So, apparently during Church Sunday, there was a discussion about Facebook and the detriment it is to families. I have been thinking a LOT about this, and it makes sense. Truly. Here is the hang up for me though. I live 14+ hours from everyone and everything I have ever known. I live in a tiny town with VERY FEW friends. I am lonely, and sometimes bored. (There are always things I could and should be doing, but sometimes, I just don't feel like laundry!) Enter Facebook...My link to the "other" world..To my family and friends. Well, Woody and I got into this discussion on our hour long drive home from church, and we have decided I will keep my Facebook account, but limit my time spent on it. I wont be on it when he is home. Ever. Even from my phone.
We have also decided that I am not the only one that is in this boat. To understand this, you would have to come to North Dakota, and spend some time. I think Idaho, Utah and Colorado have doubled North Dakotas population! We read in 3-4 new names A WEEK in church! (And 90% of the time, they are from Idaho! The husbands are here, working 12, 13, 14, 20 hour work days, leaving wives (IF the whole family comes) home all day long, in towns with very little to do, that have LONG, HARD, FREEEEEZING COLD winters, hours away from everything they know, and truth be told, I don't think any person dreams of living in NORTH DAKOTA! It makes sense that we would cling to this lifeline. To this connection to our worlds!
So, the question comes, how do we fix this?? I don't know that there is an answer. However, Woody and I have decided that we are going to make this ward our new family. Our new friends. We are going to give others something to cling to other than Facebook. We are going to start doing a dinner and game night once a month, and invite a different family from the ward to join us. We are going to keep it small, so that we can really get to know people. So that we can visit, and noone gets lost or feels umcomfortable. And we are starting this Friday. And we are starting with some people that, for personal reasons, it is really important that we start with. Pizza and game night! I am excited. (I will only be having 1 slice! ;) ) I hope that this will help me feel at home, help me meet new people, and help others know that we are here, and we want to know them!!
I totally have to empathize with you on this one, AGAIN... lol
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Oklahoma, my hubby was gone ALL the live long day and since we were only there for the summer, it was hard to get to know people... Facebook/Blogging were my only life line to the rest of the world and all the people I so desperately missed... I was never on my phone/computer while Paul was home, but at night especially after the kiddos were asleep and he was still going to be gone for hours, I was sucked in completely! :D Hang in there, girlie, you're doing just fine! And for your sake, I hope spring comes FAST! ;)