Be A Neighbor

My family and I recently moved into a new home at the end of January. It was sort of bitter sweet, to be honest. We had been at our previous rental home for 4 years, and had created some great relationships with our neighbors there. We were sad to leave them, and at the same time excited for this new opportunity to own a home, and make some new friendships with our new neighbors.

When we moved into the house, it felt like a ghost town to me at times. It seemed like no one ever came out of their houses, and I really missed our old neighborhood. My husband, Zach, is so social and was very positive that we would eventually meet and get to know our neighbors.

And so far, we're having great success. We've met the neighbors on either side of us (and how funny is this- one of them I went to high school with and was good friends with!), and the other we met and they didn't seem super warm and friendly. We did find out that they have a little girl, and they were about to have a little boy any day.

One morning, I took the kids out front to play a bit, and I ran into the husband with his daughter. He let me know that his wife just had their baby a few days ago. I said congratulations, and decided that we should bring them dinner sometime. My husband thought it was a great idea, and he said we should do it sooner rather than later (I'll admit I have a tendency to procrastinate.) So we went over there to ask when a good day to bring dinner would be, and they seemed very pleasantly surprised. They said anytime, and I asked if they liked lasagna.

So that's what I brought over the next night- lasagna, a loaf of french bread, and some cupcakes. They were so warm and friendly, they invited the kids and I right in. They said we should have a play date sometime and get our kids together- awesome!

Now, each time we see them, they smile, wave, and look genuinely happy to see us. It's amazing to me what kindness and a meal can do. I love it. I didn't have to make a whole meal schedule- we didn't know anyone they know yet, or any of our neighbors really yet either. So that wouldn't have worked. But just us bringing that over opened up lines of communication, and now we aren't strangers anymore.

I just had to share that with you all- there is power in kindness and food! And if it's made with love, who can resist? Surely not me!