There were 6 months between the day we accepted Steve's job offer in San Francisco and the day we loaded up the moving truck and drove away from our community. I think God knew we need that much time to grieve, process, pray, narrow down neighborhoods, and prepare our family to move to Oakland.
Next, there were 8 months between the day that we moved to Oakland and the day Brian started as the new ED of The GreenHouse. I think God knew that I needed that much time for my very raw heart to be able to hand over such a special gift. It was such a slow and gentle loosening.
Then, there were 9 months between Brian's first day at The GreenHouse and my first day at Aspire Public Schools. I think God knew that I needed that much time and space to heal before I could open my heart up to something new. I think He also knew that The GreenHouse needed me to be available to answer questions and provide support any day of the week by phone, text, email, or in person. What a gift it was to have that time and to be able to share it so freely with the people and the organization that I love so dearly!
So, it was almost 2 years exactly from the time I knew I'd be leaving the GH to the time I started a new job in Oakland.
It was just the right amount of time.
And, you know what? God provided just the right job, too.
When I began to think about going back to work, I knew I wanted three
things: 1.) I only wanted to work two days a week so that I could maintain some semblance of order around our household. 2.) I wanted to work at a
school (in Oakland) so I could have summers off with the boys. 3.) I didn't want to start until January.
Well, the first job I applied for, I got. And it met all of those criteria. What's more, it's in my very neighborhood of Oakland, exactly one mile from my house. If you know me, which you do, you know how much I value neighborhood.
I am now a Speech and Language Pathologist at ERES Academy, a charter school within the Aspire Public Schools system (a system of charter schools that operates in low-income neighborhoods). ERES Academy is sweet little K-8th school in which 94% of its students are Hispanic and 94% of its students are on free and reduced lunch. In so many ways, it feels like home. I'm really enjoying all of my students and the satisfaction that comes with teaching. (I also really like working.)
I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. God is STILL, two years later, giving me a
giant hug throughout this whole transition. I can hear Him saying, "I
know this is so hard for you. But, don't worry. I'm going to take care
of you - again and again and again - so that you know that I am real and I love you."
Showing posts with label neighborhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label neighborhood. Show all posts
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
New Fall Traditions
One of the hardest parts of moving is learning to let go of beloved traditions (especially surrounding holidays) and making space in my heart for new routines.
Normally, this time of year, we'd be heading up to Apple Hill to pick apples and frolic on a bunch of farms. This year, Apple Hill was too far. So instead we joined some friends on a trek to an apple farm in Petaluma. The drive was lovely, the frolicking was fun, and the apples...delicious. Change is okay. New experiences can make for fun memories too (repeat to self over and over).
Another thing I'm missing this time of year is our annual Pumpkin Carving Party for the kids on our old street. I loved this tradition because it was such a fun and easy way to build community with our neighbors. I thought about hosting a similar party at our new place with our new neighbors but somehow it didn't seem like the right timing for that. Then, I saw a poster advertising an event at our neighborhood park - an afternoon of making Scare Kids. What Fun! We invited our next door neighbors (to the right and behind) and together, we all walked down to the park on Sunday afternoon for a completely wonderful afternoon of creating ScareKids.
When we were done making Scare Kids, we stayed and played for awhile at Maxwell Park. The
Prinz family even joined up with us for playtime, which spilled over
into impromptu dinner back at our place.
New fall traditions are being made. Joys are coming our way in all sorts of surprising ways.
Normally, this time of year, we'd be heading up to Apple Hill to pick apples and frolic on a bunch of farms. This year, Apple Hill was too far. So instead we joined some friends on a trek to an apple farm in Petaluma. The drive was lovely, the frolicking was fun, and the apples...delicious. Change is okay. New experiences can make for fun memories too (repeat to self over and over).
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| Nicolas, Riley and their new buddy Judah racing down the hay bales |
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| Me and my cutie pies |
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| We picked four different kinds of apples. All yummy. We even found some called "Jonah Free" apples! |
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| Everyone was told to bring old clothes that their kids had grown out of. Some fabulous volunteers (neighbors!) brought the rest of the supplies and organized the whole thing. The kids had so much fun making them! |
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| Our group. EZ is Jonah's age. EJ is Nicolas and Riley's age. Thank you God for putting boys the SAME AGE as my kids right next door and behind us! |
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| EJ is quickly becoming part of our family. |
New fall traditions are being made. Joys are coming our way in all sorts of surprising ways.
Monday, January 9, 2012
A New Neighbor
A few weeks ago, I opened my bathroom window, as I do every morning to let out the steam from the shower, and I looked down into neighbor's backyard. I knew that the house had been vacant (for rent) for two months so I was a little startled when I saw stuff in the backyard.
At first, I thought that someone had moved in and had started to put their belongings in the backyard. But after a closer look, I realized what I was actually seeing: a bike with a trailer, a camping chair, a sleeping bag, some tangerines, a bottle of Powerade, and a cell phone being charged in the electrical socket.
And in the sleeping bag - a man.
A man sleeping outside, steps away from my window.
In 30 degree temperatures.
Squatting in my neighbor's vacant yard.
My first reaction was fear. Who is this person? What is he doing in my neighbor's yard? Should I call the police?
My second reaction was compassion. It was SO cold out there last night. Should I bring him some coffee? Should I ask him if he's alright? Why didn't he break in and sleep inside the house? I would have slept inside!
My third reaction was confusion. I don't know anything about this man. Steve's not home so maybe I shouldn't talk to him in case he's dangerous. I definitely don't think I want to call the police. I have no idea what to do. I think I'll do nothing and just see what happens.
Before long, he had woken up, packed up his stuff and was gone. He came back and slept there again the next night, and the night after that. Each time, coming after it was dark and leaving first thing in the morning. Then, I didn't see him for several days.
Last week, he came back again. By the time I looked out my window to see if he was there, he was already awake and packing up. I think he must have heard me open the window because he looked up and we made eye contact. Suddenly, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I raced downstairs, made him coffee, and put it in a thermos. By the time I got to the backyard to hand it to him over the fence, he was gone. Fortunately, the kids and I were already on our way out the door so I put the coffee in the van with us and figured I would look around my neighborhood a bit and give it to him if we saw him.
Sure enough, I found him a half-block away. We pulled over and I rolled down my window. "Excuse me sir. I think you're my new neighbor. Would you like some coffee?"
He said yes, and that was the start of nice conversation.
I could tell he felt a bit awkward, knowing that I knew where he had been sleeping. But, in the five minutes we spent talking, he opened up and shared about his recent separation from his wife and his two children (ages 10 and 6) whom he had gotten to see briefly the night before at the McDonald's nearby. He told me he was trying to "figure something out" for a place to live and that he was going to spend the day collecting aluminum cans for money.
Suddenly, he was no longer that "homeless guy" squatting behind my house. Now, he was a person with a face and a story. He was a dad, with six-year-old son and a ten-year-old daughter.
He thanked me for the coffee and we parted ways. He hasn't been back since. Maybe he worries that I'll turn him in if I see him again? I may never see him again, but I do think about him and wonder how he is doing. I hope that I will continue to pray for him and his family. I'm really glad I got the chance to talk to him and to call him "my neighbor." I hope he heard me use that word because that's what he is!
For too long, I have chosen to ignore the homeless men and women in my neighborhood. I see them everyday - lying on the sidewalks near the apartments of The GreenHouse, begging for money on the streets of Northgate Blvd, camping along the levee or under the 12th Street Bridge. And for the most part, I dismiss them. That's not my "thing." I have a "heart" for kids, not adults.
Homelessness in America is complicated and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't know the "best practices" for reaching out to men and women who are sleeping outside and I worry about doing things wrong or enabling bad habits. I wonder: What's the right response when someone asks me for money? How do I know if he or she mentally ill? Are they addicted to drugs or alcohol? What will they do with that money if I give it to them? There are plenty of agencies working with homeless people, so maybe I should just let them deal with "those people."
Well, thanks to the homeless man sleeping in my neighbor's yard as well as the homeless people that I go to church with every Sunday at Bridge of Life Church, I'm learning that it really doesn't need to be so complicated!
I don't need to give them anything, except my presence.
I need to see them (actually look into their eyes). I need to hear them (actually listen to their stories and their wisdom). I need to touch them (actually shake hands with them or sit near them). I need to love them.
They are not shadows. They are not faceless beings. They are people. They are children of God, created in His image.
Thank you God, for bringing people like Joseph and Steve and Jen and the man who slept in my neighbor's yard into my life! Thank you that through them, I learn more about your great love and my own brokenness.
At first, I thought that someone had moved in and had started to put their belongings in the backyard. But after a closer look, I realized what I was actually seeing: a bike with a trailer, a camping chair, a sleeping bag, some tangerines, a bottle of Powerade, and a cell phone being charged in the electrical socket.
And in the sleeping bag - a man.
A man sleeping outside, steps away from my window.
In 30 degree temperatures.
Squatting in my neighbor's vacant yard.
My first reaction was fear. Who is this person? What is he doing in my neighbor's yard? Should I call the police?
My second reaction was compassion. It was SO cold out there last night. Should I bring him some coffee? Should I ask him if he's alright? Why didn't he break in and sleep inside the house? I would have slept inside!
My third reaction was confusion. I don't know anything about this man. Steve's not home so maybe I shouldn't talk to him in case he's dangerous. I definitely don't think I want to call the police. I have no idea what to do. I think I'll do nothing and just see what happens.
Before long, he had woken up, packed up his stuff and was gone. He came back and slept there again the next night, and the night after that. Each time, coming after it was dark and leaving first thing in the morning. Then, I didn't see him for several days.
Last week, he came back again. By the time I looked out my window to see if he was there, he was already awake and packing up. I think he must have heard me open the window because he looked up and we made eye contact. Suddenly, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I raced downstairs, made him coffee, and put it in a thermos. By the time I got to the backyard to hand it to him over the fence, he was gone. Fortunately, the kids and I were already on our way out the door so I put the coffee in the van with us and figured I would look around my neighborhood a bit and give it to him if we saw him.
Sure enough, I found him a half-block away. We pulled over and I rolled down my window. "Excuse me sir. I think you're my new neighbor. Would you like some coffee?"
He said yes, and that was the start of nice conversation.
I could tell he felt a bit awkward, knowing that I knew where he had been sleeping. But, in the five minutes we spent talking, he opened up and shared about his recent separation from his wife and his two children (ages 10 and 6) whom he had gotten to see briefly the night before at the McDonald's nearby. He told me he was trying to "figure something out" for a place to live and that he was going to spend the day collecting aluminum cans for money.
Suddenly, he was no longer that "homeless guy" squatting behind my house. Now, he was a person with a face and a story. He was a dad, with six-year-old son and a ten-year-old daughter.
He thanked me for the coffee and we parted ways. He hasn't been back since. Maybe he worries that I'll turn him in if I see him again? I may never see him again, but I do think about him and wonder how he is doing. I hope that I will continue to pray for him and his family. I'm really glad I got the chance to talk to him and to call him "my neighbor." I hope he heard me use that word because that's what he is!
For too long, I have chosen to ignore the homeless men and women in my neighborhood. I see them everyday - lying on the sidewalks near the apartments of The GreenHouse, begging for money on the streets of Northgate Blvd, camping along the levee or under the 12th Street Bridge. And for the most part, I dismiss them. That's not my "thing." I have a "heart" for kids, not adults.
Homelessness in America is complicated and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't know the "best practices" for reaching out to men and women who are sleeping outside and I worry about doing things wrong or enabling bad habits. I wonder: What's the right response when someone asks me for money? How do I know if he or she mentally ill? Are they addicted to drugs or alcohol? What will they do with that money if I give it to them? There are plenty of agencies working with homeless people, so maybe I should just let them deal with "those people."
Well, thanks to the homeless man sleeping in my neighbor's yard as well as the homeless people that I go to church with every Sunday at Bridge of Life Church, I'm learning that it really doesn't need to be so complicated!
I don't need to give them anything, except my presence.
I need to see them (actually look into their eyes). I need to hear them (actually listen to their stories and their wisdom). I need to touch them (actually shake hands with them or sit near them). I need to love them.
They are not shadows. They are not faceless beings. They are people. They are children of God, created in His image.
Thank you God, for bringing people like Joseph and Steve and Jen and the man who slept in my neighbor's yard into my life! Thank you that through them, I learn more about your great love and my own brokenness.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Annual Pumpkin Carving
I'm a little late getting this post done. Who wants to read about Halloween now that it's almost Thanksgiving? Sorry. Feel free to skip right over this one. But, our little neighborhood pumpkin carving party is a tradition now so it needs to be included here, even if it is late. And really Amy, this post is for you because I know you are dying to know how "scary mask kid" is doing this year!
So...the night before Halloween, sixteen neighbor kids between the ages of 9 months and 14 years (plus parents), came over for a party in our garage that included pizza, pumpkin carving, pin-the-nose-on the pumpkin and an impromptu game of hide and seek outside in the dark. Really fun times!
Having a house full of neighbors fills my cup! And pumpkin carving is such a fun and easy way to break down barriers and build community.
(And Amy, I'm happy to report that "scary mask kid" is doing GREAT. Seriously, such a nice kid. I hope my boys are all as responsible and well-mannered as Manuel when they hit eighth grade. I'm so glad he still comes to the party even though he's older than everyone!)
Speaking of masks....we didn't do costumes for the pumpkin carving party this year. I didn't want the hassle of washing pumpkin guts off my boys' costumes in time for Halloween the next day. But the next night, we got this shot of the boys with best bud Robbie and his cousin Jasmine just before we left to go trick-o-treating.
Love the memories we are creating with our neighbors. So special!
So...the night before Halloween, sixteen neighbor kids between the ages of 9 months and 14 years (plus parents), came over for a party in our garage that included pizza, pumpkin carving, pin-the-nose-on the pumpkin and an impromptu game of hide and seek outside in the dark. Really fun times!
Having a house full of neighbors fills my cup! And pumpkin carving is such a fun and easy way to break down barriers and build community.
(And Amy, I'm happy to report that "scary mask kid" is doing GREAT. Seriously, such a nice kid. I hope my boys are all as responsible and well-mannered as Manuel when they hit eighth grade. I'm so glad he still comes to the party even though he's older than everyone!)
Speaking of masks....we didn't do costumes for the pumpkin carving party this year. I didn't want the hassle of washing pumpkin guts off my boys' costumes in time for Halloween the next day. But the next night, we got this shot of the boys with best bud Robbie and his cousin Jasmine just before we left to go trick-o-treating.
Love the memories we are creating with our neighbors. So special!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Summer Adventures - Part 2
Well, now that it's officially Fall, I guess I better hurry up and post our Summer Adventures - Part 2!
1. At the end of July, we made the requisite trip to the California State Fair - complete with rides, junk food, exhibits, and the feeling that you just wasted a enormous amount of money in a very short amount of time.
2. On August 2nd, we hosted a National Night Out Block Party. It was a stretch to get it organized this year because of the timing (it was right after the Bar and during the crazy-busy last week of GH Day Camp). But, after hearing neighborhood kids talk about our last one, recount all the details, and ask if we we could do it again this year, I realized how important the party was to them. So we whipped up some fliers, applied for a City permit to close our street, rented a bounce house, and did some food assignments. Frankly, there are a few kids on our street that have very, very little to look forward in their lives when it comes to fun (or anything). So for them it was definitely worth it. Plus, some special new friendships were formed that night - and some terrific memories were made.
3. Just before school started, we enjoyed a day of fun at Six Flags with a super fabulous family whose generosity knocked our socks off - and warmed our hearts. The boys had so much fun on all the rides and at the animal shows and Jonah fell in love with Shouka, the Killer Whale.
4. And finally, Steve and I whisked away to "Mexico" for a little birthday dinner with a few GH peeps. Well...not really Mexico. But the ambience at Las Islitas (about a mile from our house on Northgate Blvd) sure makes you feel like you are in Mexico. We ordered a massive platter of shrimp, beans, rice, tortillas, and Cokes in the bottle (the Cokes made in Mexico taste better than the Coke made in the US because they use real sugar!). Then, we washed it all down with some of Emily's amazing pb and c cupcakes! yum!!
5. And then, alas, first grade began. And Summer Adventures came to a close.
1. At the end of July, we made the requisite trip to the California State Fair - complete with rides, junk food, exhibits, and the feeling that you just wasted a enormous amount of money in a very short amount of time.
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| First time down the giant yellow slide. Love Nicolas' freaked-out expression. By the time he got to the bottom, he was jumping up and down with glee asking to go again - of course! |
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| Fearless Riley was a little maniac from the start. |
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| Hands-free Riley on the Dragon roller-coaster. Jonah and Nicolas are in front of him squealing with delight. |
2. On August 2nd, we hosted a National Night Out Block Party. It was a stretch to get it organized this year because of the timing (it was right after the Bar and during the crazy-busy last week of GH Day Camp). But, after hearing neighborhood kids talk about our last one, recount all the details, and ask if we we could do it again this year, I realized how important the party was to them. So we whipped up some fliers, applied for a City permit to close our street, rented a bounce house, and did some food assignments. Frankly, there are a few kids on our street that have very, very little to look forward in their lives when it comes to fun (or anything). So for them it was definitely worth it. Plus, some special new friendships were formed that night - and some terrific memories were made.
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| Some of the girls down the street decorated posters to use where we blocked off the street |
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| Everyone brought yummy food to share including these two lovely ladies |
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| I love this baby |
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| Some of my neighbor friends. A few of them, I met for the first time that night. Others, I've known for several years. |
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| Best babysitter ever - the bounce house |
3. Just before school started, we enjoyed a day of fun at Six Flags with a super fabulous family whose generosity knocked our socks off - and warmed our hearts. The boys had so much fun on all the rides and at the animal shows and Jonah fell in love with Shouka, the Killer Whale.
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| My handsome partner on the kiddie Jeep ride |
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| Mmm...Cotton Candy at the Killer Whale Show |
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Plenty of kiddie rides to keep everyone entertained all day long! |
4. And finally, Steve and I whisked away to "Mexico" for a little birthday dinner with a few GH peeps. Well...not really Mexico. But the ambience at Las Islitas (about a mile from our house on Northgate Blvd) sure makes you feel like you are in Mexico. We ordered a massive platter of shrimp, beans, rice, tortillas, and Cokes in the bottle (the Cokes made in Mexico taste better than the Coke made in the US because they use real sugar!). Then, we washed it all down with some of Emily's amazing pb and c cupcakes! yum!!
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| Great food and people at Las Islitas |
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| "37" cupcakes for Steve and me, "19" for Brayan |
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| Jonah's first day of first grade |
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween Weekend
This past weekend was filled to the brim with Halloween Fun.
Jonah's school kicked things off on Friday afternoon with a costume parade during the last half hour of school. Jonah loved having Mommy, Daddy, Nicolas, Riley, and YaYa all there for the parade and especially loved having Riley walk in the parade with him.
Jonah's school kicked things off on Friday afternoon with a costume parade during the last half hour of school. Jonah loved having Mommy, Daddy, Nicolas, Riley, and YaYa all there for the parade and especially loved having Riley walk in the parade with him.
Nicolas, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the parade - or with having his picture taken. Have I mentioned lately that our twins are polar opposites?
Later that evening, we invited several of the families who live on our street over to carve pumpkins. Our little Halloween party has become a tradition so all the kids were really excited to come over. This year, we carved in the garage because of the rain and actually, it turned out really well. I think we'll do it in the garage again next year! After everyone carved their masterpieces, we piled inside the house for dinner before heading over to a neighbor's house for a movie and popcorn. Such a fun night.
(Amy N - No scary mask for Manuel this year like he's worn in previous years!)
Sunday evening was of course filled with trick-o-treating. Jango Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Superman all had a fantastic time. The night's festivities made for some super cute and super happy little boys.
Friday, August 6, 2010
National Night Out
Tuesday was National Night Out and I couldn't help but think of the fiesta we could have been having on our street in Sacramento, as a follow-up to the party we threw last year. Last year, fifty-three of our neighbors gathered in front of our house for a special evening of food, fun, and fellowship. I would have loved to have continued the tradition again this year - to see how it might have grown and what new friendships might have been formed.
This year was very different. We went to the town of Kensington's National Night Out festivities where we didn't know a soul! It's strange to be completely unknown everywhere we go (though in some ways, it's kind of nice...for a season).
The festivities were held at the town's fire station. They had a fire truck which the boys climbed up in (always a crowd pleaser).
The firefighters demonstrated their Tower Truck to the small crowd.
The tower goes up very, VERY high when fully extended (freaked me out just to look at it)
They also gave away free icees, popcorn and bouncer/slip-n-slide thing that the boys loved. They ran through the tunnel over and over and over, making it very hard for me to snap a picture!
We didn't bring swim trunks or towels so they wore their shorts in the water and then drove home in their skivvys (which seems to be happening quite a lot this summer).
All in all, not bad for a night out with the family. But, certainly doesn't compare to building and deepening relationships with our neighbors. We're looking forward to getting back to that soon!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Stages of T-ball
Jonah is playing t-ball for the first time this spring. One of my favorite things about Jonah is that he thoroughly enjoys the fullness of every new experience. Baseball has been no exception. He loves it.
T-ball has provided me with some life lessons as well. The experience has taken me through several stages of inner dialogue (the voices in my head). The stages have gone a little something like this...
1. I'm so excited. Look at this team - it's so diverse! We are going to know and love our community even more intimately through this experience. I can't wait to get to know all the kids and all their parents.
2. What are we doing on this team? Are Steve and I the only dad or mom who do not have tatoos all over our bodies? I feel so different, so dorky, so white. No one here wants to talk to me. Maybe I should have signed Jonah up for the league on the other side of town.
3. This league feels too chaotic for me. Does anyone around here know what they are doing? Why didn't anyone tell me about the Parent Work Day? There's trash all over the field. The weeds are ridiculouly high. And look at all the gopher holes - those are dangerous! Why doesn't the school have enough money to maintain these fields? The baseball fields in Danville looked nothing like this.
4. We're switching from practices to games now. It's really fun to cheer for Jonah. It's fun to cheer on the other kids as well. Okay, I think I'm enjoying this again.
5. "Sure, I'll volunteer to work at the snack bar with some of the other moms from the team." For two hours, we sell hotdogs, nachos and candy with one another. Dialogue begins. Walls come down. Relationships begin. Bridges are built.
6. There's my new friends. We wave and exchange pleasantries at the games. I'm learning more about the kids and their families. There are many little ones who are carrying deep burdens: single mom who works full time, dead-beat dad, mom's boyfriend, dad's girlfriend, behavior issues, learning difficulties, generations of brokennes. I feel my heart changing. Compassion creeps in. I start to love them.
7. We aren't so different afterall. We hurt the same, we laugh the same, we love the same. We're all created in the image of God.
8. I no longer see the trash on the fields. The weeds aren't so tall and the holes in the grass aren't so deep. I love this place. I can't wait for the next game and my next conversation with my new friends.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Points of Joy
Life is super exhausting these days. Steve is studying day and night for his upcoming finals and I'm faithfully trying keep up with the 900 things on my "to do" list each day. No, I'm not a superhero...I'm lucky if my three little attention mongers let me accomplish just one or two of those things each day.
This past week (late at night, of course), a few big things on the list got checked off: We purchased our tickets for DC (we're leaving June 12 and will return on August 10), we posted our "home for rent" on craigslist and are communicating with some potential renters, and Jonah's kindergarten registration packet is just about completed (he just needs a TB test which is scheduled for next week). Done, almost done, and almost done!
So, I'm tired and needing to get some rest. But, I just wanted to share five points of joy from this past week.
1. Having a divine appointment to invite my neighbor and her family to Bridge of Life's Community Dinner on Monday night and them accepting the invitation. Better yet, watching her kids and my kids have a terrific time running around together while we enjoyed great conversation. Even better still, hearing her ask if she can bring a dish for next month's meal.
2. Three t-ball games for Jonah this week. Someday I'm going to sit down and write an entire post about t-ball and how much I love it and what it's taught me about myself and my community in a very short amount of time.
3. Lots and lots of time with neighbors this week: in the front yard, at the park, walks around the block. We even did soccer sign-ups together on Saturday to get three of our kids on the same team this fall.
4. Special time with my dad (a.k.a. Grandpa) at Scandia.
5. Belting out the lyrics of this song in my car, while my boys plead, "Stop singing mommy!" I can't help it. I'm really loving its message of grace. Plus, it takes me right back to seventh grade, singing every word of every song on "The Collection" into my hairbrush.
Yes, it was a full week...but it was a good week. Hope you had some points of joy this past week as well!
This past week (late at night, of course), a few big things on the list got checked off: We purchased our tickets for DC (we're leaving June 12 and will return on August 10), we posted our "home for rent" on craigslist and are communicating with some potential renters, and Jonah's kindergarten registration packet is just about completed (he just needs a TB test which is scheduled for next week). Done, almost done, and almost done!
So, I'm tired and needing to get some rest. But, I just wanted to share five points of joy from this past week.
1. Having a divine appointment to invite my neighbor and her family to Bridge of Life's Community Dinner on Monday night and them accepting the invitation. Better yet, watching her kids and my kids have a terrific time running around together while we enjoyed great conversation. Even better still, hearing her ask if she can bring a dish for next month's meal.
2. Three t-ball games for Jonah this week. Someday I'm going to sit down and write an entire post about t-ball and how much I love it and what it's taught me about myself and my community in a very short amount of time.
3. Lots and lots of time with neighbors this week: in the front yard, at the park, walks around the block. We even did soccer sign-ups together on Saturday to get three of our kids on the same team this fall.
4. Special time with my dad (a.k.a. Grandpa) at Scandia.
5. Belting out the lyrics of this song in my car, while my boys plead, "Stop singing mommy!" I can't help it. I'm really loving its message of grace. Plus, it takes me right back to seventh grade, singing every word of every song on "The Collection" into my hairbrush.
Yes, it was a full week...but it was a good week. Hope you had some points of joy this past week as well!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Spring Days in the Neighborhood
Spring brought with it a handful of opportunities for us to be out and about in our neighborhood:
Pitching wiffle balls to a line of neighbor kids.
It's great to have friends back on our front lawn in the evenings! We've missed them this winter.
Celebrating a double birthday at the fire station just down the street from our house.
Thanks firefighter Matt for the awesome tour of the station and RIDE on the fire engine. Thanks Sarah for hooking us up with your firefighter brother. And thanks Adriane for loaning us the super cute firefighter costumes.
And t-ball practice at our local school where we're meeting many new friends
and enjoying the diversity of Jonah's team immensely.
What sort of spring fun are you having in your neighborhood?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Pumpkin Carving Party
This year I was ready to bring back the Halloween Party that I hope to do annually for the kids on our street. (We did the first one back in 2006, but then couldn’t muster up the energy to do it...or any social gathering of any kind for that matter in 2007 or 2008. Anyone want to guess why? I’ll give you TWO guesses.)
We held a Costume Parade/Pumpkin Carving Party the night before Halloween and we invited seven or so families that surround us on either side of our street.
After "parading" up and down the street, everyone headed over to our house for pumpkin carving and dessert. It was really fun to see everyone's creativity come out with the pumpkins. For two of the families, no one in their family had ever carved a pumpkin before (Halloween is not celebrated in Mexico or India). I think they enjoyed it the most – especially the moms!
We held a Costume Parade/Pumpkin Carving Party the night before Halloween and we invited seven or so families that surround us on either side of our street.
the costume parade:
After "parading" up and down the street, everyone headed over to our house for pumpkin carving and dessert. It was really fun to see everyone's creativity come out with the pumpkins. For two of the families, no one in their family had ever carved a pumpkin before (Halloween is not celebrated in Mexico or India). I think they enjoyed it the most – especially the moms!
some first-time carvers:
and a few seasoned carvers:
It was great to be together to share some traditions, enjoy each other’s company, and continue building community right here on our street.
And, of course, Jonah loved spending time with his buddy. These two are ready to destroy all of the evil forces in the world!
It's fun to look back at the group photo from our first Halloween Party in 2006. Jonah, who was just a few months shy of his second birthday at the time, is screaming his head off in the picture because he is frightened of the boy on the left in the scary mask. The funny thing is that the same boy, now 3 years older, once again wore a scary mask to this year's party. But this time, Nicolas and Riley were the ones who were scared!
2006 (note: scary mask on the left)
2009 (note: scary mask on the right - same kid!)
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