When You Have Great Neighbors

So recently we were given a pretty sweet gift from our neighbor.  She is a new neighbor to us, has lived next door for just a few months and has been doing major renovations to the exterior of her home since moving in (including building a pool).  Our neighbor's house is one of the oldest in our town, over 100 years old and the previous owners did a marvelous job renovating the interior - but the exterior did need some help.  I'm hoping when she is all finished I can do a home tour and share it with all of you - you would love it, it's beautiful.  So anyway, because of the pool going in next door she wanted more privacy in the back and also had to follow code which requires at least a 6' fence.  Our yards are pretty close (It's amazing to me that they even had enough space to build a pool and have plenty of room for a patio and gazebo and so on.  Our backyard is totally fenced in with a chain link fence and because of the new fence that needed to be added by our neighbor she suggested that we tear out our old fence (and by we I mean her contractors) and she would build a new shared fence and even include a fancy wooden gate so we could enter from the front yard, Umm -I'm sure you know what our answer was - yes!!!  She refused any help and wanted to do it as a gift - just because - can we just say we have the best neighbors ever?

So here is the best picture I could find of our backyard fence before:

And here it now, looking all fancy with it's new wooden fence.  Really, how nice is this?

So another cool thing about this fence (as if it could get any better) was the fact that it added space to our backyard.  For some reason whoever installed the old chain link fence cut off our backyard by almost 10'.  If you look at the picture below you can see where our old fence sat.  So now we have a little more space for Silas to play in the back - we are thrilled.

We have so much enjoyed hanging out in our new private backyard and are completely humbled by the sweet and gracious gift from our new neighbor.  I don't know if I could ever bake enough cookies but honestly I don't think she would want me to.

Last night in bible study we were talking about the love of Jesus and how extravagant and lavish it is.  This fence kind of reminds me of that.  When Jesus gives - he gives extravagantly, he goes over and beyond - even giving us His life.   His gifts are usually undeserved, they are simply pure grace. Over the past few weeks I have really been asking myself a question:  Do I love extravagantly the way Jesus does?  If we are called to love the way God does then do I go over, above and beyond the way I should?  Who do I need to love extravagantly this week?  God's love sure is a crazy love and it challenges us to the core. I am so thankful for a God that gives and loves us beyond anything we can comprehend - His love is extravagant.

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
   your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
   your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
   find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
   you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
   in your light we see light. Psalm 36:5-9

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Matthew 10:30

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!