Friends Who Remain…

Friendship is definitely like a garden that needs to be tended in many ways… weeded, watered, fertilized, picked and enjoyed. Friendship is work, mostly fun, but sometimes it’s just about “remaining.” We stay steady, show up, share, endure a tough season, fight off the drought, pray strong, laugh at ourselves (a whole lot of this), cry together, and sometimes just sit together and wait. Friends who remain are a gift from God. I pray you have friends who remain and that you will be a friend who remains.  I so want that for myself.

Proverbs 17:17a - “A friend loves at all times…”

Short Is Sweet…

Recently, a dear friend, my sister, and I went over to our little Orange Beach cabin that our Dad built himself back in 1955. We had less than 48 hours to spend together, and we almost didn’t go because it seemed like it wasn’t worth the effort it took to prepare for such a short time. But once we were there, between games of Scrabble®; coffee on the porch; a couple of nice meals out; and celebrating our faith, our families and the hopes of each of our unique passions, work and callings, we all came back to our “regular lives” renewed and refreshed… and realizing short can be so sweet.  Hope you can find a simple “short is sweet” in your life.

Friends

My dear friend, Himmie, turned 60 years old Dec. 6. She has never looked better, glowing as she celebrated with new and old friends. Himmie is the wedding singer, and I can still hear her beautiful voice at my wedding 36 years ago and more recently at my oldest son’s wedding ceremony in 2002.  His was  a Christmas Military Wedding so rich with wonderful traditions, hope and excitement. Strength and courage were undergirding the promises and vows being made with Himmie’s soprano voice filling in the tender moments of the making of a lifetime memory.  Friends are the rich background of life’s events and such rare gifts that we too often take for granted.

Monteagle, Tennessee… check it out.  Thanks Margret!

Kindergarten teachers… what is not to love about them!

Himmie’s friends now my friends! What a gift!

The ladybugs... joined together to do good!

Now, home… onward to prepare for Christmas, while remembering this thought:  “Christmas Ease.”