Willow Tree Dreaming: December 2015

So, in Katy, Texas- there are a innumerable amount of people who have moved here from far off places! VERY few people that you meet are native Katy-ites. ;-) Saying that, it can be very daunting to make friends, find a church, or find a good community of like minded people. I can say that the first time we lived here- I literally didn't get out or know anyone... ANYONE in my area for almost a year. Looking back- I can't even imagine that! I literally never went ANYWHERE unless Kevin was with me. It wasn't until Ethan was 12 weeks old that I met a friend & she was my only friend for the remainder of my time here in Katy.

Fast forward to our second move here- I had gone through enough to know that I needed community of solid friends, but I wanted to be prayerful about how that would play out. I would need to be intentional & I would need to move outside of my comfort zone in order for that to happen... ALOT. And so- I started that as soon as we got back! I met a coworker of Kevin's wife. We started hanging out & she was interested in homeschooling- something I love discussing :) We soon started getting together for play dates & just hanging out. I can look back over the past 2 1/2 years- and she has shown up numerously for me & I her. I am blessed by her friendship.

So, when we moved back I immediately began trying to get connected with the local area homeschool group. I finally got registered & we decided to go to a park day. I was hopeful in my heart & had a conversation with Katie- Beth (who at the time was really needing a friend). We talked & we started praying for friends that GOD would pick for us. We prayed in earnest on the way to the park that day. You see, dark clouds had moved in ... big yuck black ones. It even started raining on our way to the park. Normally this would detour me from my goal. But in my heart I felt like God had something special waiting for us at this park day. So, we prayed. When we got to the park it was still cloudy... but not raining. We made our way to the playground. To say I was not impressed with the local area homeschool group leaders that day... would be an understatement. And a part of my heart grew slightly discouraged. I just knew there was something waiting for us there!

So I tried to reach out to a few different people, but there was one mom & kids in particular that I was drawn to- and our kids hit it off quickly. I found out that this was her first park day with this group as well. She had just moved here in a neighborhood near where we were actually looking at a house to buy THAT day. She didn't know anyone here. I'm unsure of all the details, but it wasn't long before we started texting & soon hanging out! Their family has become our very closest friends. And I really feel like they were picked out by HIS own hand. We often talk about how blessed we feel to have each others families. Our kids are amazingly close... meaning they do fight... but they love each other incredibly! It's amazing how God delivers when you simply ask & allow HIM to do the work.

So as much as I'd like to go through EVERY incredible story I have with the community we've formed here- It would take me too long. But I have countless stories like these. It's been a great journey of learning to be very intentional in meeting new people. Very intentional. Through this we have a very solid group of 5 families who consistently interact ... IN REAL LIFE! We have an even larger group that meets for field trips & other events several times a year. It's been an amazing thing to watch as our group grows, not just in numbers, but growing by encouraging one another & getting to know each other.