Bible Study

I think I mentioned this before, but I joined a local MOPS group this year. If you don't know what MOPS is, it's Mothers of Preschoolers. It's totally different from my MOMS Club because it's all faith-based. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like that aspect of it, but as the year has gone on, I've found myself really looking forward to my MOPS Thursdays.

Every other week, I go to a local church and meet with other moms of preschoolers. Hugh goes to their nursery with other kiddos his age and he plays for two hours while we meet in fellowship. There's always food (there's a sign-up and at least once during the year you're asked to bring something). There's usually a craft, and there's always some theme for the week.

Yesterday I had MOPS and we discussed a book that we were all given at Christmas as a gift. I wish I had started reading the book sooner than Tuesday (lol), but I was able to read about 100 pages of the book and had enough info from it to participate in the conversation during the MOPS meeting.

Something interesting came from yesterday's meeting. While reading the book that we were to discuss, I found myself asking a lot of questions and questioning things. Mainly, "Am I the only person that doesn't hear God when I talk to Him or ask questions?" I know prayers are answered in their own time, and I can usually look back and see reasons for things, but I've never had a flat out discussion with God with back and forth.

I asked the women at my table if any of them had experienced this. In the book, the author discussed her many conversations with God and Him talking to her. Like, for real, legit talking to her. 

To my surprise, the women at my table had all had some kind of conversation with God and had heard answers in some form. One said she has had arguments with God (lol) and clear as day knew she was hearing the voice of God through different means. Another shared that she hasn't had a voice, but has been lead to follow God by different signs that she's learned to pay attention to. Another said she just follows God's lead by reading various passages in the Bible, or will head a voice in her head saying to read different verses and she knows that's God talking to her.

I was dumbfounded. I have never had an experience like this. Then we talked more about the Bible and I admitted that I don't know the Bible, don't read it, and wasn't raised reading it. I was Catholic after all. They all agreed that the beginning should start with the Bible and it's never too late to start.

One of the ladies said she had something for me and would give it to me at the end of the meeting. We made cards as our craft, said our intentions and prayed for all that were shared, and then we were done. She said she'd meet me down at the nursery (where I was heading to get Hugh) and when I came out with Hugh, she gave me a women's devotion book and an audio book thingy that I can listen to in my car.

I was really overwhelmed by her kindness and gave her a big hug. I texted Brittany after and told her about the meeting and the discussion and we got to talking about Bible Study. She suggested we do one together.

I honestly feel like God works in amazing ways. I asked Britt if we should ask some of our other friends and see if they'd be interested in doing a women's Bible Study together and she said absolutely. I emailed a few friends last night, and we now have a group of seven that will be starting our Bible Study on April 13th!

The book that's above is the one that we'll be starting with. It sounded interesting and I like Jen Hatmaker (I follow her blog). I'm eager to deepen my relationship with God, and to experience the fellowship that comes from sharing and opening up with friends. 


I feel so fortunate to have people that I can depend on and that support me. I think we'll all grow and connect even more through our Bible Studies together!!

I'll be sure to post again once we start and share how it's going!!

Good Day

 

Is it me or does he look so much older than 20 months????

We had a great day today! The cleaning crew arrived at 8:30 and Gus was totally interested in what they were doing. They left the vacuum attachment out and the duster... and of course Gus found them. He decided he wanted to help them (Maybe I should ask for a discount?!?)!

We headed downstairs when they were done, so that we could get out of their way. They did think Gus was entertaining though :-)

 

In the basement, Gus found his vacuum and got to work

While we were down there, Wendy called me. It was so good to talk to her and catch up on things. I talked to her last week (for like an hour), and it was a great way to spend my time in the basement this morning. :-)

Graciela called down to me and let me know that they were done, so Gus and I cleaned up and headed back upstairs. 

 

Reading his new book

 

Gus and Mama <3

We played a bit up here and then I fed him a light lunch and he went down for his nap. He slept for about two and a half hours! While he was sleeping... my Dove Dark Chocolate Cherry candies came!! WHOO HOO!!

 

Not sure why this picture is crooked

Gus got up, he had a snack, and then we watched Dinosaur Train. Steve got home and we headed to Kozmo for dinner. It's Tuesday, so they had their Southern Comfort Fried Chicken dinner special... we split a dinner and had a good night out with Gus. He was such a good boy at dinner.

 

Carrying his booster to the car for dinner

 

At dinner

 

So happy with Daddy

 

Kisses

 

My two favorites!!!

 

The moon was CRAZY big and bright tonight!!!

Gus's Snuggie also arrived today (it was like $2.99)!! It's a little large, but he'll grow into it...

Tonight I took some pictures of Gus being crazy... he literally was running everywhere and had a BURST of energy!

It was time for bed, so he went in and brushed his teeth while Steve got everything ready for him (his pjs and diaper).

 

I still can't believe that my little baby is big enough to stand on a step stool and brush his teeth!!

Tomorrow we're going to the Bible study. Gus will be left with the elderly ladies in the nursery... it'll be the first time that I've left him. I told Christy my concerns and she said she was in the same boat with her oldest son. This church/Bible study is the first place she left her boys and she said they're great. If there's a problem, they'll come and get me. She said to bring two diapers, a change of clothes, and his sippy and they provide a snack.

She said it'll be good for both of us. I just hope he's okay... if he's not, I'll just get him and we'll leave. At least I'm trying (right????). It feels so odd that I'm leaving him with someone else so I can do a non-mommy and Gus thing. 

Someone tell me that I'm not crazy for feeling like this is crazy. Tell me that it's normal to feel the insecurities and fears that I have about this. I know I'm being irrational... he'll be in the same building as me... but I still feel terrible that I'm leaving him.

:-(

Wish us both luck!

A Bad Playdate :-(

It was bound to happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be as awful as it was. We went to a playdate this morning with my AAM group and I totally went into it with my guard down. I wasn't nervous, thought it was going to be fun. It was the opposite.

We got there at 10:30 and there were three other moms there including the mom who was hosting. She was very friendly and welcoming, and when we went in, I thought to myself, "This is going to be fun." 

Dina had texted me to tell me that she wasn't going and then I saw that Heather (the only other mom that I had already met) took her name off the list. I decided to still go and meet some new moms. I wish I had stayed home.

When we walked into the play area, there were two moms there talking... I had to introduce myself to them as they didn't stop their conversation to introduce themselves to me. No big deal... but then they kept talking and neither talked to me.

Weird.

Then another mom showed up, and the two that were in the conversation knew her, exchanged hugs, and then the three of them started talking. The one that came in just after me never introduced herself to me and didn't ask who I was. It was almost as if she didn't see me... I was invisible.

Then ANOTHER mom came... and she didn't really talk to anyone either, but she sat on the floor and eventually started talking to the other three... then the hostess came in and she asked me a few questions and tried to include me on the conversation that she was having with one of the other moms, but I still wasn't "in" on the convo. 

It was horrible. Being new and not knowing anyone, I naturally was more on the shy side and more of an observer, but it was really painful. I wanted to just get up and leave after just 15 minutes. Gus was Gus... walking around and playing with all the new toys and oblivious to what the adults were doing. There were quite a few older kids there (ages 3-4) and it was weird to see the bigger kids... while I'm sure they're great, I totally prefer playdates with kids Gus's age. 

There was a little boy named Ian (he's the hostess's son) and he was 17 months. He was very little and I was surprised that he was only three months younger than Gus... he acted much younger. IDK... then there was a 15 month old and he was cute and the three little little ones played on one side of the room while the bigger kids played on the other. It was sorta funny.

Anyway, while I wasn't ignored the ENTIRE time, I was left out and felt really stupid sitting there watching these strangers have their conversation. They talked about other moms that I don't know, and preschools, and stuff that I have no clue about. It was just like being invited into a world that I clearly don't fit into or belong in.

I think the fact that no one asked me who I was, who was Gus... it just was really odd. The one was the area co-moderator and while I'd never met her, I have talked to her on the forum... so I "knew" her without knowing her. She was the only one that talked to me and like I said, it was for a minute.

When it was 11:45, some of the moms started to get lunches out for their kids and I decided it was time to leave. The hostess said, "Are you sure you're going to leave? We are about to have lunch." I told her that I was going to take Gus home for lunch and then put him down for a nap. She said, "You can have lunch here..." and I said, "No... I don't think so." I felt bad saying it like that, but my God... I needed to get the hell outta there.

I got Gus and I told him to say his goodbyes... he waved goodbye and I thanked the hostess for having us... she said it was nice to meet me and then I walked out. 

NO
ONE
ELSE
SAID
ANYTHING

Not one other person said goodbye to us. Not one other person said it was nice to meet me. Not one other person thanked me for joining them today.

It was so horrible. 

So now I'm torn... I thought I was really going to love AAM... all my interactions have been so good... they planned a trip to the zoo for me for Pete's sake!! I've really liked everyone that I've met so far... and our area group is very small... I thought I was going to "gel" with everyone.

Now I'm not so sure. The people that I do know and like, (I've actually met them) weren't there... so maybe I just go to things that they're at? I don't know...

On another note... one of the moms from MOMS Club emailed me and invited me to go to a women's Bible study with her. I explained that I'm Catholic and not looking for a new religion (except for maybe becoming an Orthodox Quaker- LMAO) and she said that there's no "selling" of religion. It's a mom's group and they talk about parenting and how the Bible comes into it.

It sounds really interesting to me so I said I'd go. I honestly believe that God presents us with opportunities for a reason. So it's every other week... and I told her I couldn't go today because of my playdate (BAD MOVE)... so in two weeks I'll join her.

I have been added to my MOMS Club playdate rotation schedule... and I have addresses for where the upcoming events will take place. I'm eager to go to the next one (they're every Monday) and see how it goes. I had fun this past Monday and so did Gus. Maybe my MOMS Club will be the right thing for me. I saw on their newsletter that they only have 18 moms... and I met seven already. LOL

We'll see... but for now I'm thankful to be home and in my happy place away from awkwardness and an uncomfortable position. I texted Dina on the way home and told her to be glad she wasn't there. She said the next one should be better (next Thursday). We'll see... if it isn't, I might be done with AAM.

Later!