Community

Anyone who knows us on a personal level (which I like to think most are clients feel), knows that the Just Trees family is BIG on community. We live out on a dirt road with 4 houses of neighbors and we take part in important milestones and even more important family dinners and chores with one another. Two sets of neighbors even stayed up all night to create Kristina's big girl room for her birthday surprise.

This summer has offered us even more opportunity to get together. Last weekend was my (muffle muffle)th birthday and neighbors and friends turned out in full force! My birthday is the 4th of July. Little K participated in a parade early in the morning that she was sure as all for me. It's so sweet that my little one felt all of Austin was out with balloons and fanfare to celebrate her momma.

Later in the day, we were joined by many to BBQ and enjoy our new "redneck" pool, my birthday gift. Even without the usual Austin fireworks the festivities banged on into the late evening. It feels wonderful to be so supported by our adopted family.

Neighbors are truly an asset to a family. I hope you will be encouraged to get out and meet those who live near you. It's more than a borrowed cup of sugar (or in our case, someone to pick up milk for Little K on their way home). Neighbors form a foundation and keep you in line, making sure your actions match your beliefs.

As a favorite classic movie, The Matchmaker, tells us, "A man can survive without his wallet, but not without his friends."

There are many more gems in this movie, and I encourage you to add it to your Netflix que. Here's one I'd like to dedicate to our office assistant, Katie, for her upcoming 25th birthday,

"The very young are almost as smart as the very old, Cornelius. It's in the middle that you get in all the trouble."