It’s been a while…

I know….I’ve been kinda absent for a while…let’s call it a full month!!! I have left stories hangin’!  Sorry about that!  No excuses…just life gettin’ in the way!  Ouch…just realized that my last real post was early May.  That is B*A*D!  So…let me get you caught up on our present lives and all of our distractions, then in upcoming days…I’ll take you back and finish a story or 2.

A lot has been going on lately, here in SBH and at M2H.   Interestingly enough, on May 4^th, I shared in Oh Happy Day! about what a great day I was having…and how the Lord had spoke… “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”  So…we get this clear message and we are feeling GOOD.  Like we have our marching orders!

Then, WHAM! BLAM! ZING! out of nowhere….distractions hit.  Why is it a surprise that we will be hit with distractions on the heels of a God moment?!?!?  These distractions took the form of relational conflicts (yes, more than one….all at the same time!!!) where Louis was used as a sounding board and a peacemaker of sorts. In addition, a dear friend in Northern Virginia passed away.  Louis gets sick as a dog.  Poor thing was wiped out by a upper respiratory infection. Lastly, there has been a bit of conflict in our community lately…for which we are seeking prayers.

I won’t go into a lot of detail to protect confidences, but we have an AWESOME community!!! The residents of Southern Barton Heights are among the BEST ever!  I have a sense of pride and joy when I look around and think about the many, many friends (dare I say family!!) that I have made…and the cohesive community that has formed and is forming even as we speak.  I have lived here but a short 5 years….and Louis for a 1.5 years…and we know most of our neighbors up and down Barton and Lamb Avenues around our home.  And…we continue to meet more!  Louis and I have lived in a number of communities over the years and have experienced NOTHING like the sense of community that we feel here.  I know more of my neighbors now than in all the other communities combined! I wouldn’t change it for the WORLD!

Although we may differ in our experiences, our opinions and our thoughts, for the most part, we respect one other.  Now, there are some whose thoughts and actions differ GREATLY from where the overall community wants to continue to head and are NOT respecting others and are spreading fear, hate and distrust.  But, we will continue to partner together and with the authorities to minimize these criminal and unlawful activities that we see and experience.

In addition, as reported on the news there was a multiple shooting just a block away, where 2 guys got shot at 4:30p on Friday, 5.28.  Yes…that is 4:30 in the afternoon….when the kids are playing and riding their bikes.  When people are coming home from work ready to start their weekend.  When people are walking to the deli for something cold to drink. Thankfully, the 2 victims will survive! And…an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, life moves on….the school year comes to an end.  The H*O*T summer seems to have come early.  The Stonehouse Pool in Battery Park is now open and a Memorial Day/Birthday cookout starts us out right.  Pics and vids to come in the next post…