it takes a village

this backyard has fed hundreds of people over the past four years

food being their love language

my dear friend leslie and her sweet worker bee husband nick

have a revolving door at their home

they have created something i dream of having

a home where you are drawn to just sit and linger and chat and laugh

a home where you know you are welcome and you just want to stay and come back again and again

yesterday we were invited to join them for a night of being fed in every way

good company

good sights

good food

good music

good for the soul indeed

for we were apart of their village

leslie and i have been friends since i knocked on her door and she answered in her hubby's sweats holding a faceless but newly sewn black apple doll

{that doll has never been graced with a face}

we were instantly friends

that just happens with some people

we have shared our life together

the joyous bits 

and the down right icky bits

i feel privileged to be counted among her village

those people who have been by her side this past year

as she and her incredible family have traveled on the journey of foster care

if you have ever wondered if that could be the path for you

i would encourage you to read her beautiful blog

she holds nothing back

sharing the heartfuls as well as the heartbreaks

it was a magical evening

spent with beautiful people

the kind that make you want to be better

live a more generous life giving

we were delighted by the soothingly cool voice of nick's cousin daniel

i'd love to see his name in lights one day

i feel honored to be among this army of valiant women

bearers of burdens

and lifters of spirits

collective souls all apart of this village