• Mar. 6, 2008
Kindred Hearts
We're just days away from saying goodbye to my best friend and her family as they move 3,500 miles away. Her husband is already en route, and our days together are winding down. Obviously, the emotions and heart needs of these days are many and varied. We're simply trying to embrace the miracle of each moment we share together.
She celebrated a birthday recently, but since they were out of town at the time, we weren't able to celebrate it together. I'd recently mentioned to my husband that I would like to take my dear friend out for her birthday lunch soon. His response? "Let me handle the details. I've got it covered."
Now, my husband had never taken responsibility for planning a girls' outing before, and I giggled thinking of the possibilities. And I admit that occasionally I'd check in with him and say, "You sure you want to do this? Do you need my help?" And with a knowing smile, he assured me that we were in good hands. I did, however, bust a gut when he came home one day and reported, "Did you know that such-and-such Tea Room is now a Cement Company?"
Today was the much-anticipated day, and he began letting me in on his secret this morning. As I waited with expectancy to hear what this day would hold, he told me that he was not the only one responsible for this special day. Tears welled in my eyes as he told me that the beautiful day that I was about to spend with my friend was courtesy of another friend; a friend that I've had the pleasure of being with in person only once in my life. We've known each other for 8 years...via the homeschool message board I frequent. She has prayed for me, encouraged me, and supported me countless times throughout the years. She has become a dear and precious friend, despite the many miles that separate us.
Needless to say, she's known about my soul friend's pending move. She's been praying for both of us as we prepare for our "see you later's." And from across the miles, she involved my husband in orchestrating an unforgettable luncheon for my friend and I to share. I'm overwhelmed at the love she poured out on us.
As we arrived at the Tea Room, we found the staff waiting for us and welcoming us by name. "We've been expecting you," they seemed to say. They made us feel so warm and welcome. My husband later told me he'd filled them in on our story. They knew why we were there and the significance of this day for us.
Natural sunlight flooded the tea room as we were shown to our table...a private, quiet setting apart from the rest. The table was beautifully set, and our server explained that the fresh flowers were ours to take with us. The matching teacups at our places, also, were for us to keep. My husband, working with my friend, had arranged everything perfectly.
We dined on quiche, spinach salad, fresh pineapple, and homemade bread. And we sipped the most delicious tea I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. My choice? Ginger Peach. We even threw caution to the wind and enjoyed the most amazing Rum Fairy Cakes. Hers...Lemon Mango. Mine...Chelsea Chai.
Tied up in yellow ribbon were two sets of letters...one for my friend, one for me. As we read the heartfelt letters from both my husband and the friend who had planned this special day for us, we were overwhelmed at God's goodness in showing us His love through so many dear people. Our attention was directed to the yellow "friendship" roses which graced our table...reminders of the close-knit bond God has given us.
Oh, how I'll always treasure this day in my heart and mind. The luncheon was laced with quiet remembrances of laughter and tears. It was a beautiful celebration of the love God has lavished on us; the love that we in turn are able to share with one another.
Our hearts are filled to overflowing...
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• Feb. 12, 2008
Joy is...
...friends who just show up;
surprise me;
know my needs.
Joy is cooking and preparing for the second Sweetheart Banquet on a cold Saturday morning when out of nowhere, these three beautiful friends show up with picnic basket in hand.
They knew where to find me.
What matters to me matters to them.
They gave of their time and their very lives.
Joy is spreading our picnic out on the stage; enjoying one another and being filled...
physically...
emotionally...
spiritually.
Thank You, Father, for these sisters of my heart. Thank You that neither time nor distance can erase the memories we share.
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• Jan. 14, 2008
Pain Mingled with Joy
In my year-end post, I referenced a previous entry I'd written the year before. In it, I shared how God had taught me much about surrender that year. I'd like to say that was the end of the story; that I learned what it means to give up myself and my desires for the glory of God---end of story. But that's not the way it is. I'm learning more and more that surrender is not a one-time lesson. It's an ongoing, repeated, necessary, painful part of one's walk with God. But from it comes such sweet release and fellowship with Him.
So often I'm prone to tell God how it ought to be. I give Him my ideas and plans and await His stamp of approval. I firmly grasp the things...the people... of life, wishing everything to remain the same.
And while I wish we could go through life pain-free...never having to say goodbye to loved ones, never feeling the heartache from missing someone so dear...in my heart I know that there is no better place to be than in the center of God's will. It's the cry of my heart for myself...my family...and yes, my friends.
While my heart is breaking; while the tears are still fresh on my cheeks, I can joyfully say that I'm thankful for friends who likewise desire God's will, no matter the cost. I'm thankful that while it isn't easy, they obediently embrace His dreams for them. It hurts. It's difficult. But they know...and they remind me...that the God who calls us is faithful. The One who calls us will give us...and is...everything we need. The God who has been sufficient in the past is sufficient for us now.
Thank You, Father, for placing us in relationship with others. Thank You for knitting our hearts together in a way that is inseparable...that comes only from You. Thank You for using our friends to spur us on and direct our hearts to You. We entrust them...our friendship...and our very lives to You, knowing and believing that You are good.
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• Jul. 13, 2006
Mug Shot
Several of my blogging friends have been sharing pictures of their favorite coffee mugs, and I've so enjoyed seeing the cups that bring them comfort and joy.
To be honest with you, I've wanted to share my favorite mug for over a week now, but I couldn't decide on just one favorite. I enjoy drinking my coffee from several different mugs for numerous different reasons.
You see, there's the matching mugs that my dear friend and I share (far left). When she moved away two years ago, we each got a matching mug, with the explanation that each time we used it, we'd pray for one another. I've sipped coffee from that mug when I'm missing her so much it hurts. I've brought her name before our Father, and I'm confident that she does the same. So for that reason, that mug is one of my favorites.
At Christmas a couple of years ago, I presented each one of my "sisterchicks" with a matching mug (second from left). The thinking was the same...that each time we'd use it, we'd pray for the others. Through the joyful and the hard times, we've prayed. God has caused our friendship to grow and flourish and deepen. So this mug causes me to spill forth exclamations of praise to God for my faithful friends.
My husband had been on a search for the perfect travel mug for me. After months of searching for just the right one, he surprised me with this one a couple of months ago (second from right). You'll see me with it at all of our boys' baseball games, as well as when I'm driving around in the van in the mornings. This was one of those "just because" gifts from my husband, and I cherish the fact that he gave it to me.
Finally, my "shopping girl" mug (far right) reminds me of all the girls in my family...my mom, grandma, two aunts, and cousins. Each year for over 30 years, the women of my family have gone shopping together the day after Christmas. It's a long-standing tradition. Each of the women in my family owns this mug...a reminder of all the fun and crazy memories we've shared.
So, yes, I guess I cheated a little by not choosing just one mug as my favorite. But knowing the special stories and the cherished people behind the mugs, I think you might understand why...
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• May. 7, 2006
Sisters
Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" has long been one of my favorite movies. Growing up, I always swooned as Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sat at the piano singing, "Count Your Blessings." And later in the movie, I waited with anticipation for that moment when Betty would realize that Bob wasn’t a self-serving, arrogant jerk who was out to make a buck, but a selfless, gracious man who desired to honor General Waverly. Misunderstandings behind them and forgiveness granted, they’d live happily ever after.
But I love that movie for another reason, too. It’s the relationship between sisters Betty and Judy. There are few women alive who not only are well-acquainted with their famous song and dance number, but have tried reenacting it themselves. Go ahead, admit it! 
Sing it with me:
"Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters..."
As a teenager, I was enamored with that kind of relationship. You see, I don’t have any sisters of my own (though I do have one amazing "little" brother that I wouldn’t trade for any sister in the world). But God knows my needs, and He’s graciously blessed me with faithful, godly girlfriends; sisters not by birth, but by heart.
Hardly a day passes when I don’t find myself newly grateful for the gifts of these friends. I cherish their unique make-ups...their giftedness, talents, leanings, and tendencies. What joy and vibrancy they bring to my life! They cause me to laugh and dream and think and reconsider. They inspire me with their unconditional love!
I praise God for our commitment to one another. It’s proven that our friendship is genuine. Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend loves at all times." This is true on both the mountaintops and in the valleys. As sisters, we’ve cried together in times of trial and rejoiced, laughed, and "yee-haa’d" together in times of celebration. I treasure the fact that these precious sisters accept me and love me in spite of me. There’s no need to pretend or put on some kind of show. Realness is such a cherished gift!
My sisters continually spur me on and challenge me in all of life. I was just telling my husband that when "the girls" are together, there’s no husband-bashing or complaining. In fact, as we lounge around and talk about our families, we give glory to God for the amazing husbands He’s given us. We thank God for the way He’s actively at work within our homes. Tears fill my eyes as I hear my dear friends talking about their love for their families. And by the time we are through talking, we’re eagerly longing to get home to our dear husbands and children! I’m so glad that their lives encourage me to love my husband and boys!
There are so many aspects of our friendship that I value and hold in high esteem. Yet one of the sweetest is when we gather together to study God’s Word. What a joy and privilege it is to bow our hearts in prayer. How I pray that we’ll continually remind one another of the promises of our great God. I pray that in our weakness and throughout the valleys, we’ll continually point to God’s strength, sufficiency, and faithfulness. I pray that we’ll always encourage, pray for, and desire God’s best in one another.
Thank you, Father God, for binding our hearts together. Thank you for my treasured sisters.
