Winter time is a good time

Being in the neighborhood is a great feeling for me these days. I love walking home from work and seeing about seven people I know - these days everyone is bundled and not very interested in lengthy outdoor discussions, but a smile and a friendly face is good enough.
Our building has six apartments in it, and we have friends living in four of them (not including our own unit). Most of these folks come over on Saturdays for oatmeal. We have little trade-offs for kid watching.
This morning I had a woman over who grew up as a Jewish Christian in Russia. She told me a few great stories about her upbringing. She lives in the apartment above us.
We traveled to Tampa for thanksgiving with my (Josh's) parents/ siblings etc. It was a fabulous time with six days off in a row! Jedidiah really liked Dinosaur World. We also had a Christmas gift exchange as this is the only time we are all together in the year.
For Christmas we are planning to go to Arkansas for a Nisbett family get together. (Looking forward to it!)
A note on community living: We have been included in more stuff these days - I am presenting on a panel this coming Monday night, and was asked to share a little during a church service a few weeks back. Candace is playing harp in worship, and she has been asked to consider being a part of the fellowship leadership team. I have been invited to a gathering for intentional community coordinators in San Francisco next month.
We knew coming into this that it would take some time for us to feel a part of things around here. Now we are more than a year into it, and things have started to feel more like we  are included.
And, last night we decided that this apartment is our favorite home we've lived in so far.

Some potpourri thoughts running through my head as winter approaches. Peace.