neighbors

It's Thursday....   how do I begin to let my fingers share my heart?

I had planned to share something totally different for Simple Pleasures today.  But, my plans begin changing last night before bedtime.

This is very difficult, I will have to get the box of puffs before I finish tapping out these words.

My family and I, moved to our very close-knit community, 5 years ago.  The school is close, I hear the children playing over the hill at recess, that in itself is a Simple Pleasure.  You just about know where everyone is going when they pass on the road.  So, if a stranger shows up, neighborhood watch goes into full patrol.  All of these things are probably what some people who live in the city long to experience.  To a degree, it is great, but when you are the new kid on the block, trying to make it home, it is about impossible.   But, I have a Maker, who knows me by name, He'll never leave me...no matter where I go. Miracles happened and we moved into small town, USA.  Why did we choose here, you might ask, job first and then school.  Hours were spent on the computer, looking for a school that we felt was the best for our boys, the search landed us here.  But, before I put the period at the end,  it was THE LORD.  He was the One who opened very large doors and we were obedient to go through them. 

One of the hardest things I have dealt with personally, is being accepted in the community.  The people are great.  They love their familes, and family is important to them, just like ours are to us, except ours are miles away. We were not born and raised here!   I had to make the detailed description of our "best in the world community" to help you see the importance of my Simple Pleasure.

I must move on with my story, to the Heart of the Simple Pleasure.

Our home sits within "hollering" distance to the next door neighbor, as you will see in the pictures.   The next door neighbor became our family and we became hers!  By the way, she and my mother share the same name.  (excuse me got to get the puffs....)  

Belly laughs, great stories shared, hugs & kisses, breakfast together, baths given to her, through all those we grew close in four years. If I could cook something and make her smile, it brought me joy.  We have talked flowers, sports, children, and MEN!  You know all that kind of girl talk.

She could talk it all at 90 and tell it all too! 

I MISS HER !!!!

She did what was best and now has a new address.  She has been in the nursing home now for a year, I still see her, but not as often.  Just not as convenient, as walking up the hill.  She has adjusted well, and now her sister is there with her.  Where you see one ~ you see the other one, inseparable.  What a way to spend your precious time, with your sister. 

She made it easier for me to make the transition away from family and friends.  After 18 years in the same home and church, wow was it ever hard.  It still is, part of our lives are still missing, friends that we have shared happy and sad times together, we just don't get to see as often as we would like.  Church family causes another part of our hearts to ache.... (we served faithful, I was church secretary for many years)
Those precious things have left gaps to be filled.  New relationships are having to be rebuilt.  People learning you and you learning people ~  that takes years and lots of shared experiences. 

My daily routines, along with some other things have changed.  If someone would have told me that I would be sharing on the www, I would have told them they were crazy!  But, I'm listening to what God is wanting me to do with the remainder of my life, because it is happening in a blink and a flash.

I want to give you a glimpse into what I see and what I have seen.  Some of the pictures are older ones.

My view up the hill.  Yes, we do get a little snow in the South.


The place she calls home. 

Flowers were her passion.  This is one she shared with me.
Just this past Friday, she made a comment about her yard and her flowers.

Our youngest son, with her;  this picture was taken two years ago.
She was almost 90 in this picture.

The shade tree we sat under and shared.

This is what made me change my thoughts last night.

If you look closely you will see the old oak split last night.

No storm ~ just decided to give way after 75 years.

Isn't this life, change is inevitable,

 my neighbor had to make a change,

one she had rather not chosen,

 and now another change on the hill.

I really miss her,

 but the shade will

be missed too!

But, I know one who doesn't change!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

She was my neighbor and is my SIMPLE PLEASURE

Remember, I link up with Dayle on Thursdays for

Simple Pleasures