Sawyer's First Birthday Party! and Church

Well, not his first birthday, but his first birthday party, I mean the first party he's ever been to, that was a birthday party! It was for his friend, Ava, from playgroup who just turned 1 who we haven't seen for a while since Monday night football is Tuesday morning here at the same time as playgroup. Mommy's a slacker. Here he is looking as stoic as you can when you're 8 months old wearing a paper party hat. I think Pat left the party in some sort of shock from being in a house with that many children under the age of 2. He's never been to a playgroup so his ears had never experienced the swelling chorus of babies whining and screeching. He was a good sport and we had a lot of fun watching all the kids run around. I can't wait until we're home to watch all our home friends' kids terrorizing our houses!

So I went to this new church again this weekend. It was only the second time for me and this time I dragged Pat and Sawyer along for company. It's awful to say, but I didn't make it through the service. As a result of Bangkok traffic combined with a baby, we got there a little late. I've personally been trying to come to terms with the Christian life I left behind and need some closure, or reopening, or something! That could be a whole other blog and it's sort of personal I guess and possible super boring for everyone. Anyway, we got there a little after the service started. Despite the nice usher ensuring us that after leaving Sawyer in the nurser the ladies there would let us know if our baby started crying, we decided to sit in back and hold him. He liked the singing a little too much. As the voices of the singers on stage rose, so did Sawyer's. He wasn't fussing, just enjoying himself. Once the music was over and there was some quiet talking from stage, Sawyer still wanted everyone to know that life is wonderful. Pat and I shifted in our seats looking at each other and Pat, being the supportive husband he is said, "I'll take him out, I don't really want to be here either." Now that sounds pretty bad, but I have to tell you something. The service starts at 11am. It was 11:45 and the pastor hadn't begun his message yet. We were, however, reminded that there's an extra envelope in the goodies we'd received. The pink one was for a donation for the new church they're building. The pastor requested we place one day's salary into the pink one, the idea being that everyone makes an equal sacrifice. The words "One Day's Salary" flashed on their projection screen and 2 LCD monitors. And of course our regular offering can go in the white envelope as usual. I looked busy with the baby as the bags were passed around. They look like the bags Crown Royal comes in with a broomstick attached. So Pat took the baby out and I listened to more singing and did some singing myself and finally I left. Found Pat in the nursery with about 3 babies and 4 Thai women. He was sitting on a bench talking with Sawyer and I wondered if he was isolating himself in hopes that I'd bail him out and say let's get out of here. That's what I did. I totally made excuses for not going to church in college, acting like I wanted to but I really didn't. Now I want to and maybe I'm being too picky. My old church back in Ft. Laud. didn't ask for money. The service starts at 11am, there are a few announcements and then the bulk of the hour is the nitty gritty. That's what I want. I don't want the fluff. No weird flags, LCD screens, no orders to shake peoples' hands who I don't know, no 10 min. lecture on how much money I should donate, no choruses of songs repeated 50 times getting quieter...and quieter...no crazy guitar solos by the 16 year old with lots of hair... I just want to hear the message. You might think I'm just making excuses but I just have a certain standard and hope to find a place that meets it over here. There's a book I had that was something like the survival guide to Christian churches. Laugh out loud hilarious for anyone who's ever set foot in a church. It names all the things you have to look past when trying to find a church and even offers suggestions. To some it might be disrespectful but I think that church has turned into something that it doesn't need to be. Mosy churches I've been to aren't offensive, but some are totally weird at times and can make people uncomfortable. The search continues. Maybe I am too picky. I'm glad I have some wise friends and family who can help me answer questions! :) Here are 2 buns and 2 teeth.