Growing Roots

You hear the term, "growing roots" or "putting your roots down"  in reference to settling down and planting yourself somewhere to grow a family and establish yourselves.  I think I am starting to understand.

We lived in NJ when June was born.  We lived there almost 2 years before moving back to PA.  June was born in NJ and we lived there for his entire first year.  We moved the weekend of his first birthday.  While we were in NJ, I established friendships and we had a good time while we were there.  It was sad to leave one friend in particular, but we still felt mobile.  We were in transition.

Next, we moved to the town we lived now, but rented a townhouse on the other side of the city.  We met a few people from the neighborhood, but there was only 1 worth missing when we moved.  Being here, I established local friends and we felt at home here.  The local friends I could keep, and parting with that townhouse and neighborhood was easy.

After a year and a half at that townhouse, we moved here.  June was 2.  Josh was 10 months.  Eliz was >almost< a reality.  We've lived here over 3 years now and just this year, I feel roots forming.  I feel reality.  First, we are here longer than anywhere we have lived before and we should be here a few more years.  This neighborhood is part of a greater transition... we can settle.  Secondly, there are people.  Friends and people.  I'm meeting friends in the neighborhood who I wouldn't hesitate to call if I needed something.   I am going beyond acquaintance and into neighborhood friends.  Also,  June has a handful of friends in the neighborhood now.  He can run out and play with the little boy 4 doors down anytime.  He has another little boy up the street who goes to school with him.  June plays tball with both of those boys.  Tyler, the little boy up the street, has such a sweet family who I feel are growing into family friends.  Tyler's sister will go to Kindergarten with Josh and Tyler's parents are both super nice.  There is a family on the corner that we are getting to know well too.  I feel incorporated into the atmosphere here.

I just feel at home.  This isn't just a house and our current residence, it's more.  I love June's school (I'll post on that later) and our neighborhood.  I love the house itself too. I could write a whole post on that, but I really love this house!  I think our roots will still be small enough that when we move, it won't be detrimental, but I think it's going to sting a bit to remove ourselves from what we are now establishing.  I know that this house isn't forever, God willing (We need a bigger back yard!), but I'm enjoying it while we are here.  I feel welcomed and neighborly.  It's nice.  We're growing roots.  :)