Belonging

"From the Heart of the universe come our beating hearts. From this Fellowship spring all of our longings for a friend, a family, a fellowship -- for someplace to belong."

EPIC: The Story God Is Telling and the Role That Is Yours To Play by John Eldridge

Feast of Friendship

Our family has been through a season of "Fellowship Famine" over the past 4 months. Now, with the coming of spring, a delightful feast has been brought to our table.

Joy Like a Fountain

Wednesday fed us abundantly as we had a meet up with new friends discoverd through the Sonlight forum. Mom and 4 kids met us at the city park for a wonderful (and miraculously dry) afternoon of play and chatting.

The evening course was the opportunity to make pizza for a long time friend of mine, one I've not had the pleasure of sharing time with in over 6 years! I thoroughly enjoyed showing off my family to this mentor mom from my past.

Forever Friends

Then today arrived with dessert for our souls!!!! I feel as if I've been to California and back again all in one afternoon. Three daughters and I made the treck south to meet dear California friends for lunch at Carl's Jr., play time (complete with dolls and coffe for moms and big sister) at Border's Books and to top it off the opportunity to refill our pantry from Trader Joes.

Our spirits are bubbling over.

Thank You, House Elf

The missing book has been returned by our resident elf. Of all places, he hid it in an old bassinet awaiting transport to the storage unit. It's young owner has mixed feelings about the return of The Book, but Mamablogger is very pleased and thankful to get back to business as usual.

Missing

Where do they go? The missing socks, missing pencil sharpeners,missing pens, missing lids to my Tupperware bowls!!!! I'm certain there is a cheeky resident elf in every home I've lived in determined to complicate and slow down my life.
Currently on my "Missing Poster":

MCP Word Study Book
Last Seen
March 13, 2006
On The Dining Room Table

I've searched high and low, through closets, under couches, and in a multitude of boxes. The delinquent book is nowhere to be found. I give, we'll finish out this school year without THE BOOK. You can keep it, you cheeky little elf!

The Pine Tree Faery Greets Spring

The Flowers
Robert Louis Stevenson

All the names I know from nurse:
Gardener's garters, shepherd's purse:
Bachelor's buttons, lady's smock,
And the lady hollyhock.

Fairy places, fairy things,
Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,
Tiny trees for tiny dames-
These must all be fairy names!

Tiny woods below whose boughs
Shady fairies weave a house;
Tiny treetops, rose or thyme,
Where the braver fairies climb!

Fair are grown-up people's trees,
But the fairest woods are these;
Where, if I were not so tall,
I should live for good and all.

What are you looking for?

Today we visited our 8th church in this process of finding a new place to call home. We've been to the "mega" church, the "no babies allowed" church, flashy churches, tiny churches, "mostly homeschool families" churches, churches with bands, churches that sing hymns....we've covered the full gammet and still we hunt for that place to belong in this new life we've begun.

This morning we attended a class for newcomers, we were the only newcomers so we had the attention of the pastor, his wife, and three elders to ourselves. A great opportunity to learn about the church, ask our questions, get to know the leadership, and introduce ourselves. We told about our family, our jobs, our church search. We learned the history of the church and what led each of those sitting there to this particular church. Then the question was asked, "What are you looking for in a church?". We glanced at each other briefly before Shannon answered, that it's like looking for a house (which we've done plenty of)...we'll know when we find it.

The question hung with me as we collected the children from sunday school and entered the service. What are we looking for in a church? We've given up on finding the house we were looking for and are having it built to suit. That isn't much of an option for finding a church! I realized sitting there that I won't find what I'm looking for.

For several years now I've attended a church that was not what I was looking for. I don't really believe that where I worshipped on Sunday morning was my church family. Instead my church family were the people I gathered with two Sunday afternoons a month. The families we broke bread with, fellowshipped with, and studied God's word with. The families who shared our joys and helped us through the valleys, who danced with us, sang with us and cleaned with us as we moved from our home. They represent the body of Christ to me.

I can't reproduce that church family. Nor do I want to. I want to treasure the memories that have been shared. I do want to find a new family here. We need the fellowship, the opportunity to serve, and a place to corporately feed on God's word. I need to change my expectations and wait upon the Lord, He knows my today and my future. He know what we've had to sacrifice in this move. I am comforted by the words of Jeremiah 29:11 "I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."

We are blessed to have experienced the love and friendship of this unique body of believers. We look forward expectantly to seeing what God has in store for our future. So, what am I looking for? The place God wants our family to be...and we'll know when we find it.

You are the Body of Christ to me!

A Day of Refreshment

Sunday past provided the family with a much needed break from the "moving in" process that has permeated our existence for many weeks.



A time to let go of the settling in tasks and enjoy the friendship shared within our family.

A time to renew our spirits as we strolled the beach and gathered treasures.