A Parade of Friends

Yesterday turned out to be a fabulous day for us (pam and the 2 kids) to connect with so many friends--to our surprise. I assumed it would be a relative downer of a day since Jesse was feverish and, consequently, very sorrowful to not be able to see his friends at church. (Darren and Luci made it to church.)

BUT Jesse relaxed and watched TV, then napped, all while I sat on the front steps or laid on my bed reading Cesar's Way, a great book on how a dog thinks.

After Luci was returned to me quickly by Darren who was off to a church meeting, Scott stopped by. It was nice to visit with him while J elicited sympathy from him and Luci flirted with him by ramming her baby stroller into his leg. He promised me a loaf of bread since he was taking our car to go shopping.

We ushered Scott out and Luci into a nap. Then J and I had some time together. He wanted to ride his bike and do side-walk chalk. So we headed outside with the bike, helmet, chalk, and dog book. The picture of dogs on the front cover made Jesse reflect on the death of our dog friend George. who was an old basset hound, by euthanasia. While Jesse was repeatedly acting out being the recipient of a shot whose body was going limp, the Lockies, George's family, came down the sidewalk. It became an impromptu playdate with their kids!

Then Natasha, Scott's housemate passed by and we said hello.

Soon Luci woke up and the 3 of us plus Pea walked the Lockies back to their house for their church service at 4:30. On our way we ran into some Sojourner's church women going to the service and so they migrated with us. Retracing our steps back to our house, we ran into another family we know and then the Outer Circle team going to church.

We found Darren at home and the evening progressed as it normally would--you know, dinner, baths, bedtime for the kids. I met up with Annalies at 7 and we walked to get ice cream with Peanut. Scott also made a brief appearance at our house with my loaf of bread.

Let me just say that these (people) and the neighborliness of the Mission are a few of my favorite things. Thinking of leaving it all behind and moving to London seems very hard. But it was a great day.