Neighborhood Togetherness 2012

The Saturday before Christmas, our neighborhood gathered together in the cul-de-sac for our 1^st Annual Christmas/December Birthday Block Party.  Apparently when Sagittarius people were looking for a street to live on, they picked Forest Oaks Drive.  We only have 13 houses on the street but we have 10 December Birthdays.  That just has to break some record somewhere.  I personally think we need an award or something or a listing in the Guinness book of world records!  

We all decided to throw ourselves a party since all December birthday people totally get shafted because of everyone’s Christmas focus! It was a grand success!  Our non-December birthday neighbors who like to bake, made us the most spectacular red velvet birthday cake, I have ever seen! The guys carried out fire pits for marshmallow roasting and Dan rolled out the grill to make some hot dogs!  Kim, brought crock-pots of chili and everyone else brought their favorite dish!  It was a grand success.  The neighborhood children put on a fabulous performance for all to enjoy!  

All dogs (except KC) were also invited to romp and play!  They almost took out a few people with their game of chase and possibly snatched a few morsels along the way, but I think it was a December highlight for the dogs also.  The new residents of Neptune Beach, the Wyatt Fam, and the Wileys also joined in the festivities.  When the wood ran out and I started getting cold, I decided to head in for the night and couldn’t believe it was 10:30 at night.  We had a 7-hour block party and enjoyed every minute of it!

Two nights later, it was time to gather again for our Annual luminary assembly line!  We celebrate Christmas with Dan’s parents so sometimes we miss the neighborhood festivities.  I am pretty sure they were waiting for the Wog kids (AKA Slave Labor) to come home before they began! My kids were so excited to help!  Eddie was very productive loading sands in the bag and even “pushed” the truck of luminaries down the street. (wink, wink)   We finished in record time and I thought we would have no trouble getting to church on time.  

Of course, it wouldn’t be right not to have a KC incident.  She broke loose from the house (probably bitter because yet again, she wasn’t invited to a neighborhood shindig) Of course, she headed straight for the marsh.  I was sick to my stomach.  Maggie was singing in the choir at church and I didn’t have time to chase her plus I was in clean church clothes and not proper marsh attire.  Thankfully, the great dane Nala, was out and lured KC back home!  We made it church and got to enjoy the beautiful luminaries when we came home!  We are very blessed to live on a street where neighbors care about each other and enjoy being together.  In the world in which we live, it’s a rare thing that most kids will never experience.  I am also very grateful that all the neighbors tolerate my dog and all pitch in to retrieve her when she gets a scent and goes a hunting!  Our block party was possibly one of my favorite activities of 2012 and I look forward to the next one!

Dog Walk Nightmare

I used to have regular traumatic walks with KC.  I know my blog fans have probably been missing stories about her escapades. She has grown up now and we typically only go leaping through yards after squirrels, only a couple times on a walk.  Today, made up for all the past months of almost manageable walks with her.  The kids took off her choke collar and I couldn’t find it this morning.  I used a regular collar and thought I could handle her….I was wrong.  We walked to the 5-way intersection at Penman road and she must have figure the collar situation out.  She put on the brakes and whipped her head out of the collar and went galloping towards the intersection. I panicked and didn’t want to see her hit by a car so I turned my back and started walking back home.  I glanced over my shoulder and she was standing there stunned I wasn’t chasing her.  She actually started following me so I started running and we started racing each other down Forest Avenue.  She took the lead and took a sharp right into a neighbor’s back yard.  I was feeling pretty confident that I could get her in the fenced back yard….I was wrong AGAIN!

She took off into the marsh on the opposite side of where we live and howled like she was tracking a raccoon, which she probably was.  People were starting to stop their cars to inquire what was going on.  A really nice city worker pulled over and tried to lure her out with his French fries. Of course I had no make-up on, looked like a true homeless person in a mismatched outfit AND the famous beanie that I was now sweating in profusely.  Not really the look I was wanting to sport when visiting with the WHOLE neighborhood.  She finally came charging out and went over towards the Neptune school.  I was freaking out because all the handicap children were walking the track and the last thing I wanted to happen was for one of them to be pummeled by my crazy dog.  I left the city worker on Forest and asked him to try to keep her in the woods so a car wouldn’t hit her.  I knew I was in trouble when I heard his truck crank up.  I cut through my gate, jumped on a bike and met more concerned neighbors and the city worker.  She had come back on our street and we all felt confident that she was tired out and would come home…I was wrong AGAIN.

It was like she got a second wind. She headed into the BIG marsh and alerted a whole new set of neighbors that she was loose.  I got in my truck hoping she would hear me leaving and want to go.  She did come out and run next to the truck.  Unfortunately, she kept going past our street.  I was seriously wanting to call my dog whisperer neighbor, Susan up at work and beg her to come help me. She loves that dog and 9 out 10 times is the one who can catch her.  My neighbor Leo and I almost witnessed her death.  A truck was coming down Forest at a good speed and she was going 90 miles an hour down the side street and we both cringed at the point where they would intersect.  Thankfully, the car swerved and barely missed her.  I feel pretty confident that it was the result of my friend Tina’s prayers that she was praying on behalf of my dog.  She prayed with me on the phone for God to protect her and bring her home safe! That’s a true friend!

When I thought it was a hopeless cause, even more neighbors came to the rescue.  Mr. Pearson got on his bike, Jaime and his 4-year-old daughter Eliza got on their bikes and another nice man with a white dog was trying to figure out how we could get a boat in the marsh to retrieve her.  Leo went and got his dog Emily who KC likes and FINALLY KC came out of the Marsh and came to greet Emily and Leo grabbed her!  I was so relieved, grateful and angry all at the same time.  The biggest feeling I had was embarrassment that I cannot control my dog at all.  I am overwhelmed by these kind-hearted, sympathetic neighbors and friends who came to my rescue.  I never understood until Dan brought home a little hound dog puppy, how much love you could have in your heart for a dog.  She exasperates me especially as I was washing muck off her and myself but I am so glad she survived her romp around Neptune Beach.  I issue a formal apology to all my neighbors who were so tolerant of her yelping and howling.  I have been wiped out all day and can barely walk from this episode today but I have a feeling both KC and I will sleep well tonight!  

Cowboy Christmas Lunch 2012

I have been reflecting on the fun day we had as a church family today.  Beaches Chapel hosted a Cowboy Christmas Lunch with hats, boots and BBQ.  Being a youth leader from way back, I am still excited to dressing up with a theme!  I am secretly hoping our next lunch will be an 80’s dance off!  I could totally whip out my Swatch watches and crimper!  My kids were so into being cowboys!  They had all their outfits, bandanas and jeans laying out, ready to go! What shocked me the most was that even Dan wore a western shirt and boots.  He drew the line when I suggested a hat. I think he would have been happy if I mentioned bringing his gun though!  Annie smuggled hers to church but don't worry.  It wasn't loaded!  

When I walked into church, I was amazed at all the good sports that were present. Almost everyone made some effort to join in the fun!  I saw more plaid in one room than at the Grand Ole Opry!  I am glad that my kids will have this memory of such a great time at church!  My favorite was the decked out sheriff!  But what is really stirring inside of me, is how very blessed I am to have such deep roots at Beaches Chapel.  Beaches Chapel is the only church I have ever attended. Today, I have been mediating on how important spiritual roots are.  I looked up the meaning of roots and it became even more valuable to me.  “Part of a plant that provides support, nourishment, food, a place that stores water, that provides strength and security, state of being established.”  Wow and that is what you also receive from your church family:  support, spiritual food, refreshing water from the Word, strength in relationships, a feeling of belonging and feeling secure.  My parents gave this gift to me and I am ever grateful!

I think back to all the monumental things in my life, the good and the bad. They are all centered around my church family.  From square dances to weddings to funerals they have all happened for me at Beaches Chapel. I think about the people that were assembled together today at our lunch.  The caterer that did the BBQ used to be a precious little jr. high boy in our youth group when I was the Youth Pastor.  We nicknamed him “Woodhead” when a pool ball jumped off the table and popped him in the head.  I think about all the parents that were holding babies today that I knew when they were little babies themselves. What a rich heritage we all have together.  It's a rare thing in today's world.

What I appreciate the most is the fruit I am now seeing in my own children. Today, I watched my kids share their faith on stage.  At 4 years old, I had no idea how to say a salvation prayer with someone but yet, Eddie does.  I see people talking and loving on my kids and watching over them.  I am grateful I have stayed through the ups and downs that inevitably happen in every church.  It’s always tempting to run off to the new and exciting church that opens up and no doubt God sometimes calls you to join yourself to a new work that He is doing.  What I have observed is that when people jump around, their children pay the price with no roots, with no spiritual foundation, no history or church memories, experiences and community with a group of people they know and trust.  

I believe it’s time for people to put roots down again, to make a commitment for their kid’s sake.  Let them grow.  Let them get rooted in the Word of God. Let them learn how to serve and share their faith.  When the storms of life come, may their deep roots hold them steady. Let them grow and bear much fruit in their lives, fruit that will remain.  That is my goal is too stay rooted where I was planted.  I want to serve and be a part of growing something and impacting the community.  I am believing God to prosper my kids and use them in a mighty way and I am committed not to uproot them from their home.  I believe God will honor our faithfulness and our kid’s will grow to be strong Christian leaders as a result!  Our society encourages lack of commitment and Christians need to change that.  It’s not convenient to go to church especially with kids but days like today remind me why it is so important 

They will be like a tree planted by the water 
that sends out its roots by the stream. 
It does not fear when heat comes;
  
its leaves are always green.
 It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8