Anastasia

~Anastasia~ said:

I am sorry everyone - I wasn’t even aware of this thread. Thank you for your prayers and thinking of me!!!

I’ve missed you all - along with so much else - for so long. Covid was bad for so many reasons. It kept us out of Church, separated so many of us. Our parish has been through 4 priests in the past year and a half, and we’ve lost so many of our parish from some reposing, some no longer healthy enough to attend, some moved away, and probably not keeping a regular priest plus all the closing and restrictions from covid didn’t help.

I’ve honestly thrown myself into a new career. When the schools closed I was out of work. I collected the unemployment for a few months, but wasn’t looking forward to where schools were headed. I took a new job as a therapist for autistic kids, and have been working to increase my certification levels there by going back for more specialized schooling and working a practicum (which sometimes feels like it’s killing me with all the crazy hours required for that PLUS school and job!).

I think I’ve been grieving losing my Church community - or rather avoiding grieving - by just immersing myself in all that.

It’s not so good for one spiritually though. Especially since my SF has had multiple health scares, and works to run a full-time Orthodox retreat center though he’s approaching 90.

I haven’t been much on FB at all, and not here. I’m truly sorry and I’ve really missed you all. I keep thinking I’ll catch up.

And I should complete my practicum hours in another month or so, as well as school, and can sit my next board certification exams after that. (Hopefully I will find time to start studying soon!)

I hope I can be around more. You all were the open door to the Orthodox Church for me and have been so much help and encouragement to me over quite a few years. I’ve missed you all!

I hope I can get back. And yes, I almost certainly had Covid (though I couldn’t get tested) but came through it ok. I have had some health challenges but nothing serious.

Thank you all for prayers and thinking of me. God be with you all.

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I've been on less and less. Either way, let's prepare the fatted calf!

E.C. said:

I've been on less and less. Either way, let's prepare the fatted calf!

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Sounds great!!! I’m feeling very prodigal in fact ...

One good thing about being sick (just a cold). It’s slowed me down, had me out of work for 3 days (plus weekend) while I waited for covid testing and to feel better, so I’ve been able to pop in multiple times a day. I’m HOPING I can create a new habit by Wednesday when I’ll be back at it.

I’m going to ask for a slightly reduced schedule. It’s too much for me to work full shifts every day during the summer when the kids also go on field trips to places like park (it’s only 90+ here and stiflingly humid after all, and heat aggravates some of physical issues).

So maybe things will get better.

I found out I’ll complete my practicum more easily than I thought - I’m almost done! Only about 130 hours to go.

And just had midterms - I missed only one question though this class is actually a bit difficult, unlike everything up to this point that was somewhat spoonfed and lots of busy work.

I think things will be better, at any rate.

~Anastasia~ said:

I found out I’ll complete my practicum more easily than I thought - I’m almost done! Only about 130 hours to go.

And just had midterms - I missed only one question though this class is actually a bit difficult, unlike everything up to this point that was somewhat spoonfed and lots of busy work.

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I probably missed it, but what are you studying?

It’s so good to “see” you here again!

ArmyMatt said:

I probably missed it, but what are you studying?

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I am working as a therapist for autistic children and teens. I’m working to raise my certification level for that.

I also want to get my LMHC certification with the intent to provide counseling from an Orthodox worldview, but I can’t afford those classes until I’m under my new contract. I may or may not accomplish that one, but hopefully it will follow the rest of my goals of the past two years and become real. Ive been going a step at a time.

Mary of Bethany said:

It’s so good to “see” you here again!

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It’s so good to “see” you too! I hope all is well with you and yours!

~Anastasia~ said:

I am working as a therapist for autistic children and teens. I’m working to raise my certification level for that.

I also want to get my LMHC certification with the intent to provide counseling from an Orthodox worldview, but I can’t afford those classes until I’m under my new contract. I may or may not accomplish that one, but hopefully it will follow the rest of my goals of the past two years and become real. Ive been going a step at a time.

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nice!

Looks like hopefully I will have better chances of making daily visits a habit. I was supposed to return to work today. But apparently they’ve had multiple covid cases so the clinic is closed until Monday.

I had no intention of taking a week and a half off. It was one sick day. Then a funeral I needed to attend.

I’m trying to use the time well. There is a LOT I’ve fallen behind on. So this may be a great blessing in fact.

Our new priest is very tall.

and I still hope I have time to visit. It’s 4am and I just finished Sunday’s school work and prep for Monday morning meeting. But at least I did make it to Church.

Two more weeks and public school starts, and my work schedule returns to normal.

Three more weeks and I’m finished with this course series.

About four weeks and I should be finished with my practicum.

Just gotta hang in a little longer. Lord give me strength!

Please forgive the mostly pointless post. I just wanted to post something on CF to try to maintain the habit and I’m too tired to form a worthwhile thought on anyone else’s thread.

You're forgiven .

You certainly have a HUGE amount on your plate at present and hopefully in the next few weeks things will settle down a bit into a more normal routine

Anhelyna said:

You're forgiven .

You certainly have a HUGE amount on your plate at present and hopefully in the next few weeks things will settle down a bit into a more normal routine

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That’s what I’m hoping.

No one warned me how much more demanding work would be (and to be fair, no one anticipated how many therapists we would lose due to moving away, etc.) ... And everyone said this last course was easier than previous ones. To be fair, I was disappointed to be paying tuition and learning so little in previous courses. It has been more like busy-work and just getting my card stamped that I had the additional courses. But it’s turning out to be a REAL course that requires not only tons of reading and responses, but learning a pretty extensive set of info. Which I’m actually grateful for since I’m going to have to sit for board exams. But I didn’t know everything was going to line up this way or I would have planned it differently.

Live and learn. And at least now I know I can manage more than I thought, if I have to.

Well I’m not sure where else to post. I missed two weeks in a row at Church. It has just been overwhelming trying to finish up - but I’m almost there. I finished my big project (almost - just a final clean-up of the graphs) and had it approved. I planned to take my final exam early (it’s this Sunday) so I could go to Church on Sunday. Work is still hectic but it should be all wrapped up by the end of this month. After tomorrow I should be able to attend weekday services too.

Anyway - I was in the midst of a double shift yesterday when my phone beeped. Our parish is going back to streaming services. No Church this Sunday or upcoming.

I’ve had a lot of feelings since then. Upset at myself for not going to Church as much as I always have when the restrictions were lifted. Upset at the timing, when I was trying to get back to being able to go. Sometimes I miss just from being tired - trying to get it all done in time (on Saturday) but it takes until 4 am then I’m just too tired to get up a few hours later. Then I found out it’s not a mandate from the bishop but the decision of our new priest and/or parish council to do this. It’s ONLY our parish. So I wrote to the priest who offered me Confession last year. His parish is around 1 hour’s highway drive, or a bit longer, to get there. But he said I would welcome and they are masks optional at this point. I don’t mind masks, I don’t mind social distancing, I don’t mind outdoor coffee hour. But streamed services are almost pointless to me when I could be there in person.

I don’t want to criticize but this is a disappointment to me. I don’t think I want to think about it right now. I’m thankful I found a parish where I can go for now, and hope I can attend going forward. I probably can’t attend any weekday liturgies there, as I probably couldn’t make it back in time for work (my schedule will be after noon sometimes in the near future). But at least I can go this Sunday.

I should ask him for Confession again. I was unable to schedule with any of the 3 priests we’ve had in the past year. The first was unable to hear confessions, the second I asked with bad timing (my fault), and the third I hadn’t asked yet.

I know people have had it much worse at times. But this is so different from Church as I’m used to. I really hope I can use this whole long situation to work on my own self instead of being upset by it.

~Anastasia~ said:

Well I’m not sure where else to post. I missed two weeks in a row at Church. It has just been overwhelming trying to finish up - but I’m almost there. I finished my big project (almost - just a final clean-up of the graphs) and had it approved. I planned to take my final exam early (it’s this Sunday) so I could go to Church on Sunday. Work is still hectic but it should be all wrapped up by the end of this month. After tomorrow I should be able to attend weekday services too.

Anyway - I was in the midst of a double shift yesterday when my phone beeped. Our parish is going back to streaming services. No Church this Sunday or upcoming.

I’ve had a lot of feelings since then. Upset at myself for not going to Church as much as I always have when the restrictions were lifted. Upset at the timing, when I was trying to get back to being able to go. Sometimes I miss just from being tired - trying to get it all done in time (on Saturday) but it takes until 4 am then I’m just too tired to get up a few hours later. Then I found out it’s not a mandate from the bishop but the decision of our new priest and/or parish council to do this. It’s ONLY our parish. So I wrote to the priest who offered me Confession last year. His parish is around 1 hour’s highway drive, or a bit longer, to get there. But he said I would welcome and they are masks optional at this point. I don’t mind masks, I don’t mind social distancing, I don’t mind outdoor coffee hour. But streamed services are almost pointless to me when I could be there in person.

I don’t want to criticize but this is a disappointment to me. I don’t think I want to think about it right now. I’m thankful I found a parish where I can go for now, and hope I can attend going forward. I probably can’t attend any weekday liturgies there, as I probably couldn’t make it back in time for work (my schedule will be after noon sometimes in the near future). But at least I can go this Sunday.

I should ask him for Confession again. I was unable to schedule with any of the 3 priests we’ve had in the past year. The first was unable to hear confessions, the second I asked with bad timing (my fault), and the third I hadn’t asked yet.

I know people have had it much worse at times. But this is so different from Church as I’m used to. I really hope I can use this whole long situation to work on my own self instead of being upset by it.

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Lord have mercy!

~Anastasia~ said:

Well I’m not sure where else to post. I missed two weeks in a row at Church. It has just been overwhelming trying to finish up - but I’m almost there. I finished my big project (almost - just a final clean-up of the graphs) and had it approved. I planned to take my final exam early (it’s this Sunday) so I could go to Church on Sunday. Work is still hectic but it should be all wrapped up by the end of this month. After tomorrow I should be able to attend weekday services too.

Anyway - I was in the midst of a double shift yesterday when my phone beeped. Our parish is going back to streaming services. No Church this Sunday or upcoming.

I’ve had a lot of feelings since then. Upset at myself for not going to Church as much as I always have when the restrictions were lifted. Upset at the timing, when I was trying to get back to being able to go. Sometimes I miss just from being tired - trying to get it all done in time (on Saturday) but it takes until 4 am then I’m just too tired to get up a few hours later. Then I found out it’s not a mandate from the bishop but the decision of our new priest and/or parish council to do this. It’s ONLY our parish. So I wrote to the priest who offered me Confession last year. His parish is around 1 hour’s highway drive, or a bit longer, to get there. But he said I would welcome and they are masks optional at this point. I don’t mind masks, I don’t mind social distancing, I don’t mind outdoor coffee hour. But streamed services are almost pointless to me when I could be there in person.

I don’t want to criticize but this is a disappointment to me. I don’t think I want to think about it right now. I’m thankful I found a parish where I can go for now, and hope I can attend going forward. I probably can’t attend any weekday liturgies there, as I probably couldn’t make it back in time for work (my schedule will be after noon sometimes in the near future). But at least I can go this Sunday.

I should ask him for Confession again. I was unable to schedule with any of the 3 priests we’ve had in the past year. The first was unable to hear confessions, the second I asked with bad timing (my fault), and the third I hadn’t asked yet.

I know people have had it much worse at times. But this is so different from Church as I’m used to. I really hope I can use this whole long situation to work on my own self instead of being upset by it.

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I'm sure your own parish will return to in-person Liturgies sooner than later.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to the other church you mentioned for a Divine Liturgy, but it's nice, and it's a very close knit parish in my opinion. People are very welcoming, and friendly.

That said I'm a bit biased since it's the parish I attend haha.

Also, please don't be too harsh on our chanters as two of us are learning

and I will add, we can use these forced times away from the Church to draw closer to God. just check out the Orthodox that were denied Church life under communism.

I have been there for Liturgies before, though not in the last few years. I was REALLY looking forward to it.

Unfortunately we are really short staffed, and someone came in and worked with me on Thursday who was infected with strep. I started feeling a little under the weather Friday (and covered his later shift - it was my one time to go home “early” last week after just one shift, but I worked a double again) ... then Saturday I work up feeling VERY bad with a terrible sore throat.

I was hoping it wouldn’t progress, but I just don’t feel right going to Church with it.

I’m only SO afraid that things could change and the parish could decide not to have services before next week. I did hear that another parish nearby decided to close to the public for now.

I guess whatever happens it will be. I hope I didn’t miss my last soon chance. It just doesn’t seem right to go being this sick.

Oh, and I wouldn’t have been hard on the chanters. I was learning myself a while back. We have a very accomplished cantor from Greece, and our previous priest was very good, so I always felt like I was very bad at it. I haven’t gotten to continue, with all that was going on. Too bad, as perhaps I could at least have been in Church.

I hope VERY MUCH to see you next Sunday!!!

Phronema said:

I'm sure your own parish will return to in-person Liturgies sooner than later.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to the other church you mentioned for a Divine Liturgy, but it's nice, and it's a very close knit parish in my opinion. People are very welcoming, and friendly.

That said I'm a bit biased since it's the parish I attend haha.

Also, please don't be too harsh on our chanters as two of us are learning

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ArmyMatt said:

and I will add, we can use these forced times away from the Church to draw closer to God. just check out the Orthodox that were denied Church life under communism.

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I know we can. I fear I haven’t used the time in that way. That is my own fault. I hope I can do better and don’t end up having to learn that lesson.

At least the demands of my schedule should lessen pretty much immediately. I’m finishing school, work is only one shift a day going forward because we have only one child not in school, and while I still have practicum things to fulfill and a test to study for, the worst pressures on my time should be relaxed.

~Anastasia~ said:

I know we can. I fear I haven’t used the time in that way. That is my own fault. I hope I can do better and don’t end up having to learn that lesson.

At least the demands of my schedule should lessen pretty much immediately. I’m finishing school, work is only one shift a day going forward because we have only one child not in school, and while I still have practicum things to fulfill and a test to study for, the worst pressures on my time should be relaxed.

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prayers!

ArmyMatt said:

prayers!

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Thank you Father!