November 17

Today I am thankful  for a friend sending a birthday card in the mail with the sweetest gift ever. I am grateful that she thought about me on birthday, grateful that she knew what kind of awesome gift to get me, and very thankful for our friendship. I was thinking on these things and there may or may not have been tears welling up in my eyes, and some going down my face.

To which Caleb responds, "Mumma doing?" (Code for: What are you doing crazy mother of mine?) I responded, "Mumma's crying." He thought that was a hoot. For the rest of the day, I would hear something like this, "Mumma crying....WAHHHHH, WAHHHH." And resounding giggles.

When Jon got home from work, you can be sure that Caleb said, "Mumma crying....WAHHHHHH....WAHHHH" and laughed like it was the funniest thing he has ever heard. Afterall, what kind of crazy woman cries at a card? Certainly not my two year old!

Today, I am grateful for this dear friend, and for "Mumma crying."

Friends like that....

I had to do a little project for a friend. She is attending some training that will help her in ministry, grow her as a Christ follower, among many other things.

The assignment: Explain how I experience her when she is hurt, lonely, afraid, confident, jubilant and at rest. For an introspective introvert this is sooo fun, and easy. It is easy because a) She and I respond to things in very similar ways, and b) I am close enough to her, that I actually felt like I knew those answers well.


These days, miles separate us. We are literally on opposite ends of the country, but our friendship is as close as it was when we saw each other 15 times a day in college. I think about the days of college and how we saw each other...A L L  T H E   T I M E. I think about our obsession with nacho cheese and brownies. I think about how we worked in the dining all together....next to each other. I think about our adventures in my car, that was more like a pond. I think about the times we prayed, poured our hearts out, and were real. I think about the frustrating times. I think about how she was influential in putting the night together when Jon proposed.  How could I ever let my beloved friend  move across the country?

She gets me. I get her. A look is all we need. In the past year, we started writing letters. WOW! Thought we were close then....writing letters is so....intimate, especially for an introvert who pours her heart out on paper and then sends across the country. We have both shared so much of our life in these letters. I wait for the mail to be delivered and anticipate my next letter with great joy. Sometimes reading the letters I laugh out loud, I remember times together, I stop and pray, I get all mushy, and sometimes I cry over the hard stuff that we experience in life.

Back to the assignment.

What a joy to be asked to share my thoughts on how I have experienced her in those different situations. Part of it is hard, because we do live far apart.

What a joy to know that I am in a relationship that is close enough to not only be asked those questions, but to have good and solid answers to give as feedback.

What a joy to know that in the midst of my daily struggle with relationships ( I have NEVER been good with relationships...) I have one that is constant. One where we are holding each other up, and living life together.

Today I am blessed by the reminder that I love Krista dearly. One of the closest and best relationships I have ever had with anyone. 

I cherish deep relationships, especially this one.

And without further ado, a series of K&K photos:)

Ending the night on a very very good note

These days have been long and tiring. The past few have been someone difficult as I figure out a schedule for our family, process through some of what the Lord is showing me and walking obedience that is simply terrifying at times. I didn't even want to start today, because I knew what was ahead. I knew that there could be some hard conversations with students, I knew that I would be on campus until 9pm at the earliest and would have to come home and put in a few hours of work and my house is...well, you can tell it is NSO season. 

And yet. 

What a fabulous day. 

So different than I had anticipated. 

Difficult small group leaders meeting as we wrestled with scripture and what God might be saying. I had to eat some humble pie during this time. Lord, are you REALLY leading us to step out in faith this way. (I know the answer is yes, but I am hoping that if I keep asking God will change His mind. It works that way, right?) 

In spite of the above, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that God has allowed me to partner with Him in His work There is nothing about me that is good that deserves this. I am so grateful for the students I work with. I am constantly blessed and humbled by them. 

Ah, the greatness of good conversation. 

And then, I had leftovers in my fridge to make some quesadillas for 2 students. A fun impromtu lunch! 

Those same students sat on my couch, played guitar and sang for about an hour. Lovely! 

Caleb went down for a fabulous nap. 

Caleb calls me "George." I have no idea why, but it cracks me up, and I call him George. I think he has started an inside joke with me that I don't know about. Whatever the reason, he gets a pretty big laugh out of me every time he says it. 

More greatness....Another great conversation with a student 

More greatness....receiving mail from my other half...er....my other 1/3. I went to the mail box today, found a post card from China and Chinese stationary and a card. I simply had to take time to START my letter back to Krista, still not finished. I could write a whole post about Krista and our relationship. Maybe another time. But receiving mail from her....so good. Good news from a distant land. 

More greatness......God is working on campus in UNbelievable ways. WOW. I know, vague, right? 

More greatness......Jon has had a song idea brewing in his head for months. Tonight, he sat on the couch and played it for me. It is the mesh of two songs and I LOVE it. I love the music, the lyrics, my husband playing it, but most of all I am inspired by his vision of choosing these two songs. It shows me how God is working in His heart and speaking to him through music. 

And just as I thought I was going to bed I receive this email from a friend...and cried....because seriously, I am blessed today. 

Hey Kristin,

Thinking of you...

 ³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)

² I always thank God for ... you, mentioning you in my prayers. ³ I continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 ⁴ For I know, you Kristin loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers...  (I Thess. 1:2-7) 

Was sharing a few stories from the past and thought you should know what came to mind.  Thanks.

In Christ,

M

I can't help but to look at that load on your shoulders. I can't help but notice it. I am not sure if the whole world can see it, but I can. Actually, you hide it well, so everyone else probably does not know.

Either way, I guess it doesn't matter if anyone notices or not. I notice. I notice everything. I hurt for you. I pray for you. A LOT.

I long to be the friend that is sacrificial, full of love and grace, with wisdom and honesty and tact, lots of tact. But I am not. I am so not that person. I am actually pretty selfish. I think about myself a lot.

Maybe this time. Maybe this time will be the time that I carry your burdens. Maybe this will be the time that I walk through life with you, with your pain and your junk, because we all have it don't we? Maybe this is the time that I bring Kleenex with me, because I know you are hurting, and I know that tears will come.

I know that I won't know what to say. I never do. I am never the friend that has wise words and great advice. I really don't. I stumble with my words and can't get anything to come out of my mouth right.

I am learning to be a new friend.

Let
me
carry
your
burdens.
They are not too
HEAVY.
Not for me.
And definitely,
Not for Him.

What could be better?

• Than hearing from your social worker that the birth parents rights were terminated?
  

• Than hearing from your social worker at 10am when normally you hear at 4:30?
  

• Than hearing from your friend that she prayed specifically that we would hear an answer early in the day?
  

• Than being able to have Jon off to celebrate with us?
  

• Than to hug a friend in the afternoon because we had to park our car in her driveway?
  

• Than to re-unite at the retinologist with 3 other babies that were in the same NICU as Caleb at the same time?

• Than to hear that all of those babies are doing well?
  

• Than to have a 2 hour wait in the doctors office, when last month it was closer to 5?
  

• Than having a husband to surprise you with a chocolate chip cookie?
  

• Than to hear that your child NEVER has to undergo the traumatic eye appointments?
  

• Than to hear that your child's eyes are developing completely normal and should have no vision problems?
  

• Than to hug a friend in a grocery store who is moving away on Friday?
  

• Than to celebrate the days events with great friends and neighbors by having dinner and dessert together?
  

• Than to hear your favorite neighbor children tell you that they have been praying that Caleb gets to stay with us?
  

• Than to ask the bakery to write the following on a cake "Caleb is Home to Stay"
  

• Than to hear from your gramma saying that she read all about Joshua and Caleb in her time in the Bible this morning?
  

• Than to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and homemade pie?
  

• Than to get to know a new couple from church?
  

• Than receiving TONS of phone calls/text messages/facebook posts, etc letting me know that people have been praying and are now praising God!!

What could be better?

• Than serving a God that is a father to the fatherless and who cares deeply and passionately for the orphans?
  
• Than a God who cares so deeply about the desires of my heart?

What could be better?

• Maybe if I was a little thinner in that picture above?

Yeah, my day was pretty good.

My 1/3

Sometimes, you a need a good friend. A friend who listens. A friend who speaks the truth.

Sometimes you need a friend who is in the same boat as you.

Sometimes you need a friend to laugh with. Sometimes you need a friend to cry with.

Sometimes you a need a friend to that you can give you advice,

And sometimes you just need to talk, and you know that friend can do it.

But most the time you realize that life is not the same without your other 1/3:) Dear Krista, I wish we lived closer together. I value our friendship and can be so real with you!