hello neighbor, do you like pie?

We've lived in our neighborhood over 2 years now and sadly, have never met our neighbors across the street. So, I went out and bought a pie. It was time to introduce ourselves. Especially under the circumstances.

Everybody likes pie, right?

Based on friendly, totally UN-stalker like neighborly observations, we were pretty sure that someone in their family had recently died. We figured the time had come to introduce ourselves and pay our respects. We found ourselves wondering if it had been their son, a child confined to a wheelchair, that they'd had to say goodbye to.

So I bought a huge pie from Costco and we were on the lookout to find a time when it looked like they were home.

It took 2 days, and quite a bit of self control with that pie, but the time had come, they were home. Let's go! Our children were dirty and barefooted and looked like urchins, but Tim needed to head out the door to church and if I had to wait another day or 2, I might need to buy a new pie.

So we traipsed over.

Only mom and 4 kids were home, but sure enough, the eldest son, their 13 yr. old, had passed away. It was an emotional introduction and a little awkward, given the language barrier, but I'm so thankful we went. And now we know their names.

I don't tell you this story as a way to pat myself on the back, but as an encouragement for all of us to be willing to appear awkward in order to love on someone we don't know, someone who we know is hurting. Beth Moore called this the "dignity of notice" in one of her Bible study videos and it has stuck with me. We all want to be noticed, especially when we're hurting.

4 morning glories, in honor of the 4 little ones who are dearly missed

That day when we met our nieghbors was a significant day as it was also the "angelversary" for 3 little ones that were members of dear families in our circle of friends. It was a day to remember, a day to grieve, and a day to give thanks for God's goodness in the midst of it all.

Again, this I know, God is enough.

He is always enough.