After an long absence, I have decided to begin blogging again. Why the long vacation? I'm not really sure. Since I last blogged here, we sold our "dream house" of 4 years in order to purchase 2 old, historic homes in a transitional neighborhood--or "the hood" as our grown children like to say. A neighborhood where there are always interesting things happening and where we have come to know well many of the police officers of our fine city! But, also a home where we feel we absolutely belong and where God wants us to be. People don't understand why one would leave behind a lovely, 5,000 sq. ft. home, for 17oo sq. ft. of rehabbed space in such a neighborhood (our frequent comment to those who ask how it is there, is, "well, we haven't heard a gun shot in several weeks!"--and that would be true. Yet, we've never felt safer. Our neighbors watch our backs. They, and our tiny little shihtzu, Jazzy, recognize anyone who isn't normally seen in the block and stand alert!

My last blog entry was about our dear Madeline ("Maddie") who left us in June of 2008. We still wish we knew what happened to her, and try not to imagine the worst. For my birthday in 2009, my husband found Jasmin or "Jazzy" and it was love at first sight. She has a very similar personality as our Maddie had--calm, sweet, loving and extremely well-behaved. How did we get so lucky?

I will say more at some later date about the why of our move. Only a few understand that it was the fulfillment of a nearly 30-year dream--to live in a neighborhood near the center of town, where everybody knows your name and your know theirs, and where your interest in them is valued and where even a smile speaks many words to those who so often feel unnoticed, unheard and unseen. It fills this girl's heart with joy. That's all I can say.