The best-est neighbors in the whole wide world!

Paula and I have lived in our little home for 33 years. We have lived here longer than any of our neighbors, but we do live on a street that has remained pretty stable for most of that time. Most of our neighbors have lived here for over 25 years. All of our neighbors are nice people. We don't have a single weirdo on our block. We're blessed!

There are neighbors, however, and there are neighbors. It's one thing to have a neighbor who smiles and waves and will put your mail back in the mailbox when it mistakenly gets left in someone else's mailbox. That's nice. Most of our neighbors have always been people who prefer to drive into their garage and close the garage door and rarely ever come out and visit in the front yards or on the sidewalk. They're all nice people, but generally have enjoyed their privacy. I'm a little like that, also, so I understand.

A few years ago, a neighbor who had lived next door -- raised his three boys and later on, when he lost his wife, lost interest in taking care of a large home. He told Paula that he was going to sell his home. Paula was out in our yard, puttering around, when Joni Arter drove slowly by, rolled her window down and spoke with Paula for a minute. Paula asked her what she was doing in 'our' neighborhood, knowing that Joni and Neil Arter lived about a mile away. Joni let us know that they needed a little more room, and from time to time, she would get in her van and drive around, 'curb-shopping' in other neighborhoods. Paula told her that the house next to us was for sale. Joni turned around in her seat and said that she didn't see a 'For Sale' sign in the yard. Paula told her that: "You're the first person, after me, to know about it." Joni went home and picked up her husband, Neil. They returned and talked with our neighbor a long time. Before we knew it, they had bought the house next door! We couldn't believe it! What a wonderful thing--- to have the wonderful people who were: a. Christians b. the parents of little Paige and Gina Arter (Gina was named after our beautiful daughter Gena Marie) c. the people who, uner the direction of Neil Arter, orchestrated, directed and protected the Summer Singers at Oklahoma Christian University for years (our daughter and future son-in-law were both Summer Singers and benefited from the Arter's love and guidance during all those years!).

We were ecstatic! We had no idea, however, just what a blessing it would be to have the Arter family living next door. They are not 'hermit neighbors', but are peoople who love to have you in their lives and to be a part of their neighbors' lives. The Arters and the Shoemake's are good friends and the Shoemake's have benefitted greatly from knowing and associating with the Arter family. As Glen Beck would say:
'Here's how I got there': The Arter's are constantly either inviting us over for a meal or bringing something tasty from their kitchen. They invite us to do things with them. They are always offering to help with this or that....and the offers are not the Southern 'ya'll come over sometime' offer, with little substance behind it. They are genuine offers, and the followthrough that often accompanies an invitation or an offer, proves that what they said was heartfelt. We love these Arter people!

The Arter's are some of the most caring people we have ever met. Their house is nearly always brimming with guests...people who feel free to drop by...for a visit or a meal or to spend the night. The Arters are the most hospitable people we have ever known. We frankly do not know how they manage to make welcome so many dozens of people every week. If we didn't know better, we would think that there was some kind of multi-level marketing meeting going on next door! Everybody loves the Arters!

Paula and I always -- when the weather and schedule permits -- have breakfast on our front porch, among all the flowers and the rock garden and little fountain. The Arters have always come over, when the mood and opportunity presents itself, and we have a nice, if sometimes brief visit. They stay in touch. We've never had neighbors like this (and we've never before really invited that kind of closeness with our neighbors). The Arter's changed all that. They are like family to us, and most of that feeling of 'family' is due to the outgoing nature of the Arter family. They are, in our estimation, what the New Testament talks about with the admonitions to Christians to be hospitable people -- people who love their neighbors as themselves.

We are so blessed to know these Godly, sweet people. They are younger than we are, but we are learning a lot from their great example! These Arters are God's people, to be sure!