Well, I’m not much of a poet, so I will spare the prose. But I want to speak a little about our neighbors. 

We lucked out on arrival here at getting to park next to a wonderful family with 8 kids that we met at the Hangout in Williamsburg, VA, the Deschenes. Now, if it wasn’t for Alisha, we wouldn’t be here at all, since she finegaled last minute reservations for us here. With 8 kids there is always someone for my kids to play with in proximity to their age, and her oldest kids are the sweetest, most respectful teens I could as for as companions for Aunica. 

Which bring me to an interesting phenomenon. My kids have made much better friends on the road than they did back home. They are more accepted and are able keep in touch better. And neighbors? I have nothing nice to say about my long time next door neighbors in SLO. But here I feel a real community. Your neighbors aren’t your neighbors for long, but they are looking out for you, and can’t wait to be your neighbor again down the road. These friends don’t just ask how you are, they ask where you are in this big, nomadic community.

We have also been welcomed with open arms at every ward we have attended. Aunica has girls she keeps in touch with across the United States. Not one girl from our home ward has kept in touch with her. And it wasn’t any better when we lived there. 

I worry about going home. I am afraid to let my kids fall back into that loneliness of no real friends. No kids that ask for them. 

But for today, we are here. 

With some very special neighbors.