Importance of good neighbors

I think of our old neighbors "Mr. and Mrs. Heckles" often.

What a difference between cranky neighbors like they were to us in the apartments, and our new neighbors in our new neighborhood. We're getting close to the 1-year mark of having lived here in this house, and we couldn't be happier. We have been blessed with some wonderful people as neighbors. Not to mention, we have met some of the best friends we have ever had in this neighborhood-- and all within an alley's walking distance. We're not only forging friendships for ourselves here, but I can tell that these are friendships that will last my three little girls a lifetime.

My girlies look forward to sitting out on the front steps almost every evening. They get their bucket of sidewalk chalk, and wait for our next door neighbors and their two dogs to come out onto their porch. This is almost a daily ritual to unwind at the end of the day. Maddie and Faith were serenading them tonight with some lovely Taylor Swift songs, and Abrie walks up and down the street looking at their lawn ornaments. If we're lucky, our other neighbor- the very first woman that I ever spoke to here in this neighborhood, and who is one of the loveliest people that I have ever met- comes down with her little shih tzu, and we have ourselves a "puppy party" (or so coined by Maddie and Faith).

I took Abrie in to bed at a little after 7pm tonight, and then went back outside to sit on the steps. It's just such a neat feeling to sit outside and watch my family, and share in conversations with genuinely nice people.

*****

Dan celebrated his 29th birthday today. We had gone to the creek the other day and picked some red and black wild raspberries, and used them to decorate his cake. It turned out well. Girlies made him some pictures, and I think he enjoyed his day!