A Message for all of my Celebrate the Journey friends

I wasn't there this Tuesday, and I likely won't be there next Tuesday for launch.

It breaks my heart to say it, but I am taking a break from Celebrate the Journey.  This goes along with my season to lay fallow.  (See this post)  I have realized just how much people really expect me to be there on Tuesdays, so I thought I would send this out to let everyone know.

I still love Celebrate the Journey.  This has nothing to do with the leadership or team, and everything to do with me.  In fact, I am considered a leader on break. 

Last March, we brought home a "brand new bouncing" 6 year old boy and have been growing closer and closer as a family.  Jeramy will turn 8 in May, and with my work schedule I barely get to see him.  I am changing some things, like getting him up in the morning for school.  Taking Tuesdays as a family day will now be an addition that we need.  When you work 5-6 nights a week from 3-1130, that means you don't get to spend after school and before bed time with your children.  Considering I work every other weekend, that means hardly any time.  These days are few, and time is precious.  Seeing as we lost the first 6, I don't want to miss out on the next. 

Seeing as I have been asked several times, no, I cannot change my work hours.  While Dave's hours have gone up considerably, we are still in a very bad pickle, and require every dime possible.  As long as I have this job, I aim to keep it.  They have given me so much grace, I truly appreciate my manager and supervisor immensely.

There are other personal things that go into this decision, but when it all comes down to it, I just hated how we would get to the church and then split up for the night.  Our family needs this time, and I can attend small groups at other times. 

I have put on hold all other leadership and volunteering positions, including Kids City. God will let me know when to jump in again. 

God has told me to lay fallow and grow my family closer, and so it shall be.  Our first family night we went to the grade school skate night.  It was great because it reminds me that no matter how hard you fall, you have to get back up and keep trying if you want to learn how to skate. 

I used to LOVE skating so much.  In fact, we went to the very same skate place I went on my grade school skate parties. Talk about memories (foggy distant memories, but good ones none the less.)  My first run out on the floor today, I totally wiped out... bad.  Yet I got up (with the help from the guy with the whistle and most of my dignity) and tried to go around again.  I almost was getting it again.  Oh my poor muscles haven't done this in over 15 years, more I am sure... and we hope to do this more often.  Jeramy counted 11 bruises, and wants to go back.  Dave was pleasantly surprised by his balancing skills.  We even did two rounds in the couples skate.  Ask me tomorrow when my muscles ache and my knee throbs, but I think it was fun.

Its times like this that I am missing out on.  And so please do keep in touch.  I mean it.  Call me, email me, Facebook me, lets do lunch or have coffee or just knit and chat.  I have made too many wonderful friends at Celebrate the Journey.  If you are reading this on Facebook and are my friend, my cell phone and email are listed under "info" so there is no excuses!