Sometimes, grief catches us by surprise. It’s been over twelve years now since my father passed away. Recently I stopped by a media business to have my wedding VHS recording transferred to DVD. Not only did my father give me away in marriage, he also made the wedding video for us. He thoroughly enjoyed technology and worked on video projects. As I entered the business it reminded me of my dad, and the urge to weep came over me. Early on, this was a common part of the grieving process. Over time it became less strong and less often, and I could speak of my dad with peace. But once in a while it still catches me by surprise! 
Seasons of Life
I always feel a bit of a thrill when I see buds forming on branches. They are the promise of spring! As I notice seasons change, it makes me think about seasons in our lives. I journaled about this the other day, and I’ll share with you what I wrote:
A Catan Parable {Love gives of itself}
Aubrey and I played Catan Junior the other day. She is competitive, so I don’t need to go easy on her. We were only a few turns into the game and luck was flat out bad for her. My ships and lairs were piling up and she had nearly nothing.
A downcast, red-faced, despairing look came over her. There was nothing she could do. The game was lost already, without even really playing it. She would burst into helpless tears at any moment.
Love = See + Compassion + Action
Yesterday, I was at Target and I took a short-cut through the women’s pajama section. I casually overheard a nice looking senior gentleman ask an associate if this was all of the women’s pajamas. I didn’t think much of the question, but her response caught my attention. He asked a simple question, and she responded, “Yes, this is it…you’re on your own.” He obviously was out of place in this area of the store!
Bring Neighbors Together
What’s your style? Are you a spur-of-the-moment kind of person or a planner? Either way, you can gift your neighbors with the opportunity to get together and meet each other! Promoting a neighborhood get together encourages familiarity, which creates a sense of community and trust. And you never know what friendships might form from a simple interaction!
Invite neighbors to get together, and ask for their ideas ahead. One neighbor offered to set up a bouncy house!
Chalk board sign stating “Welcome Neighbors” for neighborhood party.
