"Our kids grew up together"

Now I'm beginning to understand the depth of the phrase "our kids grew up together." It's not just a marker of time, or an era, or even of which kids know who.

It's more like a bonding experience. Having timeouts during a playdate. Giving their kid a timeout at my house. Apologizing for the screaming of my almost 3 year old, who is learning to deal with frustration. Giving one another advice on the parenting stage we're struggling with. Encouraging one another through the phases we remember, or recalling something I read in a book somewhere that might help. It's all a bit like being in the trenches together. We're combat buddies.

House Blessing Party

We're moved in enough to have our house-warming party, which we called a house blessing party. We gathered to pray blessing over the property and home and to bless God for his amazing work in providing us the home.

A good number of friends came by, some even had to park on the street. Rootbeer floats and banana bread topped the afternoon. It was a good feeling to know we have so many friends here. Though we've been here three years, I still feel like I'm new in town sometimes.