ChurchaHolic

Although it is important to us, Travis and I have attended church less often than we would have liked in the past months, our excuse being the move making life too busy and crazy mainly. Plus, we find "church-hopping" to try and find a new church a little uncomfortable. Not to mention have you ever tried attending church with a toddler? If she stays in the pew with us we end up hearing NONE of the message as we try to shush her while she virtually shouts, "I'm hungry! I wanna go home!" And then, after getting shushed, "Mom, I wanna talk!" It's just kind of an excercise in futility and not a very spiritual experience. This situation is getting better though since Bree is getting old enough to attend Sunday School. There she is happily amused with singing and playing with other kids and not trying to scribble in the hymnals. Anyways, all this to say that we've been resolved to try and get back into going to church on a more regular basis in our family. We've been looking at some local churches in our new town...when we attended services though it was kind of interesting, mostly because since it was our first time we decided to keep little "churchus interruptus" child with us, not knowing how she would feel about being dropped off for Sunday School with complete strangers. (Although, knowing her personality she would have been fine with it.) Anyways, there we were sitting in the pew with Bree talking in her usual exuberantly loud voice making inane toddler comments during the sermon. Much to that particualr church's credit they didn't seem to mind and there were several indulgent smirks and so on. (I've attended churches though where they were completely rude about that type of thing, not fun and not the kind of church I'd attend regularly.) Well, that was all pretty par for the course but the funny parts were during the singing of the hymns and communion. Every time we would sing from the hymnal, Bree would grab one for herself, open it to a random page, point to the words as she sang, and sing along. Of course, she was singing pure nonsense but she was singing very loudly and lustily along. (She loves music.) My entire pew was cracking up and very few of us were actually singing since it was more fun to watch Bree sing her heart out. That was nothing though compared to the communion. As the portions were passed Bree was particularly intriqued with the very tiny portions of grape juice being served. "I want some!" she said loudly in the complete silence. Hoping to distract her in a reverent moment for everyone we let her have a little bit. "Mmm...I want more!" she yelled. Oh well, at least she was into participating right? It made us laugh...hopefully the other church-goers and well, God, has as good a sense of humor as we do. :P