Spring Round Up

One of the members of our church owns a horse ranch and we had a community event out there a couple weeks ago. We were really excited to have quite a few families with young kids show up! The kids got to ride a horse, enjoy a rock collecting contest (kids will do anything if you make it a contest with prizes!:)), and food of course! We had a great time meeting those in our community and enjoying the beautiful day!

A tractor ride with dada

Looking at the fish in the pond

Collecting rocks...or something!:)

Easter Sunday

We missed the Sader and Good Friday services, but Caedmon finally felt better by Sunday, so we made it to church Sunday morning.

We planned something for any children that might come to the service, so Caedmon didn't have to stay upstairs during the service (which was a good thing on this particular day), although I missed being involved in the service.

We didn't have any new children, but the three boys enjoyed themselves! They started out hunting for eggs in a wading pool full of "grass". Each egg contained a small figurine of sorts that represented a part of the Easter story. And so they heard the Easter story as they opened up each of the eggs they had found. Then they had fun finding the rest of the candy and playing in the pool of grass!:)

Ready to go to church

Opening eggs and hearing the Easter story

Caedmon didn't last too long for the story -
he's busy trying to unwrap a sucker


Picking out the rest of the candy

Caedmon sat back and observed for awhile
before he finally decided to join in the fun!

He wasn't quite sure what to make of the two brothers -

I'm sure he'll get into plenty of mischief

with his own sibling soon enough!

Now he's gettin' in on the action!

Looks like he's a magician -

not sure how he felt about the grass all over his hands

Caedmon and Church:)

Our church is in the very beginning stages of starting up and therefore we have no nursery. The first couple Sundays after moving up here, I spent my time trying to hold Caedmon and keep him happy, which lasted about half of the service. Then I had to take him out. It was so frustrating! I kept thinking that going to church was pointless if I had to spend the majority of my time in the basement with my son.

I finally had this great idea - lock Caedmon into the row with chairs on either end and bring books and toys for him to play with. It worked great! He didn't mind the limitation as long as he didn't have to sit in my lap for the duration. It has worked out great for us! A little while ago, another family started attending and left their young sons at home for the first few weeks they attended. The first week they brought their sons, a lady in our congregation ran downstairs and brought up a kids' picnic table with coloring books and puzzles and placed it in the back for them.

I love that this family feels comfortable coming with their sons and no one stresses over the little noise that's made!

One of the little boys enjoys coming over to our row and hanging out with Caedmon. I captured one of these sweet moments.

Becoming a Part of the Community

Every year, the town of Bellaire hosts a Scarecrow Festival and the area businesses that belong to the Chamber of Commerce make scarecrows that represent what they do and set them outside their business. Then during the festival there is judging and a winner is picked. A news channel even does a story on them! Yes, that's the kind of thing we do up here for fun!:)

So when Corey let me know that we were asked to make a scarecrow, I thought, how in the world am I going to do that?! But I found some help and we at least made an effort!:)

Our theme was basically "Jesus loves the little children," with a verse from the Gospels about letting the children come to Him because the kingdom belongs to people like them.

A Week Up North

Last week was long, but fun and rewarding! Caedmon and I went up north with Corey for the week. We had a missions team from Alabama coming for the week and doing VBS for our church and I was involved with VBS.

We left our house Sunday morning (July 6) early so as to make it to church up north by 11a.m. We spent the week living out of two places - some friends of ours graciously opened their house to us yet again, and the church basement was our second home for the week. It was crazy living out of two places, neither one being home. Caedmon did well for the most part. About halfway through the week, he became weary of 15 different people who were NOT mom and dad wanting to hold him and get his attention. He was well loved that's for sure!:)

We had a max of 4 children show up for VBS; 0 the first day. I suppose in our standards, we were unsuccessful, but our standards are not God's. In advertising VBS, word got out across the whole town that our church is starting back up again and ready to serve the community. And I believe those children that came are the families God wants us to touch. We had a great time with them, and they received lots of attention!

Friday ended with a block party, which included a huge blow up slide, popcorn, sno cones, and cotton candy, free to all! We probably had about 30 kids at this event. Again, small, but numbers aren't so important as loving well those that cross our path! We cleaned up and headed back down state, getting home around 11:30p.m. What a whirlwind of a week!

I'm excited to get moved up there and begin serving the community in whatever way God has for me!

Improvising, since I'd forgotten his high chair at the church the night before.

Mommy having fun taking pictures while waiting for Dada to pick us up.:)

Taking a break from the slide to watch puppets and dramas.

Kid at heart.:)

Closure

I struggled with what to do today. Do I go to church and cross paths with people who believe my husband is a heretic? At the same time, there are so many deep relationships I have there and I can't just never see them again.

I ended up going, took Caedmon with me and left Corey at home, for understandable reasons. I felt disloyal to him, going back to the place that has ultimately rejected him, mingling with people that believe slanderous things about him. And I hurt for him! I wish I could take the pain away! I'm mad! I wish I could make people see the person I know and love for what he really is!

I sat with a dear friend and balled through communion and the last songs. I cried for Corey. I cried for the loss of my family there. I cried over the history and memories made in that church.

Services ended and I continued to cry as different people came up and hugged me. It was good to let the tears flow and let people love me!

We had a potluck after services and it was good to sit with my friends, my family and just converse and laugh about nothing in general.

It may be my last Sunday there. I'm not sure I have the energy to go through another Sunday like today.

As I sat in the meeting this afternoon in which Pastor informed the people of Corey's resignation, it just felt like rejection. He cried and I know he loves us, but asking for a resignation because of a "gut feeling" just feels yucky. I wish reasons given were not so vague. But I guess I can't change it.

I didn't say good-bye - I could not have. But I was embraced by many dear friends and I hope the healing process can begin.