Everyone Needs A Florida Vacation

A week ago our daughter, age 17, flew for the first time alone,  To Florida.  To spend a week with a friend she had only met in person once before.  Because, yes, we are crazy like that!

She had the time of her life!

Everyone should do the beach in the rain, right?

A little background.  She met this dear girl on a homeschool online forum YEARS ago.  They have communicated every since and realized they are two peas in a pod.  They have chatted, written letters, Skyped and sent gifts.  They have talked and laughed and talked some more.  (Don't you just love to hear laughter between girlfriends!?) They have built a beautiful friendship over the years.

It is such a good reminder to me that distance cannot separate the love of friends.  Because of our frequent moving, we have left behind a piece of our hearts in many states,  Even though we are apart, those sweet friends still mean the world to us.  I am thankful for each one that God has put in our path.  We may not see them often, but they are such an important part of our lives and our stories!

Watch out Disney- I am betting these two are going to have amazing stories as well!

Blessings,

The Blessing of Friends

Through the years and our many moves we have made a lot of friends.  Some have blessed our short stay somewhere and others made footprints on our hearts that will never fade away.  They are different, but both are loved and appreciated.

But those footprint friends - well, they are the ones that hold us tight and sustain us through the years. They are the ones that still love us when we leave.  They are the ones that do not allow the miles to separate us and fight hard to keep us close.

They are loved.

Two such sweet friends blessed us a few months ago and I have been remiss in sharing.  They are two young girls that met Ashton 8 years ago, when she was just 13, and made her their friend.  Those two had grown up together and yet they let her into their private little world and made her one of them. They did not let the threat of a move keep them at a distance.  They loved her regardless.  They love her still.  And she loves them as well.

And so through the years, phone calls and letters and an occasional visit have kept them close.  And the help of their parents brought them together for a weekend.  And despite the time and distance they did not miss a beat. (yes, I know that is a lot of ands!)

It was a wonderful sight to see and noise to hear.  The talk and the laughter.  The joy!  It brought such joy to this momma's heart while reminding me of the dear friends I have made through the years.  I could close my eyes and just imagine us doing the same thing.  So much fun!  And such a blessing. To her and to me!

And as always, God's timing could not have been more perfect!

So a big thank you to Kelli and Natalie- for the fun, the laughter, the friendship and the love!  For blessing my girl and my family!

Thank you to the many friends that have blessed us through the years.  I may not always say it, but you ALL are loved and I thank you for the blessing of your friendship!

Blessings,

S is for So About That Courting Thing...

This post has been rolling around in my head for some time now.  But since this article was posted, several friends have asked my opinion and thoughts.  So here I go, trying not to step on any toes...

I suspect that those who have done courtship successfully are big believers in courtship and those who have seen it fail do not believe in it.

Let's face it- it is easy to believe in something we see as good.  It is equally as easy to throw stones at something we see as flawed.

As for the article- it has some really good points and it has some really bad ones.  I also think it had no real answers for our young people.

You want to know why?

Because there are no real answers.  No two people are alike, no two situations are alike, and no book has all the answers.  Trust me on that one, as we have read them all!  If we try to pattern our lives and relationships after books and other people, we are doomed to fail.

If we trust and rely on God to lead us, we will succeed.

I do not think the issue is what we call it, or how exactly we do it, but instead who is glorified through it.

So, for now, our rule is no dating in high school.  That's it.  After that, we are open to what God has in store.

And my biggest advice for my girls and my boys- marry your best friend!  You can't go wrong!

I married my best friend, and while every step of our journey hasn't looked like a fairy tale to the outside world, he is still my prince. And best friend!

Blessings,

Also linking up with Milk and Cuddles!

You are not alone, my friend!

Last week, I was at Hallmark buying a hand load of cards to send to my college girl and a few of her friends that have left the nest as well.  A BIG hand load.  So I felt the need to explain myself.  (I know, I know, it is a fault I am working on)  I mumbled something about just leaving my oldest at college and immediately the checkout gal gasped, manged to get out a weak "me too" and got teary.

ahhhhhhhhhhhh, someone just like me.  And if I had not had that annoying trait of needing to explain everything to everyone, I would have missed her and her sad heart.  Instead I was able to take a breath (to fight my tears), tell her I understood, and assure her we would get through and that I would pray for her.  And I will!  Just as a new friend of mine has committed to pray for ME every time she misses her son (don't you just love that concept?  Thank you Jan!), I now have another person I can pray for when I feel those heartstrings get tugged at.

How many people do we pass through the day, do you think, that are just like us...

hurting
lonely
tired
stressed
sick
or whatever...

that need a friend and a prayer?  Oh, that I may open my eyes and be that friend!  It is hard, it takes time and it takes commitment, but God calls us to love others none the less. 

Are we making the effort?

Am I?

Encourage one another and build each other up.

1 Thessalonians 5:11