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Almost five years ago, we moved into this awesome neighborhood. Our house was the fourth house we looked at, and I think that we both knew immediately that it was 'the one' for us. The amazing thing is though, while we put an offer in on our house, it was accepted, we closed, and moved in, we never knew anything about our neighbors with whom we'd be doing life.
Soon after getting settled, we'd start to get to know the families on the block. Incredible evenings of bibles studies. Mommy outings -- sometimes with the kiddies, sometimes without. Enormous birthday parties with water slides, bounce houses, and more food than we knew what to do with. A beautiful wedding, marriage and blended family (there are step-dogs involved who are transitioning very well!). Building decks and landscaping together. 700 Block football drafts and leagues. Amazing 4th of July parties with lots of 'across the border' fireworks. Baby showers. For a while it seemed like it was 'in the water'... babies, babies everywhere. We've been incredibly blessed on the 700 block.
We've also struggled and mourned together. That's what families do. Events happen in life and we can't make sense of them -- we wonder why God would allow us to endure such things. On our block, we've experienced loss. We've mourned in losing babies, family members, jobs, and a dear family through a move, among other losses that have left us heartsick.
But through these years, this beautiful block has supported each other, loved each other, prayed for each other, celebrated with each other... through it all.
Last night the doorbell rang. I ran downstairs and opened the door to find one of the couples of the block, with their three beautiful children, standing in front of me. They had been running a garage sale right around the corner from us for the last two weekends -- we basically kept the same hours. We'd compare notes over the sale days, share in boredom when the sales were slow, and rejoice and giggle in amazement when the most obscure things would sell.
The family handed us a card, and said it was 'just a little something'. We chatted a little bit before they left for an evening walk to Dairy Queen, and I returned upstairs to finish getting dinner ready. I opened the envelope, found a beautiful card and note written inside with over $300. Because we compared garage sale totals so very frequently, I know that the last three days of their garage sale's earnings were donated to us. Every minute that they were open has blessed our upcoming move to Swaziland.
They wrote in the card 'we don't have much to give.' Wow. This family has experienced great loss over the years that we've lived next to them. In fact, they are in the midst of a job loss and change at the end of June. When I asked if they were going to do anything 'fun' with the garage sale earnings, she had told me that they were saving every penny for the future, as they aren't sure what will happen after his employment runs out.
Their generosity has left us speechless -- many times throughout the evening, Steph and I would just look at each other, shake our heads, giggle, and cry. Just another perfect example of stewardship -- incredible time, talents and treasure.
This is our neighborhood and just one example -- many, many wonderful families that are showing support, believing in us and the journey that we're on. It's no accident that we landed on this little 700 block almost five years ago. We just had no idea how incredibly blessed we'd be by doing life with them.
Thank you, dear neighbors... we're so grateful for each and every one of you. Not sure how we're going to do life without you in Swaziland, so had you either all start packing or work on installing Skype! Love you all -- including our sweet Suriono and Ochs families in Burnsville and Billings. :)
"To show love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God." -Mother Teresa