Church Family

Yesterday, my church had its yearly picnic. It's a time where both of our congregations (Spanish and English) come together to fellowship, play all sorts of games, throw the kids down a water-turned-mud slide, and eat lots and lots of food. But, as luck would have it, it rained. Great for the water slide. Bad for the whole picnicking outside part. Yet, even though we were all stuck inside, trying to seat hundreds of people into, maybe, 13 tables, it was FUN. In a completely mass-hysteria sort of way. But fun, nonetheless. ;)

I love my church family. In my unbiased opinion (*wink*), we have some of the best people...of ALL ages...under our church roof. And it's only during times like those...where you're stuck inside, sitting beside people that you normally wouldn't get to hang out with...do you get to see the caliber of the people I call "church family".

ONE small example from yesterday:
As my husband and I stood in the "buffet" line that wove around our entire church, my two oldest daughters make a break and run towards my dad, standing in the line a little bit ahead of us. Jet and I look at each other. *shrug* Uh, Dad? Do you WANT them to be with you? Being a brave man and a completely doting granddaddy, he said yes, let them stay with him. Fine by me. Less people to corral. Less plates to balance. Less stress because I'm acutely aware that I stink at the whole balancing and filling plates simultaneously thing.

We continue on in line.

Then, a dear,dear woman (who happens to be the spearhead behind most of these events) came up to me...armed with two plates full of carbs...and my girls. Uh, Dad? Apparently he got overwhelmed while trying to juggle it all: keep girls beside him, hold three plates, pick out food somewhat resembling healthy and yet kid-alluring, and serve said food on plate. So this dear woman, seeing my dad's struggle, stepped in. She probably wondered where WE were. But being completely clueless of the developing plate-drama Dad was experiencing (and unable to move against the mass flow of hungry people) Jet and I were...well, safely in line.

AND this sweet woman...lets just call her Kathy ;)... even found seats for my girls. Of course at this point, I'm torn. Do I step outside of this line, risking starvation knowing that the end of the line is now dangerously nearing the highway? All to help my girls...now armed with food and small packets of condiments? I pause...trying to decide. Because reality is that I'll inevitably need to help my husband get HIS food since he's armed with our infant and two sippie cups. And then I see from across the room that, yet again, Kathy came to our rescue. Like she didn't have 500 other people to deal with! With all the ease of a woman, who is obviously an experienced grandmother AND church administrator, she went over to Charis and opened the ketchup packets.

Jet and I get our plates and start to fill them with all the grace and ease of livestock. Really, you'd think that a one-handed dipping of the spoon into casserole would not require too much coordination. Yeah well. Either I was really wrong. Or I lack the small amount of coordination needed. Hmmm...?

Immediately one of our guy friends (who has a toddler and a pregnant wife of his own to manage!) came over and without a word took Raegan from Jet. *sweet* I turn around to look at our girls again. You know, to make sure they haven't taken advantage of their new-found freedom and bolted. And another woman (who has three of her own children sitting with her) is taking care of them!

Finally, Dad emerges from wherever he had been, saying, "The girls?" And Kathy comes up, immediately directing him to our table. :) I swear I think she got the gift of omnipotence. How DOES she arrive just when you need her?!

ANYWAY, we all survived the meal because of people like that. People who really do consider themselves your family...enough to step in and take care of your children when your hands are tied. Or full.

I love my church. I love them more than I can say. And I recognize that I am blessed beyond measure to have not only one or two families in the church that are amazing....but hundreds of people that are, without doubt, some of the best people you will ever meet. And believe me, I've done enough traveling (this country and 8 others), AND enough church-hopping, to say that I KNOW what I'm talking about.

To all those that are a part of my church family...I love you. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for welcoming Jet so unconditionally in our "fold". And thank you for being people that I can trust my girls to model their lives after. You are priceless to us.