When Church is Hard

Today I was thinking of the phrase, 'going to church doesn't make a you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car?', always a classic quote.  While I totally get it and it is a very true quote, it leaves out the fact that church both attracts the Holy Spirt and offers important value for growth at any level (Acts 2: 46-47)

...but DANG, sometimes it's harddddd [insert whiney voice here].

camp bound with excellent leaders

exploring 

As our church historian this year (a job I started putting together this week, SIGH), I've been reviewing our entire year in one box (don't judge me, I started a brand new job this year too).  

Now thanks to my lack of planning, I have a real job on my hands (and in addition I think I had zero church attendance in November because I have no record of it).  This process has certainly made me very reflective because our church has endured a lot of change.

Connor sang with his friends on Easter morning

Not only were we challenged with many leadership changes, we had family and friends that completely moved in different directions.   

In short, it was awful.

I will be completely honest thatmy family felt like throwing in the towel on this whole 'church' thing.   For months, I took the spiritual lead and fake cheered my family on with 'God has this',  'There is a reason people are being called to other places', 'Let's just wait and see what God has in store', 'God will work it out', .... but deep inside I was bitter.   
How dare people leave me? (never mind God's plan for others, I was focused on me. ME. ME. ME.).  I mean really, these are people whose children sat on my lap while I read the bible to them, who I laughed with over something crazy that happened that week, who held my daughter's little fist as she took her first steps over the carpeted nursery, who fished my son out of the toilet and other adventures (long story), who comforted and prayed while I cried, who attended birthdays, showers, and celebrated each milestone... and then they just leave... me.   
I think I would have been more comforted with a big yelling match, but instead the changes were gradual yet unexpected, leaving me with little closure.  

The Last Supper

Change can be hard for this old gal.  I'm not much of a hippie but I was starting to enjoy the idea of going out into a field and singing a few hymns before a Netflix binge on Sunday morning.  Why would I endure church by choice when quite frankly I could free up a lot of time and have an additional half day to myself?  I think a lot of people think in this way and I can understand it.
What I've learned is that when undergoing a spiritual revival, my comfort is not God's top concern.  Despite my emotional feelings, I had to take ME out of the equation (I really hate when I have to do that).  
I know that God designed me to be a part of something greater than myself.  Whether we are introverted, extroverted, or something in between- we have all been called to join others and help others (Romans 12:  4-5).  My faith could not allow me to ignore this call.
This world is just too crazy to ignore God's call.  

  

Backstage in Bethlehem
Love these faces

While I struggled, I was observant.  I think what impressed me so much during our time of change is how our elders and our young adults set the example most.  They re-banded, reorganized, and very prayerfully took on much needed leadership roles.  Committees were formed, our children were never neglected, and our outreach in the community never faltered.
I learned a lot. 
God also gently pushed me where He wanted me to go.

making food packs for local schools

our youth leader helping an elderly neighbor with outdoor chores

In this process my family has finally reached a much deeper understanding of our spiritual direction.  I like to think we taught our kids:  
-to not give up when things get hard
-church is about God, not personal preference
-God calls us to new leadership
-don't use cornstarch for any church activity ever (I just learned that one today, see below)
-Faith is 'taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase'
-Church community fosters a special love (Colossians 3:13-14).

 

It's important that we share that our spiritual ups and downs are real and they are challenging.  Most of all, I can share that I held on and have never been more excited about what I'm going to learn at church.  
This morning our new youth leader joined me in a series of 'lab experiments' to celebrate our upcoming VBS followed by a Sunday school lesson about accountability with our new preacher and his wife.  It was very informative (You gotta love King David, that rascal.)

We are excited to have God move our S. into position of youth leader 

For our Time Lab Theme:  test tubes of bottles and slime with extra invites

God Powered Ovens

Smore Messy Scale:   8

When you pray that the girls helping me carry the "sin volcano" do not spill it all over their Sunday dress.  #amen 

Why did I do this?  Jacob wrestles God in the Oobleck.

Connor literally covering my tracks.  Don't tell the deacons. 

God connects our prayers.
They are far reaching to those we don't even know.

Cornstarch Face  

Y'all, I felt a lot of Jesus love this morning.  

I hope it is something everyone can experience. 

Girls' Journey to Oz

Our summer has started with a whirlwind of fun activities!

  

I had no sooner unpacked one kid (more on that later)...

when I had to begin to pack another! 

We were all set to visit the Land of Oz but first...

we had to wait for Dorothy to finish her STEAM camp 

(more on that later).

mom, Carlee, my younger sister 

As soon as Carlee graduated from camp, we headed to the mountains for an adventure and I MEAN adventure.  

Before we even got to the Land of Oz, we got lost in the mountains, I lost my pocketbook, and I lost the keys to our apartment!!

Shew.  We almost welcomed the Wicked Witch!! 

Don't worry between Mrs. E., laughter, and magic, we found our way again. 

For those of you who are not Wizard of Oz fans like my Carlee (as in watched the movie 100 times thanks to Mrs. B. who got her started on the whole thing), Land of Oz is a theme park that opened in the 1970s.  It was big for fans- complete with items from the movie, character interactions, and a hot air balloon lift.  Sadly it shut down in 80s and many things were destroyed by a fire and/ or stolen (possibly by many disgruntled employees).  

1970

Now they are back and working hard to renovate the entire park.  There are currently two limited tours in the summer and fall (I warn you I had to get tickets three months in advance)!  

Once we were settled and rested, our little Dorothy got ready to go to Kansas.  

Can you stand it?

Why is a miniature Dorothy so adorable!?!

 

 

 We began the tour visiting mean Ms. Gulch who was looking for ToTo (don't worry we hid our ToTo in the basket)! 

We visited Dorothy's house, the barn, and even survived the tornado! (oh my!)

Our house was picked up and dropped right into.....

     

The Land of Oz! 

(I can't live, she is soooo cute.)

Once in Munchkin Land, we followed the yellow brick road! 

 

 

 These are real set items from Munchkin Land (I guess the items were too big to steal or hard to sale on eBay?).  

The two Dorothy's meet.

 Carlee isn't one on attention but she sure did get a lot dressed as a little Dorothy.  

As we continued on our journey, people from the tour were selected (or volunteered) from the audience to read parts, such as this scarecrow.

I'll be honest our speakers were a bit shy and quiet (I'm like GET INTO IT PEOPLE).  

 I know what you are thinking-  

well duh, y'all know I volunteered right away.  

Even though I was dressed as 'Glenda the Good Witch' (hello pink), they gave me the 'Wicked Witch'.  

It's ok, I'm so good at being Wicked! 

 

My Award Winning Performance can be watched here:   

:)

 

Even Carlee laughed! 

We later found the perfect shirt for me, and I would have bought it too but it looked like it might "melt" in the washer.  

Once we got rid of that old, wicked witch, the Wizard opened his doors! 

He gave the Scarecrow a diploma, the Lion a medal, the Tin Man a ticking watch, and he gave me a special sticker! 

Carlee used her ruby sneakers to get us home and everyone lived Happily Ever After! 

other great shots: 

this little girl loved Little Dorothy 

The scenery was really gorgeous and the weather stayed a balmy 75 degrees.

a pair of the original ruby red slippers 

On the way home Little Dorothy fell asleep with Toto in hand (I can't take it, soooo cute).  

In addition to our tour, we had a good time shopping, eating, watching TV, and relaxing. 

Carlee found some new outfits and this unicorn mood choker.   She adores chokers.

Did you all even know necklace chokers were back in style!?!  

 

I use to love them as a teen but hardly think I could pull them off now.  

We also did some gem mining.

 

This was fun and the sky opened up while we were searching for gold.  

The scenery was gorgeous and the rain smelled really good.

our gem mining view 

In the evenings, we stayed in and had dinner.  

We worked on a puzzle all three nights of our stay and the last night, we finally completed it! 

E. worked most of it but we all pitched in at the end.

I nearly watched the first season of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (I'm totally going to have to get Netflix now because I love this show) and we watched Kidnap (pretty good, who doesn't love Halle Berry kicking butt!?!).  

What a wonderful weekend!  

I can't wait to take this crew back next year for adventurous fun and bonding.

Lesson Learned from the Wizard of Oz:

-Always be ready for a detour.

-Life is easier when you stick together.

-All you need is right inside you.

-And there's no place like home!