Anyone remember that song by Pat Benatar? We belong. Over the holidays, belonging is most apparent as we run here and there to be with family members or friends, exchanging gifts, sharing meals, and engaging in conversation. It's funny, but today's chapter in The Purpose Driven Life is all about belonging together, but I'll get back to that, or perhaps touch on it a bit as I recount the events of the past few days.
Christmas Eve at my brother's was nice, quiet and laid back. Al didn't have to work, but he didn't want to stay at my brother's house all day and night either, so he told them he had to work and we didn't get there until 4:30pm. By the time we arrived, they had already eaten dinner, a bit early in my opinion, so we were served lukewarm meals, but Mom and Cheryl sat in the kitchen with us while the two of us ate. It was fine. I really didn't mind, but it would've been nice if they'd have eaten at a normal time.
It sort of reminded me how it was with my family when I was working at the church. Every Christmas Eve, we held a family Mass at 4:30pm, and because it was for the family and the children I taught were always a big part of the celebration, re-enacting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, being turned away from inn after inn until finding a stable where Jesus would be born and laid in a manger, even bringing in a live donkey that clip-clopped through the silent church and made the story come alive to all the body in attendance. My family used to get pissed at me for not going to my brother's earlier, and used to whine at me about why I couldn't come earlier, but that was my job. No, that's not the right word. That was my ministry and my contribution to the living Church. It was something I looked forward to each year, as much as I looked forward to getting together with my blood family, but my blood family just didn't respect that or understand it. Maybe because they either don't attend church at all, or attend without real involvement.
Anyway, since I no longer attend that church and am no longer actively involved in ministry and parish life, which I plan to rectify by the way, Al and I were able to show up earlier, but still not as early as my family would've liked. Personally, I think while it may have been rude on our part to lie about Al working so we didn't have to be there all day long, it was rude on my family's part to eat as early as they did, knowing we would be there before 5pm.
But whatever. It happened and I'm not holding a grudge. It was fine. We ate, we sat and talked, and then we opened our gifts and talked some more.
We wound up staying only three hours, because frankly, that was enough time spent. We used the excuse of Al being tired and wanting to go to bed, along with the fact, TRUE fact, that I had to go home and give Jericho his pill because he's on a schedule, so we could leave early, and we'd already told them we weren't spending the night.
When Al and I got home, I changed into my Santa suit lingerie, which was really a Santa hat, red bra with feathery white trim, and a matching skirt that barely covered my naughty bits, and Al and I had a private Christmas celebration, if you get my drift. I let Al take a couple of pictures of me in the lingerie, but don't expect to see them here. The pictures aren't really suitable for all ages or public consumption, but I must say, even being a larger sized woman, I looked hot.
Christmas Day was nice and lazy and laid back. Al and I slept in, or I should say Al slept in, but I was still up before the ass-crack of dawn. I gave him until 8am in bed, and then woke him up to share Christmas morning. Now, I don't agree with the fact that Al got up and started doing laundry on Christmas Day, but whatever. He was out of jeans and drawers and didn't have much choice in the matter.
I feel really guilty though, because we didn't go to church at all this Chistmas, and I know we should have. Ever since I left the parish when Fr, Frank died, I have not regularly attended Mass, even on holy days like Christmas and Easter. I think one of my New Year's resolutions will be to rectify this situation, and Al is either going to come with me, or I will go alone, which I hate doing, but I will do it, because I know I must. I'm called to do it, as we all are, and I can't keep ignoring that call.
Anyway, because I was up so early, I snuck in a bit of a nap in the late morning/early afternoon, and Al woke me in time to get ready for our visit with Corri at Mom's house.
We arrived at 4:15pm and were able to visit with Corri until 7:15pm, when she had to go back to rehab. It was SO wonderful to be able to spend that time with her, and as you could tell by the pictures I posted, she looks happy and totally fabulous. She made out like a bandit with small gifts, including presents from Amy, who wasn't able to get there until we were all packing up and getting ready to leave, but that's okay. At least she made it and got to see Corri. Amy is part of the family, just as I'm part of hers.
Corri did pull one stunt, however, that had Bob and Mom bitching. Jason showed up and brought Corri presents, and then she decided she wanted a Monster energy drink, so she had Jason drive her to 7-11, which was actually open, to get her one. She was gone for about 30 minutes. Mom and Bob were upset because we only had three hours with her and she chose to spend 30 minutes of that time away from the family. I personally don't think she should've done it, but I wasn't upset with her for it. On the contrary. I understood she had a little bit of freedom and wanted to enjoy it completely, as well as spend even just a little time alone with Jason. They aren't dating, even though he wants to, but before she went into rehab, they were sleeping together regularly, so maybe she got some nookie. I don't know and don't care if she did, as long as they were safe about it.
Al gave Corri a gift, separate from the things we've given her already, and it was nothing major, but he wrote the most touching poem for her, and slipped it into the gift. It made her cry, and it made ME cry when I read it to begin with. I cried some more because she was crying. I know his gift to her meant a lot, because she opened it in private with him, and didn't show it to anyone. She kept it to herself and that's what told me how special it was to her.
Amy and I drove home together, and followed Al. The roads were slick with the snow coming down, but we all made it back safely. I came online just to post my pictures, and then went to bed shortly thereafter because I knew we had to be up early for the game the next day.
Game day was a fabulous experience, despite the freezing cold temperatures and wet snow coming down. I really don't know why I bothered to do my hair. LOL It went from straight to curly in no time because it got wet. Everything got wet, including my poster, which by the way, everyone seated around us LOVED! They thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. At one point when we were trailing in the score, the guy behind me said, "Hey, hold up your poster again. We were winning when you were telling Urlacher you loved him and wanted to marry him." Everybody around us laughed at that, but I held up the poster quite a lot throughout the game, and we won, so maybe there was something to be said for that. LOL
We caught the 4:35pm train back home after the game, and made a pit stop at Wal-Mart on the way home. My Bears tongue ring broke at the game, so I had to pick up a package of new rings. I was pissed. It was SO difficult to find that ring in the first place, I had to buy it on eBay, and now it's gone forever. Does not make for a happy me. I might have to go off in search of another, if I can get that lucky.
I was a bad kitty Mommy yesterday because when I went out to start Amy's car while she was finishing getting ready, the amount of snow we'd gotten overnight shocked the crap out of me. I started scraping windows and trying to get the snow off, until I had to come back in for my coat and gloves, and then Amy came out and took over. But in the midst of our running around, making sure we had everything, and de-snowing the car, I forgot to give Jericho his pill before we left.
Thankfully, Al called while we were on the train and I asked him to give Jericho the pill, which he did. But then I was so exhausted last night, after I took out my contacts and washed my face, not only did I forget to put my nose ring back in until I woke up this morning, I also forgot to give Jericho his second pill. I gave it to him at 5:00am, but now he's off by half a dose and it's going to take a couple of weeks before he's back up to full dosage in his blood stream again.
Like I said, I'm a lousy cat Mommy. I feel all kinds of guilty over it.
Because I went to bed so early last night, obviously I'm up early this morning to give Jericho a pill at 5:00am, AND put my nose ring back in, which thankfully didn't close up on me or I'd have been pissed, I got a chance to sit and read the next chapter in The Purpose Driven life. I've missed it the past few days, but with everything we've had going on, I just couldn't find the time to read, let alone come here to write. I simply didn't have the energy for it.
Today's chapter is all about belonging to and participating in the Church life. As part of God's family, we are called to be active members in the Church, not just ticket punchers who fill a seat in a pew on Sundays. We're called to worship together, in community, not as solitary people, and we are called to fellowship with other believers. We're actually called to lay down our lives for each other in many ways.
To be honest, I miss doing that. I never felt more vibrant and alive than when I was involved in the Church. Yes, it was a paid position for me, but the ministry was not, and it was the ministry of involvement and wanting to BE part of the Church in EVERY way possible that got me that paid position. The thing is, I don't have to be paid to be involved and actually be part of the living Church, making a contribution to the body of Christ through my gifts and talents. There are so many ways I could be involved, and I've been mulling this over for a while now. I want to be more involved in our new parish home. I could lector, or be a Eucharistic Minister again. I could serve on the parish council. I could get involved with the liturgy committee and bible studies. There are a LOT of ways I could contribute to the "local" Church, and I NEED to be doing them.
The book was VERY clear about how it's not enough to worship individually. The Bible is also clear that we are meant to live and worship in community, not in solitary confinement. We're called to do all these things, even with other imperfect individuals because it is together that we make up the living, breathing, Body of Christ. As a believer, it's a duty we do out of love to be involved in a local church, but it IS still a duty and a calling. It's not enough to do it as an individual and think we don't need the church, or that the church doesn't need us.
Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe.
Verse to Remember: Romans 12:5 - In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Question to Consider: Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God's family?
Right now, the answer to that question is no. My attendance at church is sporadic, at best, and I'm not involved in any way other than filling a seat when I DO actually go. So, I'm putting this here in black and white, to be held accountable. I am going to start attending church regularly, and I am GOING to start getting involved again, in some way.
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