WFMW: Having Friends, Maintaining Your Sanity

Here's a little Works for Me Wednesday idea...

Find a group of friends who share the same interests as you to get together with as a regular group. What? Okay...true, that's not clear when I say it like that, so let me give you the example in my life.

Several years ago (four or five years ago), a girl that I knew who worked at a scrapbook store that I shopped/cropped at (which has long since closed) decided that she was lonely. She was young and the mother of two or three. (That sounds like we're not friends, but she has had a couple since that point, so now I can't remember how many she actually had at the time.) She decided to throw herself a birthday party, but just asked that guests bring along 10 (mostly) identical homemade greeting cards with a birthday theme. We would then exchange them so each of us would leave with one of our own cards and then one each from the other nine people.

The party was fun, and the birthday girl suggested that this should be a regular occurrence. And, thus began our card group. There were some changes in membership over the years (with the biggest change from the initial birthday party to the next party). We began meeting every 6 - 8 weeks, each time someone else would host (and provide refreshments) and the host also got to choose the theme of the cards.

And, it was more than just a card group -- we have had baby showers galore, one wedding shower, one housewarming (for our only member who was old enough to definitely never need a baby shower), and just general sharing in each others' good times and bad.

It was only finally last year that we decided that we were tired of making cards so often. (Admittedly, some newer people in the group were not tired, but some of us had been doing it for a LONG time.)

But, here's the best part -- we still wanted to see each other! So, now we meet once a month and share hosting duties. We always end up with a big spread of food, and now there's always a fun activity planned -- a game, a craft, or just general visiting.

And, so I challenge anyone who thinks this is a fun idea to just do it! You never know what might happen or what friendships might blossom!

It's like Autumn is My Middle Name..

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

h/t to: Praying for Grace

I will admit, this is right on. I would have had to have argued with my computer if it tried to tell me any other season. LOL

(Oh...and for the record...Autumn *IS* my middle name. Ironic, huh?)

Huh...well...that was eye opening.

Okay, first, let me admit -- I will probably wish for an addition on my house again in the future. But, I had an eye-opening moment the last night and it made me realize that it certainly isn't something we need.

I watched hurricane coverage, and they showed a family in Mexico that lived in what looked like to me as a small barn-type structure. They were very thankful to not have too much damage to their one room, thatched roof home that houses thirteen people. And, then I thought, "There are people that would think those people are so lucky to have that 'house.'" And, here we complain from time to time about our home which is just under 1600 sq ft for the five of us. How silly.

Yes, it would be nice to have a multi-purpose type of room added on to the house that is separate from the main (open concept) living area. But, darn it -- if we never get a chance to do it, we'll be just fine. Sometimes it so hard in our culture to be happy with less...happy with what we already have. And, so, I think I will need to pray to slow down on always wishing for more.

Best Church Ever

Before we went to Mass this weekend, I said, "Are we ready for church?"

Two year old Molly jumped up and down, "I love church! I have best church ever!"

What wonderful enthusiasm. Although, I admit that it would be even better if that enthusiasm would mean that she actually sat attentively (or at least didn't try to make a spectacle of herself) during Mass.