Why I Love Small Groups

For the past several years, Dave and I have been a part of a small group (known as community groups in our church).  For the past two years, we've been apprenticing to be leaders, rather more officially so this year.  

The baton of leadership has officially be passed to us.  

Dave and I love the group we've been a part of.  

Beitzels - former leaders

Wengerds 

Sutphins

Worthingtons

Taylors

We have all clicked well, we have lots of fun and I appreciate the honesty and openness that each family has contributed.  Even the kids enjoy each other.

For the second half of the year, Dave led a study through Song of Songs.  I cannot say that I have ever in my life heard either sermons or lessons on this book and it was really interesting.  We've had quite a few bonding experiences throughout this lesson, especially due to Dave's "ice breakers", many of which involved balloons attached to various body parts needing to be popped.  Or self-generated "Song of Songs" themed versions of popular board games. (Picture a Song of Songs themed "Scattergories")  I'm not sure I've ever laughed so hard in a church small group.  And we've had the unique experience of serving our spouses by washing each other's feet.

We've shared lots of good meals together, including some awesome creme brulee.  

We're really looking forward to next year, adding a few families and choosing a new study.  We're thinking about doing a study of some part of the Old Testament.  Any suggestions?

Small groups are such an essential part of becoming connected at a local church, especially one that is as large as ours.  To me, small groups give us the opportunity to be known and to serve one another.  It's a great place to share struggles, build relationships, gain accountability and study Scripture on a more personal level.  I have always felt that a small group should be the first place that we can go to find support.  Dave and I took the Intro to Biblical Counseling class at our church for that reason, so that we could grow our discipleship skills.  

If you aren't a part of a small group, I would strongly encourage you to consider joining one or maybe even starting your own if that arrangement isn't part of your local church.  I'd love to hear what your experiences have been with the small groups you've been a part of and if you have any advice for us as we embark on the adventure of full-on leadership!!

Project of the Year

Project of a lifetime may be more accurate.

So.  We bought a playset for the boys.  We shopped around online a little and then just went with the one at our local Costco.  We considered this playset.

But then we decided that perhaps $18,000 was just a tad out of our budget. 

This project is ridiculous.  RIDICULOUS.  It came in 6 boxes one of which contained literally thousands of nuts, bolts, washers, and screws of various kinds.  The only part that was preassembled were the playhouse walls.  Apparently it's too much to ask to screw on the window frames or put on the door handle.  No, all that was self-assembly.

Thankfully, Dave has had great helpers.

A few of our friends have spent their entire day/afternoon helping with construction.  We owe both of them a lifetime of help with their projects for this one.  

Ethan and Noah are just a tad excited.

And Isaac?

Well....he has no idea what all the excitement is all about.

There's just one more portion of the playset to be assembled - the swings.  And of course, not only must you assemble the beam upon which the swings are hung, but you must also assemble each and every piece of the actual swing.  

Seriously, we are living in this house for the rest of our lives.  And if we move before then?  There is no way that I am allowing this playset to convey with the house.

My husband has just worked too stinkin hard on this!

Thanks, hon!

Or Maybe I'll Just Start Another Blog

I've quickly realized that a book, at this point in my life, may truly be insane.  I think that one day, I've gotten a direction and enough content, writing a book will be a natural next step.  But in the meantime, I decided to direct the general content of what I wanted to write into a blog.  I'm thinking I'll try to market this one a tad more since it is focused. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present: The Warrior Wives.

Hop on over there for the first post, LIKE me on Facebook or subscribe via e-mail if you're interested.  

The goal of Virginia Is For Mothers is to stay more of my family/personal blog.  The goal of The Warrior Wives is to an in-the-trenches-I'm-right-there-with-you perspective on issues that young wives struggle with.  I'd like to do reviews of current marriage books or books on issues that relate to particular marital issues.  I'd like to invite friends, family and other bloggers to share personal stories of what they've learned along the way in their marital journeys.  I'd like to encourage younger women to fight for their marriages.  I'd like to answer questions from readers regarding specific situations.  On my Facebook page, I'll be sharing articles relevant to marriage, trying to interact more with readers through questions and status updates, and introducing you to other bloggers who also focus on encouraging strong marriages.  

We'll see how it goes...

I'm going to beg once.  Please be nice to me and go like my Facebook page...get my numbers up...share the links to posts if they were meaningful to you.  Love you.  Thanks!

I Want to Write a Book

As if I don't have enough going on in my life...co-leading a women's small group Bible study, taking a Biblical Counseling class, partnering with Dave to lead a community group, three boys ages four and under, homemaking, exercising, blogging...I randomly decided last night that I think I want to write a book. 

Well, maybe not totally randomly.  I'm pretty sure I tried to write a few books when I was about 8 years old.  I'm pretty sure I also tried my hand at writing original plays and adapting novels into plays.  I'll have to dig them out and see if anyone thinks if they're publishable. Ha! Since I've been blogging, I have really enjoyed writing.  Friends frequently shake their heads and say, "I don't know how you have time to write a blog!" Eh..it's like any other hobby or activity that anyone enjoys doing; if you want to do it, you make time for it.  Those people who aren't writing a blog operate a home business, can their own fruits and vegetables and make their own spaghetti sauce.  I don't know how they do that because that all sounds overwhelming to me.  But that's them.  Honestly, it doesn't take that much time because most of the time, I am writing posts in my head while doing other things.  By the time I sit down to write them, they're almost done and I just have to type them.  Many times I feel like my head will explode if I don't write them out.  So, I think it might be a natural extension of blogging to attempt to write a book.  Hey, even if it never gets published, it would feel good to finish something like that. 

So here's my vague idea...a marriage book.  Sort of an advice book from one young wife to another from an "in the trenches" perspective.  Vignette style.  Possibly expanding on some of the ideas that I've already blogged about.  The idea of not being lazy in your marriage.  Staying attractive for your husband.  Acting like boyfriend and girlfriend.  Sacrificing time to do things like make lunch for him.  Accepting differences.  Allowing marriage to change you for the better. 

I don't really know how to get started.  I mean, I know what the writing process entails, basically.  I guess I need to write an outline and figure out where I'm going with it.  Then start writing? 

I think the biggest issue is going to be finding the time to write.  And also prioritizing.  Last night I tried to spend some time writing what was floating around in my head and I wound up really irritated at the boys for interrupting me.  I'm going to have to remember that God has called me to be a wife first, a mom second and then maybe an author third.  My responsibilities around the home need to come first.  It's not really ok if I have a nice fancy book but my kids are terrors, my husband is lonely and my house is a disaster. 

So, please pray for me.  Pray that I can discern what exactly God wants me to do in this direction.  If He wants me to do anything in that direction.  And if He does want me to do this, that the words would come, that I would have direction for how to complete it and patience with myself and the process. 

Any other words of advice?