When I thought of the title "Mrs. Martinson's Neighborhood," it seemed like a useful metaphor I could use to map out the different corners of my life - you know: work, kids, projects, etc. It appealed to me because I am very much connected to circumstances and like to know how I am "situated." Part of my situation is, of course, my actual neighborhood. Without further ado, then, I'd like to introduce you to my literal neighborhood, the one with driveways, gravel, and mailboxes.
I'm lucky to even have a neighborhood, I think. These days, few people seem to be on a first-name basis with their neighbors; it's not like the way things used to be when if I needed a cup of sugar, or someone to watch my kids for an hour, I could stand in my house-heels on the next-door welcome mat and just ask. I wish things were different everywhere, because wouldn't it be a relief to know you were living around people you could trust?
Here are the top four things about my neighborhood.
4. The size and location: there are only 64 houses on five little streets in our rhombus-shaped grid. The community is gated, so even though it abuts another neighborhood to the North, we feel like our own little thing. Also, our little neighborhood is adjacent to the community lake, with a private gate to the lake park.
3. The Facebook group: we have a group just for our residents, so that if anyone sees something strange, or anyone's kid is selling stuff for a fundraiser, the whole block can get the heads up.
2. The parties: Our neighborhood Halloween party is coming up. We've been twice in the almost three years we've lived here, and it's been lots of food, games, music, and meeting people. There have also been parties for Christmas, New Year's, and Independence Day.
1. The kids: there are oodles of kids in our neighborhood, and they are so sweet. We are at the "Can ___ come out and play?" stage of life now, and it's blast to have all these sweet kids riding around on their bikes and scooters, asking others to join.
It's not perfect, and we are all so busy that we don't know each other, which is sad. Of all the places I've lived, though, it's the most idyllic, and we enjoy it.
Neighborhood is a happy thing for me.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Community Calendar
Hello - I am preparing for Christmas.
Today was Pumpkin Patch and first-day-of-pumpkin-pie day. It was a mercy and a joy to realize I had an outfit that looked like Fall and felt like Summer as it does here in the desert.
I'm discovering these little things here and there in the great romance with my Savior. It's a dare, isn't it, to make a spiritual connection the most significant thing in your life - and isn't it also worth it because sometimes heaven reaches a finger down and touches the sandy ground?
That outreach -that sistine-chapel-painting kind of infusion of God's work into man's world - that's part of what Christmas is about. Today I drove down the street to this - it hadn't been raining. It was just a little touch... that's what i'm talking about.
I can hardly think or type about it without becoming a bit giddy or choked up. All of it - the nativity, the gingerbread houses, the plastic and raffia bows, the pine needles and wishes for snow - I want all of it.
Last year was my first working full-time while raising kids, and in some sad ways I felt like the whole thing rushed right by like a one-horse open sleigh and I almost never heard the bells. Christmas Eve I actually got the house clean, the stockings hung by the chimney with care, and the TV glowing with music on the holiday station (oh - soon!), and for a moment, all was calm and bright, and I savored.
I want more of that this year. I am thinking that this year, I want to invest, not spend. Less rush, more prepare.
A couple of things I'm thinking about:
- the SRT Advent study. Contemplating buying the book.
- The Gettys' Christmas Concert in Carnegie Hall. Wouldn't it be SO GREAT to be part of it? Maybe next year.
- whose gifts to buy, and whose to make
A question: any suggestions for new Christmas music this year?
Comfort and joy -
- Kim
Today was Pumpkin Patch and first-day-of-pumpkin-pie day. It was a mercy and a joy to realize I had an outfit that looked like Fall and felt like Summer as it does here in the desert.
I'm discovering these little things here and there in the great romance with my Savior. It's a dare, isn't it, to make a spiritual connection the most significant thing in your life - and isn't it also worth it because sometimes heaven reaches a finger down and touches the sandy ground?
That outreach -that sistine-chapel-painting kind of infusion of God's work into man's world - that's part of what Christmas is about. Today I drove down the street to this - it hadn't been raining. It was just a little touch... that's what i'm talking about.
I can hardly think or type about it without becoming a bit giddy or choked up. All of it - the nativity, the gingerbread houses, the plastic and raffia bows, the pine needles and wishes for snow - I want all of it.
Last year was my first working full-time while raising kids, and in some sad ways I felt like the whole thing rushed right by like a one-horse open sleigh and I almost never heard the bells. Christmas Eve I actually got the house clean, the stockings hung by the chimney with care, and the TV glowing with music on the holiday station (oh - soon!), and for a moment, all was calm and bright, and I savored.
I want more of that this year. I am thinking that this year, I want to invest, not spend. Less rush, more prepare.
A couple of things I'm thinking about:
- the SRT Advent study. Contemplating buying the book.
- The Gettys' Christmas Concert in Carnegie Hall. Wouldn't it be SO GREAT to be part of it? Maybe next year.
- whose gifts to buy, and whose to make
A question: any suggestions for new Christmas music this year?
Comfort and joy -
- Kim
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