Walking Party

Last night something unique and wonderful happened. Something that doesn't happen everyday but maybe should happen more often.

Last night started out like most nights for Paul and I. We put Ernie's leash on and walked out the door for a walk around the block. Camille, Paul's sister, was staying with us, so she came also. As we walked down our driveway our neighbors who have two dogs and a 2 year old girl asked jokingly if we wanted to walk their dogs too. Excitedly, Camille said she would love to walk their dogs. Then our neighbor Kristen said to her husband "maybe you should walk your own dogs. And your little girl has been asking to go for a walk all day." Micah responded, saying, "good idea. Do you guys mind if we go walking with you."

That's how it all started. So 3 dogs, 4 adults, a 13 year old and a two year old begin to walk down the street. We walked past three houses until we arrived at Travis and Jennifer's house, friends of ours from church. Their windows were open and Micah announced loudly, "neighborhood walk". The front door opened quickly and two little boys under the age of 4 came out followed by Jennifer saying she would be right there. Jennifer came out with a big red wagon wheeling her boys down the driveway to greet us. Just then the neighbor from the house across the street came out with his grandson and two dogs. So he joined the walking party as well.

Five dogs, five kids, and six adults and a red wagon walked down the streets of our neighborhood. We created a stir and people came out of their houses asking if we were having a parade. "No, just a neighborhood walk. Do you want to come?" was our reply.

At the end of the walk we had met many of our neighbors we had never talked to before. We all enjoyed the spontaneity of the event and all agreed that we need to do this more often. Sometimes we get so busy that we never talk to the people living right next door. What a blessing when God opens the door to meet and get to know our neighbors.