To socialize or not to socialize...that is the question!

It's the holiday season-there are already three or so parties on our calendar and another couple are in the planning stages, including one with the guys and gals from the SO.

While Shane really likes the officers he works with, and he seems excited about getting together with them for Christmas, he doesn't usually put socializing with co-workers high on his priority list. He's just a simply guy-when he's at work, he's all about work, when he's home, he's all about our family.

I, on the other hand, am a bit of a social butterfly. While sometimes I get intimidated in social settings, I really like getting to know people Shane hangs out with every night. They're part of his stories, sometimes they save his rear in an inmate run-in, and sometimes they are the subject of our prayers and concerns (like an officer's baby who's dealing with brain tumors). I like to know the people he's with day in and day out, it makes his stories much more fun!

What this means for our family is that I'm wanting more socializing with his friends than he is. It comes to a head at the holiday season. Amazingly, Shane and I butt heads on more than this issue, so I have a little practice in making this kind of disagreement work ;)

First, I can't rely on my socially backward (just kidding, Honey) husband to meet all my socializing needs. He gives me his blessing on hanging out with my girlfriends and he enjoys hosting a little gathering here every now and then.

I need to be available if Shane wants to attend a work party that spouses are invited to. But, I don't need to get my hopes up. Keeping my expectations in check always helps our marriage!

I need to remember that it's more important to pray for his co-workers to get to know God than for me to get to know them. I can still pray for people I've never met-and for some people out in the world, they may have no one else praying for them. That puts my socializing needs in perspective!

The holidays have enough stressful temptations, so I'm working hard at keeping the little things little! I hope you can too!

By the way, I know many of you are in the opposite situation and don't like being dragged to all the events-just remember that you are blessed to be invited into his work life, that you can put faces to names and you have a chance to build relationships, which is what this side of heaven is all about!