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Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Is Church Necessary
Our pastor is doing a great sermon series on the necessity of church, and he keeps referring to a recent statistic that says the average person attends church 1.5 times per month.
It got me thinking about my church history. Here are my stats:
Until 1996 when I started college I was at church usually 3 times or more per week. I still attended church in college, but was not committed to one single church until after I graduated. Again, I attended church at least once a week, if not more, plus regular weekly bible studies.
Now we're regular attenders of one church, once a week. It's been a bit touch and go with pregnancy, kids, illness, etc., but for the most part--we're at church every Sunday.
The reason this is so interesting to me is because Matt & I have been discussing on whether or not to take serious roots where we're at, or if we should look for another church home. We're not disgruntled, just unsure if we're where God wants us to be to best utilize the gifts he's given us.
It's interesting that this has come up at all (b/c we're not really disgruntled), but now that I look at it--it totally makes sense.
My whole life I've moved around a lot--averaging about 2.5 years in any one city (let's not try to count actual houses). I've changed churches slightly less often--2.75 years.
We've been in our current home for FOUR years--whoa! I know I've spent the last year or two though talking about buying another house. I have no immediate need or desire to move, I just apparently get the "itch," and have to go.
We've been at our current church for almost 3 years--yet again, I guess I've got an itch. Maybe.
Maybe I'm becoming "rooted" without realizing what's going on, and I'm not sure how to live that way. It's been a awkward making the transition from working mom to stay-at-home mom, and now it seems I'm feeling awkward being a person/family that doesn't move all the time. I'm used to change & starting over. I'm definitely not used to, or sure how to deal with, sticking with the same place and the same people all the time.
It's a challenge. I usually go in, make an impact & leave. Not sure how to stick around and deal with all the highs and lows.
I give Matt a hard time b/c he tends to start projects, and never finish. I may not be any better when it comes to where we're living and where we go to church.
It got me thinking about my church history. Here are my stats:
- 28 years old
- Twenty-two years spent in what I refer to as a "committed" relationship with a church (attending weekly services, participating in activities, and serving in some capacity). The other six years, I attended various churches.
- Lived in 11 cities, had a church "home" in 9 of those cities.
- Longest time in a one single church: about 4 years.
- Average time spent in one single church: about 2.75 years.
Until 1996 when I started college I was at church usually 3 times or more per week. I still attended church in college, but was not committed to one single church until after I graduated. Again, I attended church at least once a week, if not more, plus regular weekly bible studies.
Now we're regular attenders of one church, once a week. It's been a bit touch and go with pregnancy, kids, illness, etc., but for the most part--we're at church every Sunday.
The reason this is so interesting to me is because Matt & I have been discussing on whether or not to take serious roots where we're at, or if we should look for another church home. We're not disgruntled, just unsure if we're where God wants us to be to best utilize the gifts he's given us.
It's interesting that this has come up at all (b/c we're not really disgruntled), but now that I look at it--it totally makes sense.
My whole life I've moved around a lot--averaging about 2.5 years in any one city (let's not try to count actual houses). I've changed churches slightly less often--2.75 years.
We've been in our current home for FOUR years--whoa! I know I've spent the last year or two though talking about buying another house. I have no immediate need or desire to move, I just apparently get the "itch," and have to go.
We've been at our current church for almost 3 years--yet again, I guess I've got an itch. Maybe.
Maybe I'm becoming "rooted" without realizing what's going on, and I'm not sure how to live that way. It's been a awkward making the transition from working mom to stay-at-home mom, and now it seems I'm feeling awkward being a person/family that doesn't move all the time. I'm used to change & starting over. I'm definitely not used to, or sure how to deal with, sticking with the same place and the same people all the time.
It's a challenge. I usually go in, make an impact & leave. Not sure how to stick around and deal with all the highs and lows.
I give Matt a hard time b/c he tends to start projects, and never finish. I may not be any better when it comes to where we're living and where we go to church.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Owen & Eden health/growth updates
For those of you that keep track, or want to know:
Owen had his annual check-up a couple weeks ago. He's 36 lbs (90th percentile) & 38" tall (75th+ percentile). He's extemely healthy (lungs/lung function both normal & healthy--PRAISE GOD). We're now doing a new resp. therapy with a "smart vest." It's a vest that has a big tube that hooks up to a machine. It forces air into a bladder that surrounds Owen's lungs & vibrates them. Owen's not so sure of it, and we're struggling a bit to get him used to it.
Eden is 17 lbs 7 oz--85th percentile, and 25" tall (or, should I say short?)--25th percentile. The PA said that if she continues on that curve she might make it to 5'4" (sorry, kiddo--you definitely took your momma's genes on this one). She's also extremely healthy. We've started her on rice cereal a couple times a day, which she's enjoying very much. Soon we'll be adding vegetables & fruits! She's very mobile, considering she's not yet crawling. If I leave the room for even a few seconds she somehow manages to move about 5 feet. I keep trying to sit her up, but she'd much rather be on her belly playing. Her eyes still change daily--though, her left eye tends still to be very blue, but her right eye is more green. Some days Matt swears they're silver, like the scales of a fish that flash various blues and greens amongst other colors. Beautiful, nonetheless.
The two of them are becoming good playmates, though Owen tends to forget that Eden is still quite little. He LOVES to make her laugh, and she loves to imitate his laugh/smile. It's very humorous to watch.
I'll post more photos soon.
Owen had his annual check-up a couple weeks ago. He's 36 lbs (90th percentile) & 38" tall (75th+ percentile). He's extemely healthy (lungs/lung function both normal & healthy--PRAISE GOD). We're now doing a new resp. therapy with a "smart vest." It's a vest that has a big tube that hooks up to a machine. It forces air into a bladder that surrounds Owen's lungs & vibrates them. Owen's not so sure of it, and we're struggling a bit to get him used to it.
Eden is 17 lbs 7 oz--85th percentile, and 25" tall (or, should I say short?)--25th percentile. The PA said that if she continues on that curve she might make it to 5'4" (sorry, kiddo--you definitely took your momma's genes on this one). She's also extremely healthy. We've started her on rice cereal a couple times a day, which she's enjoying very much. Soon we'll be adding vegetables & fruits! She's very mobile, considering she's not yet crawling. If I leave the room for even a few seconds she somehow manages to move about 5 feet. I keep trying to sit her up, but she'd much rather be on her belly playing. Her eyes still change daily--though, her left eye tends still to be very blue, but her right eye is more green. Some days Matt swears they're silver, like the scales of a fish that flash various blues and greens amongst other colors. Beautiful, nonetheless.
The two of them are becoming good playmates, though Owen tends to forget that Eden is still quite little. He LOVES to make her laugh, and she loves to imitate his laugh/smile. It's very humorous to watch.
I'll post more photos soon.
Puke is gross
Owen and I are sick.
As an adult, I have the ability to recognize that my stomach isn't needing/desiring food. Owen, on the other hand, eats what his momma gives him because he his a good little man.
He generously gives back that food when he has a stomach ache by projectile vomiting all over the mommy he loves.
This is by far the worst part of motherhood. I am a pansy when it comes to vomit. It takes all that I have to NOT start gagging & vomiting whenever my kiddo is sick. It's also freakish how much puke can come out of such a small person.
That's how we started the morning. Since then, Owen has managed to keep down two pieces of bread, and a small container of blackberries. The clothes have been cleaned, and we've both bathed.
The carpet, however, is disgusting. It didn't help that I had already given him his daily vitamins & medications. Both of which, are extremely staining & odorific. This is the final straw. I'm ripping it all out immediately & putting in hard wood floors.
As an adult, I have the ability to recognize that my stomach isn't needing/desiring food. Owen, on the other hand, eats what his momma gives him because he his a good little man.
He generously gives back that food when he has a stomach ache by projectile vomiting all over the mommy he loves.
This is by far the worst part of motherhood. I am a pansy when it comes to vomit. It takes all that I have to NOT start gagging & vomiting whenever my kiddo is sick. It's also freakish how much puke can come out of such a small person.
That's how we started the morning. Since then, Owen has managed to keep down two pieces of bread, and a small container of blackberries. The clothes have been cleaned, and we've both bathed.
The carpet, however, is disgusting. It didn't help that I had already given him his daily vitamins & medications. Both of which, are extremely staining & odorific. This is the final straw. I'm ripping it all out immediately & putting in hard wood floors.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
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