Our Magnum Opus: Putting Down Roots

Grass_roots_1

When we moved here five years ago it was a rough adjustment. We left the city I grew up in, where my roots spread far and wide. I rarely went anywhere without running into someone I knew. I was familiar with all the back streets and shortcuts. Our children had third generation friends.

Certainly, we have grown strong roots in the Catholic homeschooling community here. However, since our children are not in the local schools and we are not in a neighborhood, it is taking longer to feel as if we have roots in the larger community.

I realize anywhere we live in this life is our temporary home and heaven is our real home. But I did not like being transplanted. OK, our move was only about half an hour from my childhood city, but still...

Last night there was a 5K run and Christmas parade in our 'new' downtown. Kevin and Kevin J. ran the 3.1 mile race. I was so proud of them. Kevin finished at a decent time, a very respectable pace of 9:40/mile. His time improves with each race. Kevin J. came in with the top, seasoned runners (8:05/mile). He finished 286th out of about 1200 runners, 320 finishers ahead of his father. He looks effortless when he runs. With his long stride, imagine how he would finish if he actually trained!

I digress. As we were cheering our runners, we saw and cheered for some friends who were running also. Then a lady with her dogs came over so our children could pet the dogs. She was actually excited that we have many children. The couple sitting next to us were very kind and friendly as well. As the parade began we were unexpectedly joined by dear friends from way back in Kevin's childhood, there with their sweet, little granddaughter. They were most enthusiastic about our family and homeschooling.

Driving home, though the traffic was bad no matter what I did, I knew the back streets and shortcuts to take.

We must be putting down roots. It just takes longer for them to grow than I expected.