Instructions

Okay people...Let me explain to you how this blog thing works.

Step 1- I write something
Step 2- You read it
Step 3- You make a clever comment

Now I think we are doing pretty well so far with steps 1 and 2, however, it seems that step 3 is tripping us up a bit. Now it seemed like we were really on a roll for my first entry, but since there has been some loss of momentum.

So let's give comments a try! What do you say?

The Neighborhood Potluck was a HIT!!!

We were a little worried at first though. At 7:10pm the Cleary's had arrived, but no neighbors. So we left the front door open so it would look more inviting and the next thing we knew there were 15-20 neighbors in our house! It was awesome. There were so many people that it was difficult to really get to know everyone. I definitely felt a little awkward at times, but it was so reassuring to have Mike, Karen, and Straty there with us. In fact, the night ended with me over at our next door neighbors house having a glass of wine with another neighbor and Mike, Karen, and Cathy in a house across the street. I feel like we have really made some connections and am excited to pursue these relationships. Thanks Troy and Jenny Hadj for giving us the extra push :o)

Oh yeah, and the neighbor that was putting the notes on our cars for parking in front of their house was there. We found out that she didn't even know anything about it. It was her teenage niece that was doing it and just signing her aunts name. Can you believe that!?!?

Nervous, but Encouraged

So I am supposed to share deep thoughts and feelings on this thing. Alright, lets try feelings. I feel...Nervous. Nervous because tonight we are having a party at our house to get to know our neighbors. We have lived in this house since March and only know two neighbors. Now keep in mind that this has not been all our fault. Between nasty grams left on our cars for parking on the street in front of another house (mind you that it is a public street and we have 4 cars in our household and a red curb infront of out house), getting toilet papered, and being flipped off by young children, the neighborhood has not exactly seemed to have open arms. So last Thursday night Dave and I walked around our street and placed an invitation on the door or in the hand of every neighbor on the street (22 houses in all). At first people were stand-offish, but I once they figured out that we weren't selling them anything they seemed very friendly. But, the most encouraging thing happened last night as we were cooking and I was writing out Col. 4:2-6 on a card (I'll explain later). The doorbell rang and it was a neighbor. When I opened the door she handed me a box wrapped and tied with a bow. She said that she would not be able to make it to the party, but wanted to drop this off for us. It was a gift! A gift for us! Once she left I tore into the wrapping to reveal the most adorable ceramic salt and pepper shakers adorned with fall leaves. I felt so encouraged. I still feel encouraged!

So back to Col. 4:2-6. I love these verses and they have been a focus for the last few weeks since the Pastor's Retreat.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; making the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Col. 4:2-6

I was trying to memorize it, but it hasn't quite happened yet so I jotted it down on a 3x5 card so I could read it throughout the day today. Pray that our household is able to live out these verses tonight at the party.

Giving it a Try

Okay, so I really don't have too many deep thoughts so this might just be my first and last blog, but why not give it a try anyways. My friend Chaya has a blog. And, I have really been enjoying checking her blog out and commenting on her thoughts.

I went to the South County United "Walking with God" floor painting event last night. I went there just to help out and be a runner for the artists that were painting the floor. After a couple of hours of watching I got an incredible itch to paint something myself. However, this seemed like a bad idea since the last time I painted something, other than a wall in my house with a roller, as right around the 3th grade. But, then I found out that the paint could be whipped off! This was a liberating concept and so I convinced another leery painter to paint something together. Okay, so all I did was paint a sunflower on the floor of our church building (and not even the entire flower; Jenny Hadj. painted the stem), but it wasn't too bad. I mean, it had some texture and you could definitely tell that it was a sunflower(it's intended form). All in all I felt quite proud of myself. I even joked about quitting my job today and painting full time. So I have decided to do something a little less drastic and start a blog.