Neighborly Play Date

Could they be having more fun? I think not =).

I met our neighbors on post at 7 A.M. on a Sunday morning because I locked us out of our new house--oops! Helen answered her door in a bathrobe with sopping wet hair, sorry again! Luckily, she's so sweet and didn't mind me barging in at the crack of dawn to use her phone to call for help. I also had the pleasure of meeting her then 10 month old son, Ben, who is only three weeks older than Adeline. We see each other out walking the kiddos in the neighborhood and have met at a couple play dates on post. 

It wasn't until Tim came home that we finally had them over for a meal and to let the kids play. We should have done it much sooner since her husband is deployed. Our lovely neighbors at Fort Hood had me over every week for dinner while Tim was in Afghanistan the first time, and it was such a treat to have the company and a home-cooked meal! Additionally, a discipleship class I took in Tucson stressed the importance of knowing all of your neighbors, developing relationships, and ultimately witnessing to them once trust is built. I'm still working on getting up the courage to do that, though. Growing up, we never really knew our neighbors, so it's a new concept for me. 

We let the kiddos play on the floor together, surrounded by way too many toys. Unfortunately, Ben isn't really able to play much because he has an extremely serious and debilitating health condition. His parents found out at their 20 week ultrasound about his rare genetic disorder and he had to undergo immediate heart surgery when he was born. Helen recently learned of a trial at Harvard that may help him, and is showing positive results in one other child with this condition. They are heading to New Orleans over the holidays to see a geneticist for guidance with Ben. Please join us in prayer for little Ben, his doctors, his parents, and his ultimate healing! 

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