Small Group

Last week we had our first meeting with our new couples small group. There are a zillion kids in the group too, or as a result of the group! So they’ve got it set up that one week all the guys get together then the next week it’s all the couples and we pay a sitter to watch ALL the kids, then the 3rd week all the ladies get together. So this is week 3; just got in from sitting at Starbucks talking about everything and anything that women can talk about (ironically, we didnt really discuss men as you would think would happen when a bunch ladies get together!) So we mostly talked about: kids, life, pregnancy(including of course our birth stories), work, and prayer requests(which were about most of the same(even giving birth since we have an expecting couple in our group- only 6 more weeks til our group grows again!)

All week long I was excited about this meeting, knowing I desperately need to build relationships with other moms/wives. All day I dreaded it. On the way I prayed for the strength to open up and be open to others. I had tears in my eyes several times, some times due to laughter, but mostly with joy as I heard time and time again familiar stories about things I am going through now or that I could at least relate to. Of course I was one of the last to share their prayer request. I didnt know if I was going to share about psuedo tumor or not, but I knew I had to, for me and for the group. I knew it wouldnt be right to keep such a big thing a secret if I was going to try my best to start new relationships. I know I didnt do a good job describing my condition and on the way home laughed to myself as I recounted how it went and realized that I left out telling them about the major symptom, the headaches that are the worst ever. No one seemed to have heard of it before or if they had just didnt say so. I was relieved after I shared but on the way home i wondered if I could have done a better job explaining, and I am certain I could of, but I was nervous enough to share as it was. Did I already say that, see what I mean, its hard to talk about sometimes…

I really like the ladies in the group and Dean seemed to enjoy his night out a few weeks ago. We both really feel like this is where we need to be now and w/ each church service and get together we get some confirmation of that. Tonight it was amazing how one woman shared her story of her last year and I how I felt completely where she was, with of course a few differences. but hearing someone else talk about things so freely gave me a hope I havent had in a long time.

What better thing to be greatful for today than the beginning of new friendships!