small group

Every Wednesday, I meet with a group of mothers my age with our babies (ranging 6 months to 1-1/2 years in age) and we have a Bible study. It's always interesting to see how far we'll get before the first one cries or someone gets stepped on (Finley). Poor thing can't defend himself or even try to get away. He doesn't realize he can use his new-found crawling for anything other than getting toys. He's a sitting duck for any one to use as a step stool or a handhold. Mattea-9-1/2 months old (Jeramy and Danae) is walking now but sometimes needs something to hang onto. Yesterday a few times it was what little hair Finley has on his head. He would scrunch up his face until someone got her to let go-which if you know a babies grip- is not easy. Toby is walking holding onto things and if Finley happened to be lying on the floor next to the coffee table, he was going to get stepped on.

A few of the mothers were trying to get Finley to crawl forward since they hadn't seen it yet but as soon as they put a toy down for him to crawl to, another baby would come snatch it up. He would get interested and excited in a new toy and start to really move and then it would disappear.

I had to feed Finley some rice cereal at the end of the study. As soon as food of any kind comes out you'd better drop it and run or you will be overrun. We were swarmed by 4 babies...surrounded...all making their noise for wanting the food. Mattea was smarter though. She crawled up in my lap and opened her mouth! =) Finley looked from his left to his right trying to figure out what was going on.

I suggested that we have 1 communal sippy cup since they all use the same one anyway! Why should every mother have to wash, fill and store a new one every Wednesday. Each week, a different mother should supply the sippy cup for that week.

I love my small group. It is our time together, yes to have a Bible study, but also to talk about things that only mothers will talk about...and we are brutally honest. A couple of the girls have had family members die. One girl had a building fire that destroyed many thousands of dollars worth of equipment and tools. Another girl's husband is in the military and sometimes has to be gone for days and sometimes months at a time. In each of these situations, everyone knows who they can go to. When something bad happens, the whole group steps up to makes food, phone calls, and visits. There is nothing like the peace of mind that comes in knowing there are friends that genuinely care and will be proactive in your life! I am so blessed.