Worth Millions

When it comes to neighbors here in the US; there seems to be 3 common situations I've observed over time:

1. You live by each other but exchange few words and rarely see each other.

2. You can't stand your neighbors and are ready to move the first chance you get.

3. You love your neighbors dearly, and words cannot express how much they mean to you.

On the compound we lived at in Uganda we had neighbors that truly became our family in a very short amount of time.  We did life together, shared in joys and sorrows, enjoyed meals together, helped when the need arose,etc.  It truly was far from the norm of what's typically seen here in the U.S.

We have a similar situation with our neighbors at home and only one phrase truly describes them, "they are worth millions."  Neighbors are an interesting thing because you don't really choose them, they just happen to be the people you are living by.  When our house was being built we had no clue who would live by us, and truly anytime you move you are taking a risk into the unknown because of this.  Let me tell you though, we have hit the jackpot with our neighbors.  Since we've lived here we have always loved our neighbors, even the ones who come and go.  We truly have been fortunate as I hear some terrible neighbor horror stories even from the other side of our neighborhood.  

This past few weeks we have truly been reminded of how blessed we are to have such great neighbors.  Let me tell you a little bit about our neighbors in our small corner of the world.  They make the best homemade salsa and burritos.  They make the most beautiful cakes and goodies that should be sold out of a bakery.  They shovel your sidewalks and edge your grass.  They love each of your kids and welcome any new additions with great joy.  They help out with your kids when a crisis arises.  They are fun to hang out with and have drinks.  They allow you to use their washing machine when yours isn't working.  They help you open your garage door when you are locked out of the house.  They help you pull up carpet when your basement floods.  You enjoy meals together.  They call to make sure you are okay if you haven't been seen in a while.  They accept you no matter how strange your family might seem.  They share your joy and sorrows.  They stand by you through the good and bad.  THEY-ARE-SIMPLY-AMAZING!

I realize our situation is quite rare.  These people are truly a gift from God.   To my amazing neighbors on this small portion of the planet:  we love you dearly and couldn't imagine life without you!

We've turned our garden into a neighborhood garden.  Here are our young gardeners hard at work this weekend getting everything planted.