Religion

  I have always been one who believes in God.  My parents made us go to Sunday School and church growing up, but didn't always attend themselves.  I was in Awana growing up and did Vacation Bible School.  Once I started going through all of my problems, I turned to God on my own.  I attended church regularly through my senior year of high school on my own free will.  It was a place to let my emotions out and talk to someone without feeling judged.  But it didn't seem to lessen the pain.  I haven't attended church regularly in years.  We keep saying we will and need to, but haven't.  I want to find a church of our own so we can do that.  But I don't want to pressure my children into religion.  I want it to be their choice to know God and learn about him.  I want them to WANT to.  We teach them about God and we pray everyday.
  I've been criticized for being too overbearing as a parent.  An example from the past is for not letting my 3 year old knee board behind a boat, on a lake full of people. Although I believe in God and try to live my lifestyle accordingly, that doesn't mean that I will put my kids lives SOLELY in his hands.  I'm not going to say, God will take care of him out there, so I shouldn't still make smart decisions as a parent.  I trust in God, but that doesn't mean I will still not make the choices I feel is best for them.  Most people don't know my whole story, so they don't get why I am the way I am.  I feel misunderstood and just wish people would see that I have the best of intentions.  I guess it isn't such a bad quality to have!
  Also another thing I have been criticized for is supporting my Dad still, after he committed adultery.  It wasn't something I just got over immediately and it was very hard.  It still hurts.  But I see it as, he is the one who will face God for the things in his life.  Its not my job, nor my responsibility to punish him or judge him.  He has apologized for the things that happened and tried his best to be a better person, Dad, and Grandpa.  That's all I can really ask of him now.
  Something else I feel like people don't understand, is how I can forgive my offender and move on but not my Mom.  My forgiving of my offender came after 8 years of struggling, therapy, many tears, bloodshed, and the maturity of being an adult and seeing the situation for what it really was.  My mom still fails to acknowledge any part of what she is accused of, or acknowledge how she has treated my sister and I since the divorce.  She hasn't listen to our request for her to go to therapy or accept responsibility for everything she has done.  Until these things, there is no chance.  THAT'S the difference!