Jul 16, 2013

Behind the Scenes: My First Mom Community







In the summer of 2006 my little family moved to Gulfport, MS because of a job opportunity for my first husband. We had been through a lot the year before and saw this move as a fresh start.

My ex-husband began working 18 hour days rebuilding the casinos that were destroyed by Katrina. Gabe (my oldest) and I spent most of our time at the apartment pool and then visited with my aunt and uncle on the weekends. I loved these moments with them but felt a strong desire to meet other moms and begin some sort of playgroup.

I began attending the weekly story time at Barnes and Noble and worked up the courage to ask another mom what her name was and how she had met other moms in the area. Little did I know that beautiful Cuban woman would become my "partner in crime" (in a good way, of course!).

We then reached out to other moms at libraries, parks, and even the Chick-Fil-A play area. After 5  months we had created a group with around 15 actively participating moms. Over 3/4 of our members had moved to the Gulfport area within the past year and had little or no local family support.

We quickly became each other's family, bringing meals to our moms with new babies, scheduling several play dates a week, hosting family get-togethers, and doing fun activities with the kids.

There was also a private website where we created a safe place for the ladies in our group to communicate their frustrations and joys about motherhood, marriage, family, and whatever else we wanted to share. We even read a few books together and had some great discussions.

I spent a year-and-a-half with these women. I dedicated the majority of my time to loving them, rooting them on in the everyday happenings of life, and had found some great sisters to share my insecurities and fears with without feeling judged. And really, they supported me through more than I ever helped them.

I learned so much from each of the women in this precious group and when I look back on our time together I know God orchestrated it all. We were a group of outsiders looking for a way to fit in with a community that was trying to rebuild. And in the process our families flourished and so did our friendships.

Spring 2008 rolled around and Arianna and I were both moving our families away from the area. It was heartbreaking for us and I remember crying during our last family cookout because I knew things would never be the same. We were excited about our new adventures but knew there was a real possibility we would never see our fellow moms again.

I look back on those times and I feel incredibly blessed to have met, connected, and experienced the love from these women who just wanted to be around other moms and feel accepted. We experienced new births, miscarriages, husband job promotions, and baby milestones, TOGETHER.

One of my goals in the next five years is to be a part of a worldwide group of encouraging women who touch others' lives in ways I never dreamt of 7 years ago. This group helped me take my first step in the process and I didn't even know it.

We all have to start somewhere, right?!

 

Linking up today with Crystal Stine/Behind the Scenes and Where He Leads

12 comments:

  1. What an awesome story. I love how God pulled you out of your wilderness of loneliness and made a path for you to be encouraged by a supportive and loving community. You are an inspiration to others who may be entering a new time in their lives. And a world wide mom group? You go Girl!!! God's got this - so you keep dreaming big?

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  2. Thanks so much Tonya! I would love to be part of (in)courage or another community for faith seeking women who encourage one another. God is never too big for our dreams! Glad you stopped by and found some encouragement!

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  3. Sarah - this is a story so near and dear to my heart. I know first hand the joy of belonging to such a group, helping others to find their place, and finding so many amazing blessings for myself among a group of moms! My friends and I started a playgroup that allowed military dads to participate (not many moms group allow men...), and we started a fitness group as well so people could connect with running partners or ask fitness/health related questions. It was amazing. Leaving them behind this past March was so hard!!! I, too, am longing to be part of something bigger that accomplishes the same. Don't you just love all that (in)courage stands for? I have the same dream! Praying God has such plans for both of us, friend!

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    1. VANESSA!!! I feel you friend and would love to take this journey with you! It's amazing how adaptable we are once we trust God and put ourselves out there. Thank you so much for visiting today and sharing your story too! (In) Courage is pretty amazing. Let's do it together!!

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  4. Love this story of how God orchestrated such a great community of women to encourage one another. He created us for community and knows just what we need, doesn't he?! I'm sure it was hat to part with such great friends but hope you have found another special community where you are now!! Love your goal of a worldwide group of encouraging women!!

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    1. Eva, thank you so much for the compliments! I have not established a group in our new town yet but i have joined a mom's group and am slowly figuring out where I fit in. Everyone is so nice I just have a lot on my plate right now! God DOES know just what we need! Thanks for visiting today!

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  5. This brought tears to my eyes and reminded me that God gives us the right people just when we need them. My hubby and I moved to IL in 2010 after being overseas for several years. We didn't know a soul, our baby girl was five weeks old, and all I wanted to do was hide behind a closed door, cry, and wish myself back to a place where I felt like I fit. God didn't answer my prayers for that, but He did give. He sent me a neighbor who became a dear friend, and she introduced me to a group very similar to the friends you just wrote about...we meet together for a Bible study, but we do more than that. We laugh, we cry, we pray, we play at parks...we're friends...and they're my family. He gave me a group I didn't even know I wanted but am so thankful for! And I LOVE your idea of a worldwide group of encouraging women...go for it, friend! You are a blessing...thank you for this piece of your heart. Hugs and happy Tuesday! :)

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    1. Your comment gave me goosebumps and tears! I am so glad you connected with today's post. I simply love hearing how other women come together and help one another out of pure kindness. Friendships built that way are the most impacting. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  6. Community blesses us with the courage to make it through the day or to dream the big dreams. I love this picture of friendship. Bring on the worldwide encouragement! It is so needed in this hectic earthy life! An God wants us to bless us with so much more of His rest. Loved this!

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    1. Such great wisdom Angie, thank you! I do believe community can get us to the small places and big dreams in our lives. We just have to be brave enough to open up. So glad you stopped by today!

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  7. This is a beautiful picture of community, Sarah. Thank you for sharing. I love how God gives us the people we need at just the right time. It makes me think of the online community He gave me when both my husband and son were gone for their military training and then again when He led me to my church. I feared community but He knew community was exactly what I needed. I love your story and love how you were able to be there for each other.
    Blessings,
    Beth

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  8. Thank you Beth! In our society the word "community" can mean so many different things. The online community I have found has been amazing and I'm so glad God was able to provide you with friends to comfort you and love you during a stressful time. Thank you for stopping by today!

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