Monday, February 13, 2012

I Don't Have a Lot To Say

I don't have a lot to say, which isn't normal for me.

I'm sad. A lot. I think I'm struggling with Depression. It happens every time around this year, but just like every other year, I don't remember it until it's hit. It's also a lot worse this year, because of the whole infertility thing. I don't think I'm ok, but I'm also not a self-harmer or suicidal or anything, so please don't worry about me, too much.

One of my Old Navy managers said to me on Saturday, "Are you not happy today, Angela?" Instead of getting into why I'm not happy (she's one of the managers who knows about our issues TTC) I just said, "Oh. Well, I'll fix that." I slapped on my happy "I'm working with customers" face and moved forward. Most customers do make me happy, though. The nice ones anyway. The rude/uninterested customers really should go to another line, because those are the customers that annoy me, so thus, I annoy them by laying the sweetness on extra thick. Heh. Killing them with kindness, eh, Mom?

I constantly feel the struggle to get up and do something when I'm alone. I just want to sit. All day. Do nothing. It isn't laziness. It's sadness. It's heavy. Sometimes I feel some anxiety over it. I don't think that's exactly healthy, but I'm not having anxiety attacks, so again, please don't worry about me, too much.

Vance has been amazing through all of this. He is so compassionate, understanding, loving, generous, and patient. If I were in his shoes, I'm not sure I would put up with half of what he's putting up with from me. Sometimes, when I'm exceptionally sad, I get angry, and I have an outburst. It isn't pretty, but he's there. He holds me even when I tell him to go away. He tells me he loves me when I'm not being lovable.  He lets me cry. He let's me take up 3/4 of the bed because that's how I fell asleep. He is the best.

Source

I don't want to be at church. We haven't been in Sunday school for a couple of months now. It's painful for me. It stresses me out. It isn't like anyone cares if we're there anyway. No one has reached out and asked us to come back...did I mention my best friend is in the class? Not even she has reached out. It's sad, but whatever. We got to service every once in a while, but I have to force myself to go. I don't want to be around a lot of people and at a church of 1400+, that's not exactly easy to avoid. My mom and dad...and my 16 year old sister...keep getting onto me about not being there. I know they have good intentions, but I just CAN'T do it right now. I think they worry about me, but they don't know how to express it. My dad is terrible at communicating, so it turns into a demand and possible yelling. My mom has backed off some and just lets us know she missed us, which I appreciate. My sister, Hannah, is hit or miss with whether she's going to be compassionate or demanding. She's a teenager. I expect that. Heh.

We have these things called Legacy groups on Sunday nights. Each year, at the beginning of each year (usually around February) the entire church signs up for home groups. Everyone goes to their home group each week for 5 weeks. We all do the same daily devotions, written by church staff, elders, deacons, and church members. We then meet up on Sunday night at the home we signed up for and go through the same lesson taught by different teachers. It's a pretty cool way to get to know people outside of the church building, in a smaller setting. Oh and we also eat a meal each week. Gotta love food and fellowship, right? On the 6th week, we all meet at the church and have a sort of celebration conclusion. People share how the Legacy groups have impacted them. We sing praises to God. We celebrate how God has sustained Pinedale (our church) and how he keeps growing us in numbers and in spiritual maturity.

Vance and I didn't sign up for one this year because I work 2-7 at Old Navy almost every Sunday. Legacy groups are 6-8. It just didn't seem fair for us to sign up and only show up once or twice. Well, Saturday evening, my grandma called me. She and my grandpa are a host home. She invited us to sign up for their home and to just come after I get off work each week, even if it's just for dinner (which is around 715 or so.) To say that I was touched she thought of us and invited us, would be an understatement. After we hung up, I cried. Seriously. My grandma reached out to me. She thought of me. She remembered me. I have a feeling she's seen a change in me and wants to help. I don't know though, and I'm not ready to ask. We agreed to go.

I normally get off around 6-615 lately because it's been so slow after Christmas; last night, I didn't get off until 6:45. We were short staffed. We did $4000 over the projected sales. We had over 1100 people come into the store when we've been averaging 700-800 people on a Sunday. I almost called Grandma and said we wouldn't be there since it was so late, and I was tired. I didn't though. I realized that her reaching out like that was a big deal to me and that I wasn't going to let her down. I am really glad we didn't bail. Although we only made it for about 5 minutes of the lesson and then prayer time, I'm glad we went. Oh and we also ate dinner, which was delicious Italian beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans, salad, and dessert. (I ate some of my mom's leftover spice cake she made for lunch...which was at Grandma's house earlier that day with the whole family.)
Source
I'm glad we went last night. I hope I don't have to work next week, though. I also hope I don't have to work the following week, since I signed Vance and I up to bring stuffed shells. :-)

Ok. I guess I had more to say than I thought I did.







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12 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I know everyone and their mother has a suggestion, but I think you should try to see a therapist. There are offices where training therapists work on a sliding scale, if money is an issue and your insurance doesn't cover it. Therapy has been a lifesaver for me!

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    1. Thanks, Amy. I have seriously considered it recently. We have a therapist at my church who basically asks you to put however much you can afford in an envelope for payment form. However, he's known me for YEARS, counseled my sister, knows my entire family, and oh yeah, he was my Sunday school teacher until he stepped down. He is a GREAT guy, an amazing professional, BUT maybe just a little too close to the situation. I've thought about just giving it a shot, but I'm extremely hesitant. Maybe I just need to make the plunge? Thanks so much for the suggestion. :-)

      xo,
      A

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  2. A,
    I have thought of you often, but I honestly just assumed that I was missing you since we have skipped a few Sundays here and there with all we are going through too. But, enough with the excuses...

    I know how you feel. With all that my family is going through no one has reached out to me, even when I am in class. It hurts to hear of the ones that reach out to Danny but not me. Oh well, I can't control other people.

    Please take it easy. Do something good for yourself. And try not to take it personal (easier said than done, I know).

    I do have to tell you a story. This weekend, I lost it. I got angry and I started crying (which I did most of the weekend). Alyssa hugged me and told me "Mommy, do you remember the ring that you gave me when I was baptized? The one that says 'with God, all things are possible'?" "yes" I said. "Well then Mommy, why don't you just believe?" From the mouths of babes!

    You are in my prayers often.
    Ameriah

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    1. Thanks, Ameriah. Although I haven't seen you in person, I hope you've felt me reach out to you even over the Interwebs! I can't imagine what it's like to be dealing with a suicidal tween. I truly hope Alyssa gets the help she so desperately is seeking. I am so happy to hear her words of wisdom even through this tough time for her. She is SO right. Tell her thanks for the reminder, even though she wasn't speaking directly to me.

      I do thank you for your prayers...so so much. Prayer means so much to me. I am sobbingly clinging to Vance and to God, but mostly to Vance. I am having major issues with clinging to God, because I feel like I will seriously fall apart if I let myself truly surrender. How idiotic is that? Being broken at the foot of the one who made me will totally help me. I am coming so close to having that much needed surrender of will and heart. It's a huge step and whole-heartedly urge you to join me in it.

      I will definitely try to take it easy and do something good for myself. I've been having huge migraines the past couple of weeks and I think they're stress-induce and anxiety related. I've never been an anxious person, but before I do, I need to get a handle on this. I might go and see Dale. We'll see.

      Thanks again for your prayers!

      xo,
      A

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    2. I have seen Dale and Danny has, as well. We've even seen him together. He's good. You should call him.

      But know that I am thinking of you and praying.
      Ameriah

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    3. Vance and I had our premarital counseling with him. He's awesome and very talented in his profession. My problem lies in that he's known me since I was a kid. He's counseled my sister. He's friends with my parents. It's just different talking to someone about such devastating things when they've known you since before you were in middle school!

      xo,
      A

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    4. Imagine how I felt talking to him knowing he counseled Danny's last marriage. But there are also lots of other places to go. I think Moses Cone/High Point Regional has a sliding scale place as well. I'd be happy to look up the info for you.

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  3. Hey Angela,

    Not much to say, but I'm sorry you're going through all of this. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling.

    I can totally relate on the church thing. I've felt no desire to go recently, and nobody has really reached out (and we go to a tiny, everybody-knows-everybody church, so it's not like they just don't notice or something.)

    I genuinely hope things start to get better for you. I'm glad you have a Grandma who is close by, and is willing to reach out. :)

    I'll be praying for you.
    Jenn

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    1. Thanks, Jenn. I totally appreciate your prayers and just that you're here for me. I truly wished we lived closer. Why must you live in Georgia? :-) I'm sorry you're having the whole issue with your church, too. It sucks, but I've come to realize the church is full of imperfect people so sometimes they're going to suck it all up. Haha. I truly hope someone reaches out to you. I'll be praying for that!

      xo,
      A

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  4. Oh Angela. I wish I could give you a big huge hug right now. HUGS!

    I wish I could help, too. I wish I could say something to make you feel better.

    Do you HAVE to go to that church? I understand your family is there but what if you and Vance try somewhere else? I don't mean "try" like church-hop...but maybe a new, fresh start would help? At least it will help you on an emotional aspect - everyone will be welcoming and nice. I don't know. I just know when you are dealing with something like you are - you have to be selfish in the sense that you have to do things to make you happy.

    I'm happy that you DO have people such as your Grandma to be there for you & reach out. That is SUCH a blessing. And everything WILL be ok. You are a child of God and He will take care of you and watch out for you.

    I'm praying for you. Love you

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    1. I don't HAVE to go there, but I LOVE it there. Please don't misunderstand me. Not a lot of people outside of my Sunday school class and family know about our fertility issues. A lot of the people there have known me since I was in 4th grade. I feel kind of weird announcing my fertility issues via the church wide prayer request emails. I think I'm going to write about it on the back of my Connect2 (attendance/visitor/info) card next time and have the elders/deacons/staff/prayer team prayer about it.

      As for my Sunday school class, I am a little unfair. A few ladies were checking on me and keeping tabs on me until I disabled my FB account. Ameriah (Working Mom) is the only one that checks on me now, since she blogs, too. I need to go back to class, though. Sigh.

      Thanks for your prayers!

      Love you, too!!

      xo,
      A

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    2. Hang in there. And, if I am drop in my two cents, there is nothing that says you can't look around and visit other churches, even if Pinedale is home. A change could be just the thing that you need to make you red hot.

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Please keep it positive!