I just got home from Girl's Night Out.....my once-a-month date with my girlfriends. Tonight's activity was an intimate gathering of six over at someone's house. We all pitched in a little snack and came prepared with sewing scissors. On the agenda was to go through her two 30 gallon rubbermaid containers full of clothes that her middle school son grew out of through the years.

She told us that when she moved out of her parents house years ago, her grandmother had made a quilt for her using pieces of all her "little girl clothes". And now, she wants to prepare to do the same for her son one day. 

So, each of us took a stack of garments out of the boxes and started to cut them down....mainly cutting around the writing, or logo, or sports team, or favorite number.....we even had some Batman underwear in there! LOL We talked and laughed and told stories and watched American Idol (that was a first for me). It was really fun. When we were all done, she had us each sign our names on a piece of paper so that it could be transferred to the quilt eventually....to include the names of everyone who had a part in making it.

I'm pondering the conversations we had over the last few hours.....all the ground we can cover. That's what we do. You know it's hard to talk everyday when we're each so busy taking care of our families, some homeschooling, and some working full-time jobs. When we make the effort to come together and visit, we don't waste any time at all. We make sure to laugh and joke and get caught up on the regular stuff. But, we also take the time to really listen to eachother when someone really needs to talk about something that's weighing heavy on their heart. It helps so much to have a "sound board". It's a time we can encourage one another....give opinions or advice.....talk about what the Bible has to say about this or that.....really be there to do life together. And it gives us a current way to really pray for eachother. I think without that, it might all be in vain.

Thank you Lord for blessing my life with these dear friends and their beautiful hearts. I pray especially tonight for Cricket. You know her struggles and her needs Lord. I ask that You give her the direction and discernment that she needs right now in her life. Lord, I pray that you will give her the spirit of power, the spirit of love, and the spirit of sound mind, that you've promised her according to your Word. Lord, may you place your desires in her heart, and give her the strength to stand firm and be courageous during this time of trial and temptation.  Amen.