I have been inspired today to post about my neighbors! A really good friend of mine blogged about a prayer that was recently answered and as it usually goes, it wasn't answered quite as she expected.
She'd been praying that a family would move in next door with kids, but instead a couple without kids bought the house. They finally met some kids their age who lived a few doors down this past week while enjoying a rare snow day in Atlanta! And ironically, this all happened the week she put her house on the market! It's a much more heartfelt story on her blog and I won't do it justice explaining it. But it reminded just how precious our neighbors are.
It wasn't the weather, our jobs, or our house. It was the neighbors. They were renters from New Jersey and sadly represent the very reason people from NJ are stereotyped. Loud, rude and completely inconsiderate. They completely stuck out like a sore thumb in the beautifully manicured neighborhood in Windermere, Florida. I'll spare the details b/c there are many. They finally moved out after two years ...and we enjoyed two quiet months in the house we built before we were transferred to Minnesota.
I knew we'd be surrounded by wonderful people in Austin...when you move here, you have an automatic circle of friends--small town life. You may not know everyone in the neighborhood, but you know where they work and what department they're in, how old their kids are, etc. And we did know where most people lived when we moved here because of the company, but it was obvious that we didn't know our next door neighbors since they weren't "Hormel". I knew it couldn't be any worse than Florida (our houses are at least 20 feet apart and I heard snow was a good insulator!)
The day we moved in to our house in the cul-de-sac, we ran to Target for necessities and I was waddling around about to pop with Evan. Alex's parents came to help unpack and get us settled. It was December and I almost tripped over 5 pairs of snow boots left by the door when we returned home. Confused, I looked up to find the entire family who lived next door sitting on our couch! They came to meet us and bring the preggo neighbor some sweets! I thought...I LOVE them already!
Much to their disappointment, they too had probably been praying for kids their age to play with. Instead it was Alex and I, with child, and our three cats.
Once the snow melted, this quiet neighborhood was crazy with kids! It's how I remember my childhood in suburban Atlanta in my cul-de-sac minus the snow! The kids playing basketball in the driveway, hopscotch games drawn with chalk, throwing baseballs and bikes everywhere. (we taught them how to play 4-square one summer, and we like to credit ourselves for how popular it quickly became at recess when another kid came by to clarify a rule!) I'm not sure if it's small town living or that our winters linger for what seems like 8 months and when it's warm enough to stay outside longer than 15 minutes you take full advantage... I LOVE IT and all that's missing is a wrap around porch, rocking chairs and the sweetest glass of iced tea!
So, my girls next door began coming over to "play" with Evan shortly after school let out for the summer of 2007. Kallie just turned 12 and Marissa 9 1/2. It didn't take long, well actually it did-it was October and Evan was 9 months old the first time I left him with Kallie to babysit. But Kallie proved to be a pro and to this very day continues to show me up! I left her with both kids when Emery was 2 weeks old to run to Target...but we all know that can be a longer than expected errand to run! And, Marissa has learned the ropes now too!! We've grown exceptionally close with Jill & Garry and their three awesome children. This past summer we took a trip together to northern Minnesota and frequently have dinner and go out together both with the kids and without! Often the kids come over individually to hang with us...even 17 year old, Josh, when a Georgia game is on!
I'm getting to the point of my story....
I scheduled well in advance to have Kallie watch the kids this past Friday night (she's in high demand now!) Jill had gotten out of work early and came over to visit with Emery and helped me decide what to wear. I had seen most people since Emery was born...but just wanted a friend's honest opinion to feel a little more confident than the safe husband response from Alex--"baby you look fine...you just had a baby!" errrr! So for the first time, I knew what I was wearing three hours before we had to leave!! Marissa came over with a friend to "play". Jill left to pick up Kallie from dance. Alex returned home from work with Evan and the two girls cooed over Emery and played with Evan. I was nursing Emery and Marissa & her friend gave Evan a bath! Alex was snowblowing the driveway and Jill picked up McDonalds for her daughter AND Evan! It was a little after 5 and Kallie wasn't scheduled to sit until 6:15. She not only delivered Evan's dinner but also finished dressing him, made his plate for dinner and went back home to get ready to babysit--all the while I was nursing!! I could tell she was a little anxious about being left with both kids for the night and I reassured her to not worry about getting Emery down....just stick her in the swing if she doesn't settle and we'll come home. We left for the work party and called around 10:00 to check in....
SHE DID IT!!!! She showed US up! Both kids in bed, asleep, and it was only 10:00..and she was by herself. Thanks Kallie...we stayed out later and now I will get no pity when Alex goes out of town next week!! ;)
I teased Kallie that she was fired if she broke Emery's streak of sleeping through the night...instead she earned herself "a raise" (ironically...Alex didn't have enough cash to pay her for the night...I left it to him to get cash out...and from my experience of babysitting rates increase drastically with two...sorry Al...it's business and if we don't take good care of our babysitters...we won't have any! She responded "no problem, I know where you live!"" Good girl!
BTW, Emery slept through the night again!
This post wasn't suppose to highlight just one of the neighbor girls, but the entire family! This story was just one of the countless other times they've been there for us. They always have an egg/chainsaw/detergent/can opener and key! We were honored to live in next door to them and that they agreed to sponsor Emery at her baptism.
The Hart's are our second family and without a doubt I know we are forever connected. I made them a photo album for Christmas to emphasize that...and found a quote for the cover "Friends are the Family We Choose". As I'm writing, I think about that quote and I think it's actually wrong. We really didn't choose them to be our friends ... we just happened to choose the house next door.
We couldn't have gotten a better return on our investment.
So, like my good friend advised on her blog....get to know thy neighbor!
Much to their disappointment, they too had probably been praying for kids their age to play with. Instead it was Alex and I, with child, and our three cats.
Once the snow melted, this quiet neighborhood was crazy with kids! It's how I remember my childhood in suburban Atlanta in my cul-de-sac minus the snow! The kids playing basketball in the driveway, hopscotch games drawn with chalk, throwing baseballs and bikes everywhere. (we taught them how to play 4-square one summer, and we like to credit ourselves for how popular it quickly became at recess when another kid came by to clarify a rule!) I'm not sure if it's small town living or that our winters linger for what seems like 8 months and when it's warm enough to stay outside longer than 15 minutes you take full advantage... I LOVE IT and all that's missing is a wrap around porch, rocking chairs and the sweetest glass of iced tea!
So, my girls next door began coming over to "play" with Evan shortly after school let out for the summer of 2007. Kallie just turned 12 and Marissa 9 1/2. It didn't take long, well actually it did-it was October and Evan was 9 months old the first time I left him with Kallie to babysit. But Kallie proved to be a pro and to this very day continues to show me up! I left her with both kids when Emery was 2 weeks old to run to Target...but we all know that can be a longer than expected errand to run! And, Marissa has learned the ropes now too!! We've grown exceptionally close with Jill & Garry and their three awesome children. This past summer we took a trip together to northern Minnesota and frequently have dinner and go out together both with the kids and without! Often the kids come over individually to hang with us...even 17 year old, Josh, when a Georgia game is on!
I'm getting to the point of my story....
I scheduled well in advance to have Kallie watch the kids this past Friday night (she's in high demand now!) Jill had gotten out of work early and came over to visit with Emery and helped me decide what to wear. I had seen most people since Emery was born...but just wanted a friend's honest opinion to feel a little more confident than the safe husband response from Alex--"baby you look fine...you just had a baby!" errrr! So for the first time, I knew what I was wearing three hours before we had to leave!! Marissa came over with a friend to "play". Jill left to pick up Kallie from dance. Alex returned home from work with Evan and the two girls cooed over Emery and played with Evan. I was nursing Emery and Marissa & her friend gave Evan a bath! Alex was snowblowing the driveway and Jill picked up McDonalds for her daughter AND Evan! It was a little after 5 and Kallie wasn't scheduled to sit until 6:15. She not only delivered Evan's dinner but also finished dressing him, made his plate for dinner and went back home to get ready to babysit--all the while I was nursing!! I could tell she was a little anxious about being left with both kids for the night and I reassured her to not worry about getting Emery down....just stick her in the swing if she doesn't settle and we'll come home. We left for the work party and called around 10:00 to check in....
SHE DID IT!!!! She showed US up! Both kids in bed, asleep, and it was only 10:00..and she was by herself. Thanks Kallie...we stayed out later and now I will get no pity when Alex goes out of town next week!! ;)
I teased Kallie that she was fired if she broke Emery's streak of sleeping through the night...instead she earned herself "a raise" (ironically...Alex didn't have enough cash to pay her for the night...I left it to him to get cash out...and from my experience of babysitting rates increase drastically with two...sorry Al...it's business and if we don't take good care of our babysitters...we won't have any! She responded "no problem, I know where you live!"" Good girl!
BTW, Emery slept through the night again!
This post wasn't suppose to highlight just one of the neighbor girls, but the entire family! This story was just one of the countless other times they've been there for us. They always have an egg/chainsaw/detergent/can opener and key! We were honored to live in next door to them and that they agreed to sponsor Emery at her baptism.
The Hart's are our second family and without a doubt I know we are forever connected. I made them a photo album for Christmas to emphasize that...and found a quote for the cover "Friends are the Family We Choose". As I'm writing, I think about that quote and I think it's actually wrong. We really didn't choose them to be our friends ... we just happened to choose the house next door.
We couldn't have gotten a better return on our investment.
So, like my good friend advised on her blog....get to know thy neighbor!
1 comment:
I know whose blog you are talking about... and just like her I am so thankful you have found great neighbors/friends in MN. It is such a hard transition when you move to an unfamiliar place but I think it is those times that force us out of our comfort zones and open up and meet others!
And I agree, if you want to keep your babysitters, you have to pay well! They are hard to come by these days :)
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