Community

In the past several weeks I have been so overwhelmed with the sense of Community that I have surrounding me. I was thinking about it again last night and thought that I should blog about it just so that later I can remember and reflect on how important this has been to me recently.

We live in a small community – around 2000 people in our town. We admittedly don’t know our neighbors as well as we could. With working outside of town and going to church in a different town, we really only know those that are at our daycare, school etc. But even though we are “transplants” to Beresford I am so impressed by a few people specifically who have stepped forward for us. Yesterday the husband of one of the women at Elijah’s daycare told Dominic that during this transition time if I ever need anything that I should just call. Another woman who works at the bank I do and also lives in Beresford came to tell me that he husband said if I ever need help removing snow etc. to just call and he will come over. I have never met her husband….but yet he is willing to help out someone in his community. Such a blessing!

We have the privilege of attending First Baptist Church in another community with a body of believers that has walked with us and prayed for us during some very good and some very difficult times over the past 7 years. These are faithful Christian men and women who have supported us and encouraged us and continue to offer these things even when we recently had to pull back from some of our “responsibilities” at the church. I love that I can count on these amazing friends and that even if we aren’t there for a few weeks they haven’t forgotten about us and continue to pray for us.

I have had the honor of spending Tuesday evenings with a group of women that encourage and challenge me in becoming the woman God would have me to be. I can share my biggest fears and darkest secrets with these women and they continue to invite me back, to check up on me and to love me. I hope to be able to make it to some of those Tuesday evening meetings in the next several months and will be missing all of you when I can’t be there!

Dominic worked with some very caring people at SD Advocacy and they were so giving towards him, even right up to his last day. They had a special lunch for him and “roasted” him, gave him some unique and very interesting gifts, including a handmade guide to “Speaking Minnesotan”. One co-worker gave him a microwave and a set of silverware for his new house. He left a wonderful group of people and although he is excited about his new adventure we are praying that he will find that same sense of community with his new co-workers because his Advocacy family will be missed!

We have also had so much support from our family and friends. People offering to help us move, to give us things to make his new house more like a home, to watch our kids and to most importantly pray for us. We are ever grateful for each and every one of you.

Even blogging has provided me with a sense of community. Friends that I have not had the chance yet to meet in real life have e-mailed me or left me comments telling me that they are lifting us up in prayer. Just through blogging we are connected and have the opportunity to share life together. I am just so very blessed by all of it.

So today I am filled to overflowing with gratitude for each and every one of you. I love that I am part of a community of people that encourages, loves, supports and prays for each other. I hope that I can give back to you what you have so freely given to me. And please pray for Dominic as he starts the new job on Monday! Thank you friends!