Seven years (and six babies) ago the Deadwylers decided to move in next door. In those years we have watched each others kids while babies were being born. We have watched each others babies being born. We watched ourselves become more and more outnumbered each and every year. We've done lots and lots of other things as well (shared illnesses, commiserated during injuries, played hard and worked hard, to name a few), but it would seem as though it's been the multiplying that has kept us the busiest.

Our kids have no idea what it is like to grow up without best friends right at their disposal. They have grown up anxious to get out the door every day to share big news or build forts or ride bikes. We grown-ups have loved every second of cheap babysitting that old baby monitor gave us in the (usually) quiet hours after all of those little people finally settled into bed.

Living next door to good friends has been a priceless experience for us and has reminded us of the importance of community. We are so thankful that God carved these seven years out for our families to enjoy together and look forward to so many more.

So Brian and Sarah, Emma, James, Cate, Jesse and Abby... it's been a wild and crazy (and fruitful) and really wonderful seven years. Thanks for thinking it would be awesome to be neighbors. It was.