Ice Cream!

We have lived in our house for 6 1/2 months now, and we have finally met all our neighbors. Greg and I were feeling a little misplaced when we first moved in, because we were living in a neighborhood of people who do not seem to converse frequently or spend much time outside. We live on a small court with 8 houses on it, so it creates a little street full of potential. But after moving in, we had only been introduced to two neighbors. A couple weeks back we met another neighbor, Kathy who lived on the corner, while she was out walking her two dogs. Her and her husband, recently retired, have lived here 7 years and they have not met all the neighbors yet! We were pretty shocked. We walked away inspired. We had been brainstorming how to get involved in our neighborhood and we finally decided it was time to do something.

I've always thought we would be in a place where our neighbors are part of our ministry. Greg and I have desired to live in a place where we could improve the neighborhood, build up, in some sense, with a hospitable house and a home that was cared for. I always imagined that being somewhere opposite of the neighborhood we live in right now, a mostly retired couples (or couples who really want to be retired,) with large homes and big garages in the front of the house. But as we got to talking, Greg said, where else, but right here, is there a need for community to be built and come together. We talked about how God can use us no matter where we live if we take the opportunities to move and act with love and hospitality. This may not be where we envisioned our lives to take us or where we will live for very long, but while we are here, it is our desire to know those around us.

Last week we went around the court and hand delivered invitations to each home for an ice cream social for Aster Court. (We got the idea from our friends Eric and Carrie who hosted an ice cream social in their neighborhood too.) I was so nervous that no one would come, you really put yourselves out there doing something like this all alone. But, it was great. We had invited nine houses total and 6 of them showed up. All retired folk or moving towards retirement. So we were truly the odd balls out. The conversation part of the time centered around retirement and what life is like, retired, funny. The craziest part is that none of them have lived here less than 7 years, and some of them had never met. Can you believe it. They all said they were so glad we did it, and wanted to get together again for something. Greg and I were so full of joy that we had gone for it, and we feel so much more a part of our neighborhood, because we have taken that first step. We all talked for about an hour and a half outside in the front yard, while Jack entertained and Clara dazzled them with her big blue eyes.

It was so neat to see everyone come out of their houses and walk over to our yard to talk. We really never see anyone out, except to do yard work, and some of them do not even do their own yardwork. Everyone was so nice too, it put a whole new picture on caring for our neighbors, because we greeted them out of pure satisfaction of just knowing who they are and listening to each of them.