When we first moved here, the two main questions people asked us were: How are you handling the rain? and Do you know anyone there? After several of the first months tackling both of these questions I began to realize that my human longings weren't as much to get to know people as it was that I wanted people to know me. To know what I was about. I know that sounds completely selfish. Don't get me wrong here, I wanted to get to know people but after the first several months you know people and then you start craving the community part. The part where people expect you, and wonder where you are, and know where you are from and what you are about. Slowly, meeting new people became easier for me and I found myself just wanting to be expected. I wanted people to expect to see me at that same place at church on sundays and expect to see me at the coffee shop, and expect to see us on wednesdays at our home community. This is something that happens with time. With time you become a "regular" at a coffee shop. With time people notice that you sit in the same place at church each sunday. In this past month I have realized something: time has happened.... and it makes me so happy. There have been several instances recently where my heart literally lifts with joy from just being known. We have neighbors who know us and honk there horns when they see us walking. Palios (our regular coffee shop) knows us and greets us with "hellos" and "goodbyes" and "oh, I didn't know you guys were here" (I'm a you! Isn't that cool??) Our neighbor came over the other day just to ask for a beer. We can be asked for a beer! Isn't that cool? I know these things seem silly in many ways but its just something that can so easily be taken for granted. To have a sense of community is something that we all long to feel.... and its amazing to me just how much my neighbor honking their horn can mean to me.
Tonight Wes and I went to our Home Community's Christmas Party. It felt so good to take part in it for the second time. To be known, and expected, and to celebrate with such fun people. We had a white elephant gift exchange and the kids even took part. One of the kids wrapped a rock. ha ha ha which was supposedly a "crystal." No body ever stole the rock but it was the cutest thing ever. Lucky for me I went home with a cute jar full of Lindor ball chocolates! And wes with a picture frame... certainly treasures for a white elephant gift exchange where you are instructed to only bring items from home. It feels good to be on Christmas break..... baking... wrapping presents... and celebrating with people we know. This time next week we will be celebrating some more. We cannot wait!!!
Love,
Katie
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