Marengo Tango 2

Define success for a neighborhood yard party? This question has been lurking in my mind for the past day. The day after our yard party. Initially, thoughts come to mind about: all the setting up, all the planning, prep, getting food, making sure we have everything we need. Do, do, do...

Yes, that was done wonderfully, thanks to my wife, and close neighbors and our community group friends. But those things do not define how this party was successful. This does:

1. New neighbors meeting new neighbors
2. Neighbors, we have a relationship with, coming and helping, engaging with new neighbors. 
3. Kids, interacting with each other (who typically would not)
4. Having a mother-in-law willing to, no, loving to watch our little Livy so we could stay out and meet people.
5. CG - living true community by having some of our CG joining us in the fun.

We had a consistent group of people all day long. When we thought the party was about to end, around the corner came a new couple with kids, or someone pulls up from CG to hang for a while. It was awesome. 

Why do we have this party? Its a hard thing to put together. Its a sacrifice for us to get all this to happen. Its a sacrifice financially for us and many. We have this party because we believe community starts in the neighborhood you are in. We often hear, "Wow, I have been wanting something like this for years" or "Why would you do something like this?". We are fairly new the the neighborhood and from day one we wanted to have relationships with those around us. For security reasons, but mainly to live a life as Jesus led for us. We have, in times, failed but one of our greatest desires is to have an open door for those around us. So in having this party, our doors were opened, literally, but also in a way that we hope people will stop by whenever they need to, to visit, to talk, to invite us. 

In the past year we have had three great relationships with close neighbors, one invited my wife to a local consignment shopping day. We have been invited to football/cornhole parties, and now have a girl from the neighborhood babysitting in our group. 

We hope this continues grow, and through prayer and keeping out hearts open to God's agenda for us, I know it will. We love our neighbors and thank everyone who supported us and them this weekend! We love you all!

Thanks for listening to me ramble,

- Cliff