About that ice cream...

Who doesn’t want to win free ice cream?

I did! So when I saw a contest to win an ice cream block party for our neighborhood, of course I wanted to enter.

Then I saw this:

To enter, please write an essay telling why your neighborhood deserves an ice cream block party.

We have lived in our neighborhood for three and a half years and barely know anyone. Yes, people wave to each other and are pleasant, but nothing that deserved a block party.

But I decided to enter anyway. I didn’t write about how our neighborhood deserved a party, but about how we needed one; for connection, fellowship, and fun.

And wouldn’t you know - we won.

You see, I failed to mention that since we moved in, I had been praying for our neighbors and for a way to connect with them.

And in His timing, God provided just that.

As our prize, we won ice cream and party supplies for 100 people. We asked our small group for their help in organizing the event and they jumped right in. Our two boys helped me hang invitations up and down our street.

The day of the event it rained.

Right up until our start time. And then, it stopped.

People started coming. Not everyone on the street stopped by, but the ones who did were so glad to connect with one another.

Games were played, our driveway was covered in sidewalk chalk, everyone ate ice cream, connections were made and God answered my prayer.

Incredible photos by our wonderful, talented friend Jeff - thanks man!