A Housewarming and Picnic to Remember

July 16, 2018

I’m not sure what was more full at the end of the day: our hearts or our bellies. L’Arche friends, family, and community came together on July 7th as we gathered to celebrate our new home in Beaverton with a picnic. As people began to flood through the doors, the house truly felt like an “arc” that would be able to stay afloat and thrive for many years to come. Friends and guests enjoyed grand tours of the home. L’Arche Portland will be able to welcome 6-8 new people, both with and without intellectual disabilities, as we fill our new L'Arche home.

Before lunch, Andy spoke about the Beaverton home, what a wonderful opportunity for expansion and growth this is, and acknowledged how fantastic it was to have such a large group supporting and celebrating the home at the picnic. We then shared a blessing and headed inside to fill our plates. New and familiar faces found time to share conversation and connect over a warm summer feast on the lawn. A new friend, Emma, held our outreach coordinator Allie's hand and walked her to the side of the house, where they took a moment to smell the roses. 

There are many things we can’t control as we build a new home; the chipping paint on the walls, the tear in the screen door, the wear on the hardwood floors. These are all signs of a house well used, well lived in, and well loved, and are what make it a home. Similarly, our differences as individuals are what make us human and bring us together in community. The L’Arche community embraces our differences as human beings by welcoming everyone in with open arms and a hand that reaches out to say “hey, lets stop and smell the roses.”