wednesdays

Wednesdays are dear to me. A lot of good comes to my heart every single Wednesday. I am immeasurably grateful for that. It starts for me when I get to Kellie’s house to pick her up. She started going with me to BSF this year. I didn’t think it could get any better for me until she started coming along. 

We get to stand together and sing old hymns to affirm our faith. And we sit together during the lecture, while we feverishly write notes as Barbara speaks truth and wisdom straight from God’s Word into our hearts. Then we walk out together talking excitedly about the lecture and the discussion and the upcoming lesson. We visit with friends, some new and some women we grew up with teaching us Sunday School as little kids. I take her back to her house and hang out for a bit before I head over to my in-laws house where I meet Andrew for lunch. We hang out and eat and I steal a couple of kisses mid work day before he’s on his way. 

Then Maddie Bell and I hang out on the front lawn under the shade of a big tree and I dive into my BSF lesson for the week. On some Wednesdays I will go and pick Stacey up from school and catch up with her for a bit. And the day is positively perfect to me.

I literally feel as though I am grieving over losing it. We move in a month. I only have one more BSF Wednesday left. One. And it hurts my heart enough to bring tears brimming to the surface every single time I think about it. And depending on where I am when I think about it, I’ll allow them to brim up and over and I get lost in my grief because it’s that kind of heavy. I need to feel it to move on from it. And I know it’s just the beginning of the process.

I know I will still go to BSF. I will still get the same lessons and be in the Word and doing the same study Kellie and many friends are doing in Miami. And I am blessed to have a friend attending the BSF in Orlando. I won’t be alone and I know I’ll make friends. It’s just that the Wednesdays here are so special. And the Wednesdays there will just be different.

I am so grateful for the sweetness of my current Wednesdays. I am so glad I got to have them. I’ll always treasure them and the people I got to share them with.

my sister, my friend

To be perfectly honest, there aren’t many friends or acquaintances that I have talked to about their sisters-in-law that can say how much they treasure being family now or go even further in saying that they would consider them to be dear friends. That is why I feel extremely blessed to be able to say both of those things about mine. 

Now we are very much alike in many ways and very different in others, so it took us awhile to figure out how to relate to one another and form a bond. When we first met, Becky was extremely cautious of me and kept her distance, while I tried my hardest to become BFFs at a rate of 0-60 in 4 seconds flat. A major difference between the two of us right there. I cannot blame her; I was after all her brother’s first girlfriend and she loves him dearly and wanted to be sure I was right for him and their family before she herself got too close. Plus, she chooses her friends very carefully and wisely {one reason why I feel so honored to be one of them now}, and my lets-be-best-friends-because-I-can-tell-I-really-like-you-after-5-minutes personality was a little much for her. {Sorry, Beck, for my pushiness back then and thanks for forgiving me of it!}

 

[ the two of us with our first “babies” many moons ago]

I don’t remember exactly when it was we really started clicking, but I just know I am so very glad that we did! I love her so much! She is quiet and I’m loud. I talk too much and too soon, while she chooses her words wisely. There are times when I wonder how on earth she puts up with me given how differently we operate, but she finds it in herself to do so and she loves me in spite of my crazy. She’s a fabulous listener and a great encourager when I tell her of my woes and fears. She is my favorite shopping buddy. I look forward to summers and holiday seasons when I know we will be in the same city for days or weeks at a time. When that happens, I try my hardest to see her everyday. And yes, she is the mother of Cutie Pie and Little Man so part of me wants to see them every chance I can get, but honestly I cherish my time with her too.  

She has always been an extremely strong person. Often times I wonder if she realizes how strong she is because I don’t think she gives herself enough credit! She is an awesome teacher and I love talking teacher stuff with her. She is an amazing mommy and I have learned sooooooooo much from watching her with my niece and nephew and hearing her talk about motherhood and parenting. She loves Jesus and I thank Him on the regular for making us sisters and friends, and for also giving us a firm foundation in Him to deepen our friendship because I consider her one of my best. 

 

Today is her birthday and I really wish that I could be there to celebrate with her {and catch a showing of Breaking Dawn part 1 too}. I love you dearly, my sister and my friend. Praying that you feel very loved and appreciated today and that this year is full of blessing and joy!

Row15

We didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Usually when you witness a group of friends you find a likeness among them. For instance, the group might dress similarly and like the same music or books or movies, and the group will have similar hobbies or enjoy going to the same types of places. But not really with us. Not really at all. We were all so very different. And yet we did have a common thread. We all were young and trying to figure out how to live our lives as an offering to God. Something we all took very seriously. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that we were meant to be. God knew that we needed each other for a season and so it was, whether we made sense or not. 

Beth and I ventured into a new college ministry one Wednesday night back in the Fall of 2002. I am pretty sure that very first night at Breaking Bread someone invited us to be a part of a Discipleship group. {Jenny, was that you? Or Kate maybe?} Beth and I went to the first meeting and we were instantly hooked! We loved the people there. {Side note: We met this guy who walked us to our car. He kept talking about politics! We laughed and rolled our eyes. And now 9 years later Beth has had two babies with him. :) Funny how things turn out.}

If you flip through my journals from that time period in my life you will find all of their names in the pages. Each one of them taught me something about myself, about God, and/or about friendship. That group is very special to me. It was about 12 guys and gals altogether. There were some who trickled in and out, but there was a core group of us who really stuck it out together. We met together weekly in the home of a young couple who set out to mentor and disciple us. I am pretty sure we grew them as much as they helped in growing us. Every week we got together to pray, to read the Word,  to discuss, to dump out our emotional and mental and spiritual baggage, and to wade through the mess together. There were a lot of tears, a lot of laughs, and a lot of memories made. It was amazing while it lasted. As the group dispersed, it was clear that we all were headed in new directions and that our group, while it was meant to be, had served its purpose.  It was time for all of us to move on.  There was no big drama or misunderstanding…it was just time for it to end and so it did. But those friendships and lessons will live on in our own personal history books.

Last weekend the girls of the group had a reunion. At first all 6 of us were going to meet up, but Kate got a job in NY she couldn’t refuse and Abbie kept getting bumped from her flight until there were no more flights to get on! They were both missed tremendously! Beth and I drove to Georgia where we met up with Jenny and Shell drove in from Nashville and met up with us. The weekend was wonderful. All we did was sit in the hotel room, a Starbucks, Jenny’s house, or a restaurant, but it was perfect for catching up on the last 6 years. You can imagine we had a lot of talking to do! These girls were my biggest encouragers in the faith in that ever so formative year in my life. They spurred me on and loved me through quite a bit of junk. It was so awesome to feel like no time had passed. We just fell right back into place. We had new things to discuss and new challenges; we had husbands now and some kids, new jobs, and new cities. But we still wanted what we wanted back then…to live our lives for the Lord and to love others as He called us to. The weekend was like water for my soul. In all honesty, I have trouble finding the right words because these gals mean so much to me and they do so much for my heart. 

Jenny, your sensitivity to the Spirit and the way you communicate what He is teaching you is unique, a Jenny trademark that I admire and love so much about you! Shell, your unapologetic this-is-who-I-am attitude, overflowing joy, honesty, and desire to know and love the Lord is such an encouragement to me and what I love so much about you! Beth, your friendship to me, your honesty, encouragement, love, and willingness to hear me ramble and process through anything and everything while giving me godly council is what I love so much about you! I can’t wait for our next reunion! It will be much sooner than 6 years from now! I don’t know how on earth we survived so long without being together! ;) 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

there’s something about friendship built during the college days

She and I became great friends in college. I can’t remember exactly how we met (Julia, can you? Was it that Speech class?), but I am pretty certain one of the first getting-to-know-you conversations took place in her car. I remember that I just really liked her from the very get go. She is super sweet, but the girl can pack a punch (figuratively speaking). She’s got some spunk in her! I could always count on her to get “worked up” whenever I told her how someone had done me wrong. She may have even uttered the words, “Girl will make me lose my witness” when faced with an encounter of someone who had hurt my feelings. It’s a good feeling to know you’ve got friends like her in your corner.

Maybe we both have some spunk in us…

 

She went with me to adopt Trinity. She actually encouraged me to do it. I am really grateful to her for pushing me because I can’t imagine not having my little Trin. A year later when Julia and I moved in together she and Trinity formed a special bond though Trinity would never admit it. Trinity would curl up in Julia’s lap and pass out, but the second I turned my key in the front door she would spring up and act as if she had been waiting by the door for hours. Julia and I used to joke about it. 

Julia, Beth, and I lived together for two years and it was fantastic! It was so wonderful to come HOME to friends who felt more like family. Julia was a wonderful roomie. She was patient, honest, kind. She cared for me when I was sick and kept me company when I was lonely. We had so much fun together and I will always look fondly on that and part of me will always miss that time in our lives.

Julia brought the party to my bachelorette weekend. Allow these pictures to do the talking...

She and her mother came to the bridal shower I had in Tampa. I had no idea they were coming and I cried when they walked through the door.

 We each were bridesmaids for the other. 

One thing I will never forget about Julia is that she was always Andrew’s biggest fan from the very beginning. Not that my other great friends weren’t, but they were a bit more careful in giving their all out approval in light of the things I had been through. But Julia loved him for me right away.

Julia and I only get to see each other about once a year. I am hoping that will get to change soon as we will be moving closer. I know that I don’t tell her enough how much I miss her and how much I value her friendship!

This week was Julia’s birthday week. I hope you felt very loved and celebrated dear friend! I love you. Happy Birthday!

happy birthday, friend!

I met Rachel through Andrew. Her husband, Brian, and Andrew went to law school together. She and Brian were an answer to prayer! I had been praying Andrew would find good friends while he was in law school because, hey, law school is rough! Andrew being a One L was tough enough, but I ended up in the hospital during his first semester. I was 4 hours away and Andrew had a hard time because he couldn’t be with me. Rachel and Brian invited him into their home on a regular basis and introduced him to one of the dearest church families EVER! They all really helped him through and made what could have been a really difficult time a pleasant one. 

I remember the very first time I met Rachel. It was actually over the phone. I was laying in a hospital bed. Andrew called me while he was at their house and I ended up talking to her, too. I instantly liked her. I thanked her for feeding him dinner every now and then, and I let her know how much she and Brian meant to me though we’d never met. 

The first time we met face to face we abandoned the boys and were in the car on the way to the mall within the first 10 minutes. I knew we’d be good friends. 

She is a wonderful friend. She threw me an amazing bachelorette weekend and bridal shower. She and Brian were both in our wedding. Every year for the last 4 years they have hosted us for an entire week while Andrew goes to a conference in the city they live in, which is always so much fun and so very generous and hospitable of them! They have 2 little boys who are ADORABLE and we have grown to love them quite a bit and enjoy spending time with them just as much as their parents. 

Rachel is the type of gal who has never met a stranger. She instantly makes you feel at ease and welcome. She is the most positive person I know. I honestly have a hard time recalling her complain about anything. I have a lot to learn from her in the attitude and use of speech department. She is stylish and classy. She can do it all -- amazing mama, great wife, good friend, successful business woman, decorator extraordinaire, and she can cook and sew to boot! I love spending time with her and I am so glad God blessed me with her for a friend.

 Happy Birthday, sweet friend! Love you!

like jonathan and david...

 

She was my first real friend in college. We were both enrolled as Theater Majors and looking back now our friendship was the only real reason for that. She and I were fast friends. Kindred Spirits right from the start. We navigated the waters of independence that college gives to youths fresh from their parents’ homes. Together we explored campus, attended different campus ministries and churches, ran our errands, and just plain processed this new life we were experiencing over meals and car rides.

We lived together one year and it ended on a sour note. We still had a lot of growing up to do at that point. Oh, we were so young! Then, as only the truest of friends can do, we got over ourselves and realized that being friends was far more important than pride or being right. We started really being real with one another and found that sometimes in order to heal the deepest hurts in life, you need a best friend to share them with to help carry the load and see you through. So we did that. A lot. 

And we moved back in together and this time it worked out great. We still had our moments every now and again, but who doesn’t? They are just moments. We watched Dr. Phil every single day while we ate dinner because back then watching Dr. Phil and eating cereal for dinner were both acceptable behaviors. We ran errands and attended campus ministries and church together. We had a wall in the kitchen that we used to randomly put up Bible verses to encourage each other and by the time we moved out it was full and beautiful. Over the years we watched each other make some mistakes and grow up quite a bit. I was there the night she met her husband. She was there when I started falling in love for the first time and heard all about it. 

 

When I look back on my college experience {which I often do}, I cannot help but think of Beth and the many memories we made. The Lord undoubtedly chose us as friends long before we knew it. He molded me and helped me to grow in my faith and in my relationship with Him through much of my friendship with Beth. She will always and forever be dear to my heart.

For 5 years we have lived in different cities and it’s been really sad. In those five years she has had two adorable little boys whom I love very much. This Fall we will be in the same city once again and I hope and pray it will be that way for a really long time. 

The pictures below are from a cruise we went on with her very sweet and generous family. We had an amazing time! We cruised from Boston to Maine to Quebec to Prince Edward Island. We even toured Green Gables, THEE Green Gables! Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip.

Midnight Chocolate Extravaganza…I can clink my milk carton to that! Cheers! Beth, let’s do this again with our families some day…

 

Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Beth! Love you, my friend! 

back from the keys

With a view like that you can imagine how hard it was for us to leave! Andrew's family allowed us to stay at their home in the Keys for the weekend and it was the perfect get away! We had an awesome time with our friends!

The first night we were there we all cooked dinner together. Julie and I played it safe and followed a recipe for stuffed peppers that was D-to-the-licious. The boys on the other hand decided to play Bobby Flay and worked up their own concoction for their chicken. It all worked out splendidly and we ate to our hearts content and had left overs.






We also caught the sunset that night and it was beautiful! The sun literally set right in front of us on our own private beach. Incredible!









Friday morning we got up and headed south. We stopped at Bahia Honda State Park and did a little sight seeing and snorkeling. I am pretty certain Julie and I are the only individuals on the entire planet who could make friends with fish and become emotionally attached to them; therefore, it was entirely perfect that we were together making friends with our fish while the boys snorkeled into deeper waters that we were certain were shark infested deep waters. {At one point a family nearby saw a blue crab and started yelling to each other about it. Julie and I nearly had cardiac arrest because we thought they were yelling about a shark sighting and the guys were two little dots somewhere along the horizon. Oh my!}

After a morning at Bahia Honda, we headed down to Key West. I had never been and was so excited to go and see what the hype was all about. We had plans to spend all afternoon and into the night there. However, we had not accounted for the heat index spiking to over 100 degrees! We walked around quite a bit. Ate lunch. Checked out Peter Lik's art gallery. I got a picture at the Southern Most Point of the Continental U.S.A. {Something I've always wanted to do.} Ate some frozen chocolate covered key lime pie. Sweated more than I ever have in my life. Then called it a day because we were all so darn hot and uncomfortable. Next time we will go back down there in the Fall or Winter so that we can enjoy it more.



That night we enjoyed a Leo movie. Julie and I share a "love" for Leo that goes all the way back to his Growing Pains days. {Thank you to our dear sweet husbands who are confident in our love for them and allow us to watch our Leo and talk about him. We appreciate that. And we love you for it.}

The next day we just hung out on our beach and in the water for the entire day and it was wonderful!



Andrew deserved and needed this, and I was happy to look over and see him relaxing.







Vic and Andrew had a lot of time for catching up and talking while Julie and I had a lot of time for girl talk and getting to know each other better.



There was a lot of this over the weekend...






On our last night we played some Taboo and Scategories. Guys vs. the Girls. We shook on it and the playful competitive banter commenced. The guys won Taboo, but we totally creamed them in Scategories so we are even.



We had a great time and we made some great memories! Lyn Family, thank you for opening your home to us and allowing us to have such a good time in such a beautiful place. We can't express how much we appreciate it!

some things can only begin to heal with sun and friends

This morning Andrew and I drove Sonia, Al, and Lisa to the airport.


{Please excuse the lack of make-up here. Just focus on the cute baby.}









They will be taking her back to God’s Littlest Angels, the orphanage that she came from 3 months ago. They will stay with her for a few days to help her transition. The morning was fun. Andrew, Al, Lisa, and I joked around and talked quite a bit, while Sonia babbled, cooed, and smiled. We helped them to the boarding pass/luggage-check line. It seemed like a really long trek from the parking lot to the terminal. As we walked Sonia was all smiles and coos in my arms. I had trouble walking because I couldn’t take my eyes from hers. Somewhere along the way she fell asleep in my arms and I am so thankful she did. I think it made it so much easier to say goodbye. Al, Lisa, Sonia, and all their luggage got in line. We all hugged. I kissed the sleeping babe’s perfectly beautiful cheek. I turned around and practically sped through the crowd because I am not one of the lucky few who manage to cry pretty and the tears were coming quick and relentless.


I can’t wait to see the pictures and videos they bring back so that I can see what Sonia’s life is like in Haiti. I know the staff at the orphanage loves her and will take very good care of her; that is a huge comfort to me. I feel like crying constantly, but I keep talking myself out of it. I need to keep busy.

It just so happens that Andrew managed to work out a weekend get away with some of our best friends. It couldn’t have come at a more necessary time! We leave in a couple of hours and I am so excited. Vic and Andrew have been friends for years. {Most would say they are B.F.F., but guys don’t say that sort of thing.} Vic married Julie a year ago in Aruba and we were there to celebrate with them (pictured below). Julie is fabulous and I told Vic he had to marry her after sitting down with her for the first 5 minutes of our friendship several years ago.




 

Isn’t her dress amazing!? Just stunning. Vic, you done good.



I feel very blessed to call them friends and I love them both dearly. We have talked about going on a vacation together for some time now, and this weekend we finally get to do it!



I need a distraction from Sonia's departure. I am sure I will still have my moments when we get down to the Keys, but I think friends, sun, and some good old-fashioned fun and laughter will certainly help to begin to mend my heart.