Lorihadams-- hi guys...been busy!

[lorihadams]

Thanks guys.....it helps a lot knowing I have people to talk to about it.

This is Chad's family church, all his family is pressuring us to go there and they have a large population of homeschoolers so I am going to try for a while. He sees me going to my mom's church that only has 100-200 people at both services max. Even then, when we first started going on a regular basis I would go in the nursery just so I could get away from everyone. I feel like everyone is staring at me, start to sweat profusely, then my neck and shoulders cramp up. I still get it occasionally but I am better, we've been going regularly now for over 2 years. I still have days when I sneak off to the bathroom and then either stay in the back or go to the nursery and listen to the service over the intercom.

Hubby just doesn't get it cause i can function to a certain extent. I worked at Hooters for a long time (5 years) and that was before I started having issues....I really think that having my son started it. Maybe some post partum issues there and it just escalated from there. He doesn't seem to think that time is relative and that if I was okay once then I should be okay now. Really frustrating cause he just thinks I'm making excuses for not doing stuff with him. I stay at home a lot now and I can handle doing stuff with people I am comfortable with. Its easier if there is a distraction, like a craft show or quilt exhibit. Everyone is concentrating on other stuff and I just usually hang with my kids.

 

[keljonma]

I agree with Farmfresh...check the church out again another Sunday. We have about 400 members in our church, and on Easter Sunday, even with 4 services (Sunrise, 8:30 and 11 at church and at the biker bar at 11) every service was packed with no empty pews at church. I heard there were 45 at the bar too. I guess there were a number of visitors and the "Easter & Christmas crowd"; I heard we had almost 600 people total attend a service on Easter.

I found the best way to make friends at a new church (especially a very large one) is to sign up for a small group Bible study. That might work for you guys as well.

Ask the church secretary for a church directory and a copy of their most recent newsletter (if they have one). Most of the large churches we've attended always mailed/emailed a monthly newsletter that includes a listing of the upcoming Bible studies.

You should also be able to find out if the church provides child care during Bible studies (our church provides this as a free service, with one of the women of the church volunteering).

Does the new church have a group for moms? Our "Blessed Women" group meets for a couple hours once a month to talk about mom issues for moms with kids of all ages, and is a great way to meet a support group at a new church. The kids stay in the nursery and watch Veggie Tales and do crafts.

Starting at a new church after being at the same one for a long time can be a bit intimidating. I'll be praying that you can find some comfort.


edited for typos

 

[lorihadams]

They handed out a list of programs available and they have a women's group, I think.....I'll have to check it again.

Got 3 loads of laundry on the line in this 90 degree weather...where did spring go? Also got stung on the midsection by a bee that got inside my shirt while I was lifting up my arms to hang laundry. OUCH!!!

Just relaxing today....going to go to Salvation Army tomorrow morning to see if I can find anything to wear for church services. I think I own 1 pair of dress pants and maybe 2 skirts. Wednesdays are 1/2 price on all clothing in the store and it is a very nice store! I have to go buy crickets too. The pet store is always an adventure!

I have seriously cut back on the birds' feed now that spring has sprung! I have been throwing out some scratch and a few handfuls of layer pellets and then turning everyone loose. Quail and ducks and chickens and rabbits are getting handfulls of fresh clover and grass every evening and loving it! Time they earn their keep and eat some of these bugs in the yard!

I'm uploading some pics of the kids from easter now so those will be up in a minute or 10....

 

[lorihadams]

As promised....her are some Easter pics of the kids.....love my babies!

here's one of my BF and the kids and her DD

 

[modern_pioneer]

I don't give very advise in the church area, however my personal feelings are that it doesn't matter, or shouldn't matter how many people go to a church. I know that isn't the issue here and just wanted to tell you I understand some of your feelings in these matters.

I can be found just about anywhere anytime talking to God and perhaps my feelings of worship in a place where best suited to myself are different than most Christians. I personally find going to a big church much harder than a smaller one.

I understand your struggle with Chads family church and it is good that at least your open minded and decided to give it a go.

 

[Dace]

You have adorable kids!
Thanks for sharing the pics...it is always fun to get a peek into everyone's lives

 

[gettinaclue]

Beautiful family Lori!

 

[Farmfresh]

I think the small group study sounds like a wonderful idea a well. Another thing I learned about feeling at home in a church is to GET BUSY as soon as possible. Churches are always in need of a worker bee and lots of jobs are quiet and behind the scenes.

Our church has cleaning days and Wednesday night dinners, people that write notes to the shut ins, and people that help with our community clothes closet or our food pantry. In any of these jobs you will find a small group of dedicated Christians that will be happy to welcome you in to the fold. Also if you are busy doing a job that needs doing then you will be focused on the work and not feeling anxious. Plus you will meet folks a few at a time in a cozy setting. Start in a group like that and work your way out from the inside!

I worked preparing Wednesday night dinners at our church for several years and I REALLY got to know the people in our church. It made all of the difference for me.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Thanks guys.....it helps a lot knowing I have people to talk to about it.

This is Chad's family church, all his family is pressuring us to go there and they have a large population of homeschoolers so I am going to try for a while. He sees me going to my mom's church that only has 100-200 people at both services max. Even then, when we first started going on a regular basis I would go in the nursery just so I could get away from everyone. I feel like everyone is staring at me, start to sweat profusely, then my neck and shoulders cramp up. I still get it occasionally but I am better, we've been going regularly now for over 2 years. I still have days when I sneak off to the bathroom and then either stay in the back or go to the nursery and listen to the service over the intercom.

Hubby just doesn't get it cause i can function to a certain extent. I worked at Hooters for a long time (5 years) and that was before I started having issues....I really think that having my son started it. Maybe some post partum issues there and it just escalated from there. He doesn't seem to think that time is relative and that if I was okay once then I should be okay now. Really frustrating cause he just thinks I'm making excuses for not doing stuff with him. I stay at home a lot now and I can handle doing stuff with people I am comfortable with. Its easier if there is a distraction, like a craft show or quilt exhibit. Everyone is concentrating on other stuff and I just usually hang with my kids.

Lori,
Check out my post on Adrenal Fatigue.
I think you may find an answer in it.
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=135349#p135349

 

[lorihadams]

Friday

Well, we have gravel on our driveway! The man that will be doing our septic got us some for $300 a load....took 6 loads but at least now we can get it inspected and get moving. Still haven't closed on the loan but that will be done next week and then things will get a lot crazier....

I have a job tonight at a foo foo upscale birthday party tonight for an insanely wealthy man. He is actually hosting a benefit concert in June at his home with Sarah Palin and Charlie Daniels. I'm a little nervous. My friend is catering it and she needed waitstaff so I went Wednesday and bought black pants and a white shirt from Goodwill for $10. Hope its okay, never done a black tie birthday party before.

I have been awake since 4 am cause my nerves are crazy just thinking about it, that and my smoke alarms are going off every 2 hours cause one of the batteries is dead. Tyler woke up and said "I don't smell smoke mommy....." then went back to sleep. Then my crazy rooster Ozzie (who is going to the chicken swap tomorrow, btw) started crowing every 30 seconds for the next hour. Maddie was up at 6 wanting to watch sesame street (which doesn't come on til 7) so I got her back to sleep until 7:30....dang smoke alarms.

Got a loaf of bread getting ready to come out of the oven and oh, I got two more goat babies on reserve from Barb yesterday. The 2 does that were my back up does are not due until May and she was afraid that if something happened I'd only end up with one goat so she reserved to little sisters for us from a mama named Asriel. They are both black with frosted ears and moon spots. Cute!

I told her to take my name off one of the back up goats and leave me on Bered, one of my first choices but didn't take the first time she was bred. She is preggers now but not due until the end of May so I may end up with 5 goats instead of 4 if she has a doe for me

We are going up next Saturday to see them and you bet your bootie I will take lots of pics!

I have a lady meeting me tomorrow for fertile duck eggs so that's good, little pocket change towards my new incubator.

Rained like the dickens last night so everything is all puddley....is that a word??? The ducks are enjoying rooting around in everything. We are also moving the mallards to the larger tractor that we used for the broilers last year so they will have more room and we have a little toddler baby pool that will fit nicely in there for them (right now they're using one of my corning ware dishes )

Both kids are in their sleeping bags in the living room "camping out", think they're trying to tell me something?