From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

If you are facing a move in the near future, or if you have just moved, or perhaps you have lived in your new town for years and yet still do not feel connected to it, this series can help.  I share from my heart all the things that helped me make my new town my hometown much faster than I thought possible.

 

How to build new friendships and create a feeling of community after a move. #relocate #friendship

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Many years ago, my husband and I traveled from his hometown (which was a full-day trip from my hometown) to a  small city in Indiana. A journey that took us thousands of miles away from both of our hometowns and everyone we knew.

My husband and I arrived in our new town, knowing just our newborn, our two-year-old, our 6-year-old, and each other. We knew no one else, and we had never even set foot in the town until the day we moved there.

Yet within months, I had budding relationships with people who quickly became close friends, who then grew to be the most intimate friends I have ever had in my life. I also rapidly began to feel at home in my community.

It all began with a stressful prayer to God “Help me; I am lonely; I need a friend.” This series is what He taught me about making friendships and building community – plus a few funny stories of things that happened along the way.

From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

 Introduction

My Story

Part One: Becoming Friend Worthy

1. It all begins with fellowship with God

2. The most important lesson in friendship building

3. Are you welcoming?

4. Create mutual bonds

5. Meet a need and make a friend

6. Don’t try to look perfect

7. Not everyone is going to be your friend 

From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

Part Two: Places To Find Friends

1. Start the search online

2. Church

3. Community

4. MOPS

5. Homeschooling groups

6. Be the neighbor with the active porch swing

7. Breaking the ice and setting goals

From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

Part Three: Creating Community

1. Research before you leave

2.Visit your new local visitors center

3. Make a to see list

4.Take a Sunday drive

5.Study the history of the area

6.Take part in all things local

7.Explore local state parks and playgrounds

From New Town To Hometown: Building Friendships & Community After A Move

We Interrupt This Series With a Silly Story

1. It is going to be a long trip

2. When you give a two year old a marker

3. I was a soap opera star for just one day

4. A sign that the long trip was about to end

5. What happens when your landmarks become cornfields

6. Before you invite a potential friend to a park make sure you know where it is

7. My emergency is bigger than anything at the ER

8.  There is no national emergency it is just Black Friday

Conclusion

My new hometown

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