tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post3187871402508469053..comments2024-02-26T06:32:18.378-06:00Comments on Blair's Blessings: It Takes a VillageBlairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03403300534569346474noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post-21472433223628764722013-07-24T09:15:32.017-05:002013-07-24T09:15:32.017-05:00I have to be better at stepping out and creating t...I have to be better at stepping out and creating those friendships. I think I miss out on opportunities assuming people will think of us all the time. Thanks for that reminder onecatholicmama. KristyBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15836339775357222713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post-92096122673020194642013-07-23T20:37:39.339-05:002013-07-23T20:37:39.339-05:00It is really hard to be far away from family and f...It is really hard to be far away from family and friends. I know those feelings of isolation so, so well. <br /><br />We've moved a lot...I have 4 children..each born in a different state and one thing I've found is that I need to be really pro-active about finding friends and building my own community. *I* need to be the one to set up the playdates, or mom's night outs or offer to swap babysitting or whatever, yk. It takes a lot of effort and it can be exhausting always being the one to suggest get gatherings, but it is so, so worth it for the community and friendship. We just left an awesome community in FL and are only living where we are now temporarily, so facing another imminent move and I'm dreading having to start over at building friendships, but the effort and time it takes, is so worth it. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post-90781572662753507782013-07-23T10:59:10.005-05:002013-07-23T10:59:10.005-05:00We've recently started our fifth year here in ...We've recently started our fifth year here in KY (wow). And I still struggle with isolation and longing to be near close family. I do have a couple cousins, but their lives are so vastly different from ours (no kids, travel to exotic locations regularly, seemingly no need to budget anything, etc.) that I find myself feeling jealous of what they have, or the history that is here in their hometown. Sure, we've made a couple good friends with families that parallel ours in children and faith formation and for that I'm deeply thankful. I do feel it'd be hard to leave them now, even though I still long for home. I don't know when I'll let go and be able to feel settled. When we left Austin, although it wasn't where I grew up, I knew we were leaving something special. Casual weekly dinners with friends, easy playdates, friends that had family elsewhere as well, it all seemed like we fit in more. I could go on... but this is where God has placed us and I try to find joy in it all. And I do. I try to let go of feeling left out and focus on who we've become close with and recognize that this is where we are and that, wherever it is, is where we are not. I will pray for you too.KristyBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15836339775357222713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post-48469360834702424272013-07-22T22:59:10.611-05:002013-07-22T22:59:10.611-05:00Hey Blair! I hear you! We moved to Houston to be...Hey Blair! I hear you! We moved to Houston to be near family and then they all moved away. We are slowly building relationships at a new parish, but it's not the same when you don't have grandmas who can step in when you need a hand. It's a lot harder (and sometimes just totally impractical) to ask another mom in the trenches to be your back-up. The good part is we get longer visits with our moms now when they come into town, but we do feel the loss! <br /><br />Praying for you--the first months of pregnancy are always really hard for me emotionally. I know you'll find the grace you need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30871656.post-47488826656681832462013-07-22T21:54:10.511-05:002013-07-22T21:54:10.511-05:00Oh my heart just aches for you.
I feel like I'...Oh my heart just aches for you.<br />I feel like I've spent the last 10 years where you are, not fitting in, without family near by, feeling isolated. It is so hard. I pray for you often, that is a horrible feeling. <br />There is grace to be had though. It seems like you can see that clearly, even if it's not what you want to see. His grace is sufficient. Maybe you won't have but a blurry idea about why God has put you where you are for now until it's over. <br />I haven't read Jen's post yet...but, I really hope and pray that this is where God will let us settle and grow roots. It's still not easy, though, breaking into an established community. It's really challenging for an introvert like me, but I see such potential here. I was so devastated when we left Austin (in fact, that same group of people Jen was talking about, because that was our parish). I thought for sure that was it, but it never felt quite right anyway.<br />I don't know. I guess it's one of those things where there is a season for everything. The isolated times bear their own special fruit. :-)<br />Hang in there. I'm praying for you.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10135272827538989265noreply@blogger.com