Happy 4th Victorian Anniversary

It's ridiculous to think that this anniversary is upon us.  I mean, it's been 4 years.  (August 13, 2011-August 13, 2015).  It's been a ridiculous, amazing, frustrating, tearful, joyful, 4 years.

Every year that we reach this anniversary, I have a conversation with God that goes something like this.  Really?  I know that you have this all under control, but really?

So, we left behind in Kelowna so many things that makes my heart grieve when I think about it...but I don't want to even go there.  My heart still longs for Kelowna, so I won't dwell on that.

This post, will dwell on Victoria.

I have completely loved spending time with Kent, that part of this life has been amazing.  This is truly the reward of staying married through the "kid" years.  And we are making the most of it!

I love my job and I have amazing coworkers.  I can't sing the praises enough of the team I am a part of.  I'm quite sure that I will not be leaving there.  They'll have to open up the floorboards and bury me there.  I am never leaving.

To be completely honest--this has been the most lonely 4 years of my life.  We have joined a church, we have coworkers, but that true friendship is really lacking.  We have people to do things with.  We also watch our "friends" get together and have watched on the sidelines, thanks to Facebook and wonder why we weren't included.  We've been told things like, we always do XXX with YYY.

I'm not sure we're in the right church.  That's the honest, heartfelt truth.  We've missed more church in 2015 than we probably have in our adult lives--but no one seems to notice, especially the Pastoral Staff.  I mean, we've dealt with a life threatening illness, 2 bouts of unemployment and the only calls/emails we get are can you do this or that?  Seems unfair. 

Seems like Pastoral Care has gone the way of the Dodo Bird.

 

Truly, I blame this on the Pastoral Staff of EC in West Kelowna.  They really spoiled us for what true, caring, devoted and loving Pastors look like, what they act like and what they love like.

 

The other part of church that sucks is that people we have made genuine friendship with have moved...like Rob and Chelsea Penny and Kevin and Mary Jane Smith.

 

The upswing for church is this:  Val and Glenn Fuller and my Sister-in-law Cheryl and her husband Randy.  I know in them there is genuine loving friendship.  They are encouraging, grounded and loving.  We have a lot of acquaintances--we could sit with anyone, but outside the walls of the church, or a church service, we're pariah.

 

Which spins of a unhealthy part of my life.  I hermit.  I hide.  I love the quiet of home, a good book, tea.  At times, I could go a whole week without leaving my house....easily.  So I convinced myself if someone says, let's go for coffee.  I go.  If someone says, lets do XXX or YYY, I do it.  No matter how much I want to go home and sit with my book.

 

The last trip Kent took he was away for a week.  I realized that aside from our social life with each other I need to get out of this house and meet some people.

 

So, I looked into art classes, gyms, drop in Yoga or Pilates, book clubs, piano lessons and a community bible study.  My plan for September is to do something for me to be OUT of this house and meeting people in Victoria. 

Enough is enough.  Watch out Victoria.....I'm coming for you.