she was holding wasn't more than a year old. I held one too and it was surprising to see that they had a very soft feel to them.

The Wurm Family

Here is a picture of the Wurm family--a.k.a. Roxanne's side of the family. Roxanne and I weren't able to be in the picture because we were visiting my folks in Minnesota over Christmas of 2004. I'm so glad that I am able to be a part of this wonderful family! Starting from the back left is Matt Wurm, Rob Wurm, Ron Wurm and Russ Wurm. In the front on the left is my mother-in-law Janice Wurm, father-in-law Pastor Emeritus Bill, my Nephew Bryce Wurm and Kay Wurm, both of whom are part of Russ' family.

My Father-In-Law--The Right Reverend Bill Wurm

This picture was taken of my father-in-law while we were on the Steamship in New Orleans, LA. It is the same ship that my mother-in-law Janice was on. It was a great experience! Don't ask me how that other woman on the right hand side got into the picture. I'm trying to hide behind Roxanne. I guess there were just too many pictures being taken that day. Naaah. I love pictures. Cool shades dad!!!

Janice Wurm My Mother-In-Law

This picture was taken in New Orleans, LA while my mother-in-law Janice, my father-in-law Bill and Roxanne and I were on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Granted the Mississippi River down in Louisianna is a little bit bigger and deeper than where it is in Minnesota where I grew up in. A whole lot dirtier too, but the steamboat was a great experience for the whole family!

Matt Wurm my Brother-in-law

Here's Matt with my mother-in-law Janice in the background. Hey Mom!

My Awesome Brother in Law Matt

Here is my brother-in-law Matt Wurm working diligently on a coffee table for our apartment in Bay City, MI. He's an awesome guy. In fact he's the reason Roxanne and I were able to meet each other and fall in love. Well, he had nothing to do with the falling in love part, but he sure did help speed things up a bit by doing a little bit of matchmaking and giving me Roxanne's e-mail address and phone number. Thanks Matt!

Some of our favorite Bible verses

John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The reason Roxanne and I like these Bible verses so much is that they speak so much of what the Christian faith is about. It's JESUS always first and foremost in the center. He is the reason that we live today and why we will live with Him eternally someday in Heaven. It's only through Him that this can happen, because of the sacrifice He took upon Himself in our place. I know this message of the Gospel is foolishness to the world, especially in our American society that says that we must be tolerant of everything as if it's some kind of new virtue. But, really the Christian faith is only found in the person and work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are NOTHING without Him. Our lives were stricken with Sin even from birth, but it is through Jesus' perfect life and His sacrifice on the cross that has re-created us to be His children. May JESUS continue to be in your lives giving you the endurance to finish the race of life. May He be your vine and your source of life in a life that is often full of suffering, sin and pain. Remember Jesus is there to help you through it and He will. You are never alone!

My Seminary Picture

Here's a picture of me all dressed up in my suit and tie for a picture in my Seminary's directory.

Roxanne's Tulips

Here is Roxanne holding the 3rd set of flowers that I had given her while she was teaching down at Atonement Lutheran in Metairie, Louisianna. She had a lot of fun teaching down there and it was hard for her to leave. Pastor Kocsis, the Assistant Pastor at Atonement, took this picture and he thought that it was appropriate that a cow would be in the picture since Roxanne grew up in Wisconsin. :)

On our way to Bay City, MI!!!

This is a picture of Roxanne and I, my parent's Mark & Elaine Taggatz and Papa Wurm at Roxanne's parents place in Sheboygan, WI just before we left for Bay City, MI.

Our Campsite at Camp LuWiSoMo

A picture of me on our hike through the Camp Luwisomo woods

The first day Roxanne and I got to Camp LuWiSoMo we decided to go on a hike through the woods. Near where this picture was taken is where Roxanne had taken her campers on a high adventure week in these woods. The huts of this survivor camp were still there even a year after they had been built.

Don't get too close to the fire Roxanne!

This is a picture of our campsite at camp LuWiSoMo in Wild Rose, WI just about 1 week and a half after our honeymoon.

Roxanne's Missing Teeth

Even though you can't see them, Roxanne had her wisdom teeth pulled just 2 weeks after we were married. Though it was a traumatic experience for the both of us, somehow God got us through it. I guess that makes the vow we made at our wedding, "In sickness and in health," that much more real. We took this picture in the basement of my dad's Aunt Eva and Uncle Wayne's house in Mount Pleasant, MI.

Our Kitchen

Here's a picture of our kitchen window with the card, I mean kitchen table we got from Menards.

Our Apartment

Here's a picture of the living room while it's being put together on the first day of our move on Friday June 15th, 2005.

Immanuel Lutheran

Here's another picture of Roxanne and Mr. Brian Young her principal in front of the Immanuel Lutheran School sign. This is on Saturday June 16th the day after we moved all of our belongings into our apartment in Bay City, MI.

Roxanne & Her Principal

This is Roxanne talking to her principal Mr. Brian Young. She will be a kindergarten teacher here at Immanuel Lutheran in Bay City, MI for the 2005-2006 school year. I'M SO PROUD OF HER!

Watch Your Step Roxanne!!!

Here is Roxanne in front of Copper Falls--the first set of falls we saw in Copper Falls State Park. She was right next to the fence when I took this picture.

Tyler Fork Cascade (Watch Your Step)

Here Roxanne and I are on our honeymoon in Copper Falls State Park. We were still on the hiking trail that took us around to see the spectacular waterfalls in the park. This is one of the last waterfalls we saw and it was sight to see just before it converged into the Bad River!!!

The Jacuzzi at Second Wind

Here's a picture of the Jacuzzi at Second Wind. It was really comfortable to sit and relax in.

The Bear Den

Here's a picture of one of the rooms we stayed in at Second Wind B & B. The bed was nice to sleep in, as it was firm and there was also a jacuzzi in our room with two really nice and plush arm chairs to read and relax in.

Roxanne and the Frog Riding Sturgeon

I took this picture of Roxanne in Sturgeon Bay, WI just before we went into this fancy restaurant. Sturgeon Bay has about 15 of the Sturgeon statues around its vicinity. It's called, "Sturgeon's On Parade," and it was cool to see what designs people came up with.

Copper Falls Wisconsin State Park

While we were in Ashland, WI on our honeymoon Roxanne and I went to Copper Falls State Park. We ended up taking the long way there, but it was a great experience for the both of us. There were four waterfalls in all. This part of the state park is where the Tyler Fork and the Bad River converge near a fault line, which is why the rock is cut into so deeply.

Second Wind B & B

Here is a picture of the exterior of Second Wind. It was truly a sight to see, especially after coming off of a country road to get here. We seriously thought that we were driving up to a mansion or something of the sort, which in fact is what our experience at Second Wind actually felt like. We ended up staying two nights here because our cabin in Bayfield, WI near the Apostle Islands was a little on the shabby side.

Our Honeymoon

This is a picture of Roxanne and I on the 3rd night of our honeymoon. We started our honeymoon in Sturgeon Bay, WI doing sort of a Bed & Breakfast tour. Our first two nights were spent in the White Lace Inn, which is one of the top rated B & Bs in the Mid-West. It was a great way to start off our honeymoon. In this picture here Roxanne and I are in the common room of Second Wind Bed & Breakfast in Ashland, WI. It took us five and a half hours to get there from Sturgeon Bay, but it sure was worth it. The room we stayed in was the Bear Den and it was a blast. The food also was really nice and the family that runs it was great to converse with and also share our Christian faiths with.

We're in Bay City, MI!!!

Hello everyone! This is the new blog of Roxanne and John Taggatz. Yes it finally happened. I have tied the knot with my beautiful bride Roxanne who was formerly known as Roxanne Wurm, sorry Wurm family. We have liked the past two weeks here in Bay City and really love the weather up here, although it was a little hot when we moved in. The people have been friendly as well.

I thought now that I would take a little time to tell you how Roxanne and I got to Bay City, MI. Well, as many of my family and friends know, I John Taggatz am a student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. I have been a student there since 2003 and this year is the year of my internship or vicarage as they call it. I will be spending a year here in Bay City as a vicar at Faith Lutheran Church, while Roxanne teaches Kindergarten at Immanuel Lutheran across the Saginaw Rivr that splits the city apart. Thankfully we have been blessed with a wonderful apartment in which you see here in this picture along with many of the banana boxes we used to move all of my books and just some of our things in.

On my vicarage I will be preaching sermons once to two times a month or more (depending on the season of the church year), teaching Bible classes, putting the church service together, making hospital calls and shut-in visits. I will also be teaching confirmation classes and other things. I am excited about my first year away from school putting what I have learned to work in a real live parish setting and being able to learn more about myself while doing it.