Won't you be my neighbor?

Good morning!  It is a beautiful morning here in NYC - 73 degrees with the bluest skies framing all these fabulous buildings.  There is such a beauty to this concrete jungle and I am so privileged to be here at this time, in this place for His purposes.

If you know me at all - you know that I love to get to know my neighbors.  Well, living in a high rise on the 44th floor presents it challenges.

There are 12 apartments on our hall.

12 closed doors.

12 potential apartments full of friends.

12 apartments that are not too sure about this crazy lady that moved in.

12 apartments that I am determined to love and care for.

At Easter, I dropped off cookies to each apartment.  
I had to leave them at the door with a note.

A few doors cracked open to the possibility of being a friend.

Last week, I invited everyone on my hall to brunch on Saturday.

I got emails with regrets - one after another.

I got two emails that said they would try to stop by.

Well, I got up Saturday morning and began to prepare the food, fully aware that I might just be cooking for Alan and I.

10 am came and I had everything set out on the table.

Just waiting for a knock on the door but at peace with no attendance.

YOU HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH 
REJECTION 
IF YOU ARE GOING TO 
DO THIS KIND OF STUFF!!

A bit after 10, there was a knock!!  YAY!

It was a sweet family down at the other end of the hall that I had been reaching out to since they had their first baby in May.

They are from Belgium and their sweet baby boy 
is 3 months old.

I invited them in and we began to talk.

In another 10 minutes or so, 
another knock at the door!

Our across the hall neighbor (whom I had actually never even seen!) had decided to stop by before he left for the weekend.

We all sat around the table and shared brunch.

I got to hold the baby and get him to sleep.

His parents actually got to eat some food in peace!

We all talked, laughed, got to know one another and just enjoy the morning.

The brunch officially ended at 11:30 but they did not leave until 12:15.

It was that much fun!

Our across the hall neighbor told me that he really enjoyed this time - that no one really makes an effort to know anyone on the hall because there is always turnover.  I said "let's change that" and he said "OK!"

And just like that, a few doors are swinging open and I'm sure there are more to follow.

Where do you need to take a risk?

What is holding you back?

Go for it!

Join me in the ranks of the ridiculous.

It is so much fun.