I’m outside, close to the end of the day, and a neighbor walks by.

We chat.

We chat about our homes and the potential new neighbors we are expecting.

She says as she walks away, “you will always be known as the people who saved this house.”

I smiled and waved “have a great night!”

I pondered her statement.

The people who saved the house…….

Yeah I guess we gave new life to a pathetic, neglected, drug infested, eye sore of the neighborhood. We definitely did that.

But, the more I thought about her statement, there more I decided that we are really the people whose house saves them.

That sounds pretty sappy. Hallmark card moment.

I actually have an example and it’s not even about our family. I was given permission to share this story.

We had some friends over this past weekend for swimming and dinner.

These friends are family and when the parents come, the kids come too and we love it!

They show up around 3:00, we catch up for a while and head to the pool. It’s a beautiful afternoon. Some of us were on floats and others hung their feet in the water as we caught up on life.

A question was asked. “Would it be ok if I was baptized in the pool today?”

YES!!! What an honor it would be for that to happen.

The conversation continues…..” I was baptized as a child but I had no idea what really happened. I just didn’t know and I thought it would be great if I profess my life as a follower of Jesus today.”

YES

YES

YES

Clothes were changed.

The skies turned dark and it started to rain.

Should we stop?

No way.

You now have the privilege to watch for yourself

The house has nothing to do with Nikki’s relationship with Jesus.

The house however is a place where we are able to cultivate relationships.

The house is a place where people come to celebrate life.

The house is a place where we will continue to love on people and they will love on us.

The weather begins to show signs of fall. Slow but sure there will soon be porch sitting evenings and fire pit Friday’s. We are already excited about the future this old house has in store for us.