Thank God for New Friends

We've been in Simi for almost one month now, and I can't begin to explain the warmth and hospitality of the wonderful people we have met so far.  Our church welcomed us home with two huge tubs full of much needed household necessities and super fun goodies (plus toys for the kids!).  We've been invited to BBQ's, dinners with swimming and fellowship, one-on-one lunch, low-key hanging out time, play group at the beach, and swimming during the day at friend's houses.  Our kids have been included in sand play, ocean & pool play, and re-enacting the musical numbers from the new Disney movie Camp Rock.  From the moment we arrived, we have been loved on, included, and welcomed with open arms.  

Moving across country is hard.  When you have lived 35 years in essentially one place and have been surrounded by your entire family since birth, moving away from all that you know and all those you love is a grief beyond explanation.  But the healing grace of my God abounds.  He has surrounded my family with other believers who are passionate about our God and who extend love in abundance.  It is a wonderful blessing to know that I not only rest in my God's arms, I rest in the arms of the ones He places around me.  As one of my dear friends once said, "New friends build a fence around the hole in your heart left by leaving old friends.  They can't fill the space but they keep you from falling in."  I thank God for each one of our new friends and the fence you are building around our hearts.