Open the doors and see all the people!

In April, we were finally able to get back to in-person church INSIDE! We were thrilled to pieces. I know that churches all over the world have handled Pandemic Church in so many different ways, some more conservatively than others. Our church has been on the conservative side of things, so our Sundays in the pandemic were at home. We Zoomed each Sunday with a small group from church and went through the week's liturgy (emailed to the congregation), watched the pre-recorded sermon together, and prayed together each week. It was really great for what it was, but we were definitely ready to return to in-person church.

To return to church, we have to sign up/register the week before, we mask and distance, and in April, we still weren't singing as a congregation (just the worship team). The services are slightly shorter, and until June, there wasn't any children's programing. It was certainly strange to return with the restrictions, but we were so ready. So, so ready.

Trumpkin was ready to keep watch while we were gone.

At 8 months old, this was Hallie's first time in the building of our church. This still blows my mind.

Very sparse and so far apart.

Every other pew was roped off. The girls were SO EXCITED to be back! 

The balcony was our spot, as it was close to the designated "cry room" for babies. After a few weeks, we started seeing the same friends up there each week (all with little kids). There's something nice about everyone getting "their spot" again! The children's ministry provided activity bags each week, which were QUITE helpful.

We're continually getting into a better groove and moving more towards "normal" every week. I'm so thankful. I'm thankful that we could still gather (Zoom) with church friends throughout the pandemic, but it's unbelievably good to be back in person.