community.

yesterday at church, a man asked me with genuine concern how i am.  

i [genuinely] told him that i am good.  that we are really good.

he asked if we were getting community.  it's important, isn't it?

i can say with transparency that i fight community.  i don't want it.

i want my little family, in my warm home.  us.  together.

 but, we are committed to community anyway.  i'm so thankful for that. 

i've seen its fruits.  it is precious to have & needed more than ever in

these times of transition.

i've found it every other thursday in our home with 3 other families.

i find it in a quick chat with my sister in the wee hours of the morning during

one of her night shifts.  in skype chats from the other side of the world.  in the

parking lot of church as we ready to leave one service & they ready to come--a stolen

10 minutes of community while our children run in the field.

in hands preparing meals for us from a local adoption group that i haven't 

even had the chance to make it to yet.  i've found it here--in you....your care, 

encouragement, prayers and love.  in a neighbor bringing food,

a gift for our children and a genuine offer of let me know if i can do anything.

i find it in the stranger's knowing eyes as she watches our crew

file into LegoLand and gives me a twinkley smile while saying

what little blessings you have.

yes, i do.  in many, many ways.