"Fireproof"

I told my friend Rachel about starting this Bible study "Fireproofing your Marriage" that David and I signed up for at the new church. She asked if I had seen it yet. I said no. She said it was playing at the "cheap theater" and she would watch the kids, we should go see it. So, we did. We went to the 915pm show, because as usual, I procrastinated and lost track of time, and we were running late and missed the 630pm show! When we first got it in the theater it was playing in, I was annoyed. There were teenagers, Mexican families with little kids speaking only Spanish, I was like, "uh are we in the right theater?" It actually wasn't bad. Once the movie started, the kids and teens were fine. It was a nice time. The movie was GREAT!
First of all, it's a very religious movie, but I think "non-religious" people can appreciate it too. It starts out with this couple fighting (he's a firefighter) and David and I looked at each other and laughed. He said, "are they talking about themselves or us?" LOL. It's about the guy not communicating and showing love to the wife and the wife not respecting the husband. They decide to get a divorce. The guy calls his dad and the dad challenges the son to do this "Love Dare" stuff to try to save his marriage. You can tell the guy is only doing it to "prove" something-like that he can do it, or you know...his heart just wasn't in it. He wasn't doing it out of love. His "attempts" at doing these wonderful things, keeps getting rejected by the wife. About half way thru he's talking to his dad again, saying "how can I keep doing these things when I keep getting rejected?" And the dad bascally tells him that he keeps rejecting God and how can he love and expect love and respect back, when he hasn't respected or accepted God's love. He ends up turning over his life to Christ and things go from there.
Okay, so I have to say, I LOVED this movie!!!!! Whether you are religious or not...I highly recommend it! The dynamics of the marriage is so universal! All married couples can relate to this couple. It's about commitment and uncondtitional love. "Never leave your partner behind, especially in a fire!"
David and I sat in the car, in front of Rachel's house for a bit talking. Then we got the kids and went home. It was so wonderful! David wants to buy it and watch it weekly! LOL

Unmotivated

Other then the couple evenings a week we go to church and then Sunday morning, I haven't been greatly busy. I have had the oppurtunity to get together with friends for playdates, sotrytime at the library, or arranged to go to a YMCA workout class and it just hasn't happened. For one reason or another, either the kids are fighting even getting dressed for the day, or we slept late, or just not feeling like getting out. It's crazy. I can't get motivated to leave the house! The house is clean, serene, I have my routine. It's not like I'm laying around and the house is a mess or anything. I'm very active in the house. I've been making progress in the basement. I've been watching TV, reading, playing a lot with my new digital scrapbooking program, playing games (alone and with the kids), art and school with the kids, etc. It's just warm, and cozy and don't want to leave I guess! Ugh, I guess once spring hits, the "out and about" attitude will hit me again- maybe.

Why do I do this to myself?

A couple of the "bussed" kids that attend church on Tuesday and Wednesday, moved out of "bussing area". We drive right by their house to go to church, so I offered to pick up and drop off kids. What this means is...on Tuesday's I can't hang out and chat with friends, I have to drop off the kid I pick up right after church. And on Wednesday, instead of going early and hitting the gym before church, I can't leave til 630pm, when I pick up the kids and then again, can't hang out afterwards as I have to get kids home right away. This also means other people are depending on me and now I have "boundaries". I don't do boundaries very well! LOL I thought it was no big deal when I volunteered and I've just discovered that it is! LOL. UGH. WHY do I do this to myself? You know why? It was either the kid didn't come, or Rachel be very inconvienced by having to get him and why should Rachel have to come all the way out by me to get him when he's on my way...same with the Wednesday pick ups! SIGH. It will just take a couple weeks to adjust too...I'm just venting at the moment, it's really not that big a deal. I just felt like I spent Tuesday and Wednesday running around like a chicken with my head cut off, from 4pm-9pm.

The new church

A little history: I was raised in 3 churches...birth-8 (super huge), 8-14 (tiny) and 14-18 (medium). I was raised with church being a sense of family and loyalty and obligation. Some BAD things happened in church that made me not want to be part of it. When I turned 18 and was on my own, I went all rebellious and got into a lifestyle NOT SO CHURCH WORTHY!!! I mean I went crazy! Other then holidays with the family, I didn't go to church again til I met David. After we moved from California, we didn't attend again til David's father and WACKO step mother sent a church after us. It was a nice thought, but we purposely didn't go out of pure rebellion. One summer when David was deployed, I did this "church hopping" thing. I took Ben to several vacation Bible schools. The last one we attended was the one up the street that David's family "sook" after us! Well, it was okay, I didn't see anything wrong with it. I knew the Pastor and his wife and daughter and my friend Rachel and her family went there, so it was comfortable and it was 4 doors away, so convienent! We have been at that church ever since...about 5 years. Last year, we finally decided we wanted to become members. We felt called to be more permanent, grounded, and be more then just "attenders", we wanted to help. BOY was that a mistake!!!! Several things happened and well, we just know it's not for us. Although, we still love the Royal Rangers and Missionettes program are staying commited to that. BUT, we knew we needed and wanted to find a new SUNDAY church, where are are fed spiritually and encouraged to thrive, not held down. But we're lazy too and haven't been "scouting churches". Well Chris and Bonnie invited us to attend with them during thier visit, so we did.
Sunday, January 18, 2009 we visited a new church, and it turned out well. First thing I noticed is there are two teachers per clasroom for the kids. This is important for me, as it creates accountability and a safer environment. There weren't too many kids, but not too few either. There was a good mix of ages in the congregation, as a large teen group. The songs were hymns and upbeat too. It wasn't too formal nor too casual. The message ("Fellowship") spoke right to David and I (we each thought this, but didn't know it til we got home and discussed it). The pastor is a Dr. in roughty estimating his late 40's. Afterwards, we were greeted by tons of people. I filled out the info card, the test-will they contact me? Afterwards there was a fellowship lunch, and Bible study, which everyone encouraged us to attend if even we didn't want to stay for the Study. Ben liked it, remembered his teachers name and what they talked about and wants to go back too. Now THAT is impressive! LOL. Our two families were seperated at lunch, since we got to the lunch late, with all the socializing in the sanctuary. More people came up to us at lunch, everyone as so nice. Turns out there are several other homeschooling families and military familes in the congregation. I left feeling pretty impressed. Yet at the same time-skeptical.
Wednesday, I recieved a letter in the mail from them. Not only typed, but handwritten as well by thte pastor himself. Then Saturday, I received a call, asking if they could come over to deliver the "information about the church" that I requested in the visitor's card. I told him that we were probably going to attend the next day, so it wasn't neccessary, and I asked him a couple questions. There is a Bible Study starting Feb. 8 for sunday nights...several are offered, but I'm interested in the "Fireproof your marriage" one. Turns out, the guy that called me, is the one teaching it (and his wife). The next test...a second visit.
We attended the new church a second time (Jan. 25-yes I'm back blogging as usual!) and I am even more impressed! The kids were being restless and so we made them go to class this time. It was heartbreaking-Christianna bawled. Turns out, it only last 30 seconds! They didn't want to leave when we came back to get them!!!! LOL Shanndon is going to "be brave" and go in the "big kid class" next week! The message ("The Sanctity of Life"-for the anniversary of Roe V. Wade) was phenominal and really spoke to me, I was in tears practically the entire time! At lunch, more people greeted us, the pastor came up to us and said how great it was to see us again. I told him I had spoke to a man who was teaching the Marriage class, and he then got him and introduced us. The congregation has just floored me! Someone even noticed one of our kids was missing! Ben was at a friends house and didn't attend this week.
We are new here, don't know anyone! In fact, I've been scouring the congregation for an inkling of a familiar face! This is a whole new scenario for me and really quite scary and overwhelming for me, yet exciting at the same time. We did ask some friends if they knew anything about this church and thier opinion about it. They had good things to say. So we'll see. This "new church" does a program called Awana, which I'm not to into. It's more memoriztion and competition, rather then skill like Royal Rangers or Pioneers (that I grew up in), so we'll keep Royal Rangers and Missionettes.
Is this our new church? We're willing to put some time into and find out. Will keep you updated! :)

Inlaws January 2009 visit

Chris and Bonnie were suppose to come back and visit the first week in January, but Chris came down with the flu. If he was better and no one else got sick, they'd come up "Martin Luther King weekend", before his school started (Friday-Sunday). Monday before MLK weekend, Bonnie's step grandmother passed away. The funeral was Friday, so then the plan was to come Saturday about noon-Monday about noon. They didn't arrive til 6pm, Saturday. They left about 11AM, Monday.

It was a good visit. Not as exhausting as the last. Probably cause I'm doing a lot better and I'm a lot more healed. Also, it wasn't as mentally and emotionally strenuous. We barely saw the kids all weekend! The cousins all played so well together! Chris said it's like Disney World for them here. It was great, they could take thier kids home and deprive them and then they'd really appreciate it here! LOL. I will admit we have just about anything for any age that has ever been made! LOL.

Chris said they wanted to attend a church here and they'd like to encourage us to come along, but wouldn't make us. So, we all tried out a new church. I hate to admit it, but he picked a good one. We think we've found a new church home. Will blog about that later. Sunday after church, David and Chris went to Walmart to get thier car fixed, Chris' car was messed up. Bonnie and I talked all day, it was very nice. Kids played very well. I cooked a roast in the crockpot-put it in before church, then came home and cut up and added veggies. They loved it. The whole weekend was very uplifting. Both Chris and Bonnie just flattered me to death! Went on and on about the cooking and guest accommodations. I have to say, it was quite the ego booster! Makes me feel up for hostessing again! :) David did the breakfasts and I did the dinners.

I had bought "Slime" on Friday night. Sunday afternoon all 6 kids sat at the table playing slime! It horrified Bonnie! She hates messy and crafty stuff! LOL. The kids were covered to thier elbows. They had "flung" slime onto the walls and dropped it on the carpet. It came off! It was fine. My kids love all that messy stuff. They play Playdoh for HOURS! And you should see them go to town with GOOP (cornstartch and water mixture)! I do messy stuff all the time. :) She just laughed and said she was glad it was me and not her. And pondered about how I could handle it. I just went behind them and cleaned, that's all. I don't care.

Before they left, Monday morning, I had Bonnie trim my hair straight across the back, just to even it out. Then we got group pictures of the kids. It was a very nice visit.