Muscat Court

The beginning of my children's lives and the first formation of our family occurred on Muscat Court.  On this small court in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Athens sat four houses, make that homes.  Inside the walls of these homes lived 9 children all within a four year spread.  On this court these children learned to ride their bikes, learned to climb trees, learned to get along, and learned conflict resolution.  On this court these children learned what it meant to share--juice boxes for everyone from anyone's home.  On this court these children learned that to be a neighbor means answering the phone and picking up someone else's child because a parent is tied up at another child's doctor appointment.  On this court these children learned that to have a friend you have to be a friend.  On this court these children learned that sometimes you had to have the hard conversations, but they were done with love and respect, and the friendships continue.  On this court these children learned that the best dinners were those that included everyone contributing and grills in the center of the court.  On this court these children learned that Mommys shared their days and their dreams, reminded each other who they were before and encouraged each other to continue to grow.  On this court these children learned that Mommys and Daddys have good days and bad days but that they continue to live and laugh and love. On this court these children learned to celebrate each others successes and to be a shoulder and a friend for the disappointments that come to us all.  On this court these children learned that you have to be accountable not only to your own family but to those around you, and on this court these children learned that there are many people who will love you AND hold you accountable.  On this court these children learned that one more hour of being together outside was worth the late night bath or even going to bed dirty because you can't recapture this day or these times.  On this court these children learned what it means to respect themselves and others.  On this court these children learned that faith matters and that living your faith matters even more.  This court was empty on Sunday mornings as all four households left to attend four different churches but worshiping one God.  On this court these children learned that not everyone is blessed with the neighbors that become life long friends, and so they opened their hearts and doors to numerous other children who drove to become part of the Muscat Court gang.

From this court I have learned that foundations of faith and family and friendships matter and that even after being gone for 10 years, the lessons I learned on this court continue to resonate.  From this court I have learned that those early foundations of faith and family and friends never leave you; I have learned that these foundations are deep and lasting and that every person who lived and loved and laughed on this court helped to shape who I am and who my children are today.  Foundations matter, friendships matter, family matters, faith matters, and all this I learned from this court.