Church Sunday

First, Eric did REMARKABLY well! It was the first time he'd ever seen the inside of a church besides one short wedding last summer. We were there for about 2 hours (only about 90 minutes of that was during actual service) and he got pretty antsy but he stood most of the time and was very quiet even when he did speak. He even tried to learn how to properly cross himself but after trying with his left hand and then almost poking his eye out he gave up. Apparently we need to work on his fine motor skills. At some point he told Milan and I, "I can't believe" but I don't think it was related to church itself. He did the "rock on" devil horn hand sign a few times and we laughed because there is really no rocking out during an Orthodox service. At some point he asked me, "Who is that guy?" So I tried to quietly explain but gave up and just told Eric his name.

The highlight was at the very end when everyone goes to the front of the church to receive bread. I'm not entirely sure what this is or why it is done, best I can figure, it is done for those who cannot receive communion, everyone is welcome to take part every week. Usually I skip that and just wait in the lobby. Well since we met with Father and I feel a little better as an outsider in the church I decided to do it this Sunday. So you walk up front and kiss an icon (I'm not sure if this varies or if it is always the same or who it is) then you approach the priest and he presents the cross for you to kiss, then you kiss his hand, and then he gives you a piece of bread the size and shape of a crouton only soft. I'd observed this enough times that I knew the process...Eric however did not. So we get to the priest and he puts the cross in front of Eric's face and Eric looked at him like he was insane. I nearly cracked up. Father said, "It's okay, he will learn," and handed him his bread. Which Eric proclaimed was, "Very yummy bread!" as we were walking away.

After wards we milled around a bit outside talking to Milan's sister, nephew and a very small portion of Kumovi. Eric pretended to be shy which I found odd since he met all the same people at Slava and then saw most again at Easter.

I also found out this week that Tata (Milan's dad) got the pictures we sent to him. Milan hasn't talked to him since then but his sister mentioned that he got them and was annoyed that Milan didn't label them. It was mentioned that it is strange how much we look alike. She's not the first to mention it, I hear very often that Eric and Milan really could be father and son based on looks...and Milan and I have noticed some of our features are similar. People say all the time that we look like a family so perhaps it is perfect that we are becoming one. I'm just scared for what happens as we age since couples who are together a very long time start to look alike. By the time we die perhaps we could pass as twins?

A family picture we took when we did our engagement pictures last month.

Let the reading begin

My books showed up Thursday....I'm currently on page 36 of the "Becoming Orthodox" one and so far so good. I like that it is a personal story of why they converted rather than a how-to. It makes it easier to read and allows me to see the process that happen that lead them to find Orthodoxy.

I had to have some lab work done and for some reason the hospital didn't have all of my info anymore...when I went in a couple months ago they had my high school address from 15 years ago but in the past two months I disappeared...go figure. Anyway, we had to go through all the usual "martial status, employer, next of kin" crap and she got to religion and I just stared at her for a minute. I guess she assumed I didn't hear her because she asked again and I said, "Sorry, Serbian Orthodox I suppose." "You suppose?" "Yea, it's not really official yet but I'm marrying a man who......never mind, you don't care about the story, just put down Orthodox." She just chuckled and me and moved on to the next space on the form. When she printed it out and gave it to me to give to the lab I look and it said, "REL: Sb Orth" and that was so strange to me because for my entire adult life that has always said, "REL: None." I figure if I'm converting and going to church and all that jazz I may as well have someone I know and like there to pray for my ass if something should happen, da nada Bog (God forbid).

Usually when Milan and I go to church we leave Eric with his dad's parents for the morning. They have been watching him a lot lately as we've had one thing after another that is MUCH easier without him present (like meeting with Father) so I told Milan yesterday that I didn't want him going over there this morning. I said, "I know you want to go to church and that's fine...but we're either taking Eric or he and I will stay home and you can go." He understood my reasoning and said, "Well, I guess we need to buy him some church clothes then." So off to Target we went to find a pair of dress pants and a button down for a 4 year old. It was oddly hard to find! Granted we could have gone to the mall and had no problem but I was trying to avoid that. So luckily for Eric, Target had no ties for little boys so he only got stuck with some black pants and a blue oxford....oh and some uncomfortable (they look like it anyway) black dress shoes. Most of you who may read this don't know my kid but he has the attention span of a fruit fly and can stay still for about 0.82 seconds and is only quiet when he's sleeping. So church should be interesting today. We decided we would sit near the back so we can easily duck out when he starts being crazy. Besides, it is Mother's Day...what better day to take my son to church with me right?

While we were shopping I also found myself some new church shoes. I have A LOT of shoes but most of them are sandals (like Birkenstocks or flip flops). I have some flats but they are either uncomfortable for long term wear or meant to be worn with pants. I was seriously lacking flats that were comfortable and skirt appropriate...so after MUCH time in the shoe store I found a pair that I hope will be okay and not kill my feet today. They were really comfy in the store but you just never know until you have to stand in them for 45+ minutes. I also dug a jacket out of my closet so my elbows will be covered today...good thing I remembered I had it...otherwise I'd have been wearing a sweater and who wants to do that when it's warm out?

Well, back to my reading while everyone is still asleep and the house is peacefully quiet. :)