The journey begins

[ClingingToHope]

D11 had her audition for the church youth band. She tried out as a singer. She struggled at first but rallied at the end and the director said they'll include her in the practices this summer for next fall's performances.

It's STBXW's night so she brought them, but Dll wanted me there. So STBXW and D7 went exploring during the audition.

It was the first time to this church for STBXW. I started going right away when we split up. I picked it because it's a large evangelical church with 7,000 members and I was bound to know someone and I figured it would have things I could do.

It took some getting used to. The girls, though, love it. They make the Sunday school extremely fun and there's always lots of kids to do things with.

It's too big for STBXW. She grew up in a small church and there's no way she'd come to this. The girls were going on and on.

After, they begged her to eat at the restaurant we always eat at on Sundays. It was open and I said I'd split it so we had our first "family" meal since Christmas.

It was fun. D11 went on and on about the audition and stuff she does at the church. D7 was wired. Running around. Talking to the chef.

It was a good meal and it took a while to get the girls to the car. They kept asking STBXW when she was going to come back and she wouldn't commit.

A funny point was when D11 said "come this Sunday so daddy's not lonely."

I laughed. I usually sit on Sundays with one of STBXW's old high school classmates and her husband. They aren't really friends anymore. Some grudge that goes back to high school and the fact STBXW knows I'm friends with her.

I didn't tell STBXW who I usually sit with though. I just smiled.

It was a good night. On a scale of 1-10, it was an 8 and driving away I didn't have an emotional letdown. Maybe I got it out of my system on Wednesday.

One thing I thought was funny. STBXW couldn't give me her full share of the first half of the tax money due yesterday, yet today she took the girls shopping for clothes at Target because they were having a sale.

Me? After eating, I went out and recorded the cost on my budget chart that goes with me in the car. I have $20 left for restaurants until April 23. That's one trip out this weekend for the girls. Otherwise, it's meals at home.