Last week my friends Seth and Carrie moved into my basement. They make #12 & #13 to live in my basement. S&C have been on this huge adventure since February of this year, traveling all over the country. They were needing a place to keep their stuff while they were on the road and also a place to stay when they are in town so I offered up my basement.

Carrie is one of my dearest friends and someone that I can easily live with. While they have been home this summer, she and Seth have provided SO much community to the kids and I. Something that we are desperately needing at this time in life. Relationships mean so much more when you are constantly living life together.

Seeing them leave yesterday for the next leg of their trip was bittersweet. I know that this trip is such a great opportunity for them – not something they will be able to do once they have kids and a mortgage. But it’s also sad for me to lose a big part of my community, if only temporarily. The lesson that I’m learning is that I need to continue to cultivate a community surrounding me and the kids. That life is meant to be lived together and that it takes a village – for all of us.