Gettin' Together!

My goodness - I've enjoyed an unofficial blogging vacay!  I'm not sure why it takes me so long to get caught up after I've spent some time away, but I'm finally feeling like I'm back into the swing of my real life & that means it's time to blog!

I had such an enjoyable vacay.  I didn't actually take a whole week off from work (I am starting to feel the need to hoard those PTO days just a little bit - the year isn't even half over yet!).  I worked on Monday & then skedaddled home because I had a bunch of friends coming over for dinner.  One had traveled in from South Carolina, one from Tennessee, one from Pennsylvania, & two from Illinois.  After they arrived & Mike got scared off (TOO MANY GIRLS!!!) we enjoyed a wonderful meal together.  I actually think I pulled off a good menu with BBQ pork loin, roasted fingerling potatoes, a garden salad, & dirt pudding for dessert.  The only exception to the YUM! was some gluten free strawberry cupcakes I made for Rachel.  She said they were good but I couldn't hack them.  Yuck!

After dinner at my house, we all went up to camp where Steph lives & took over their guest quarters for a couple of days so that we had more time to talk, cry, laugh, eat, & hug each other. 

Our visits never seem long enough.

These are some of my favorite people in the whole world - Christie, Rachel, Diana, PharmGirl, Adele, & Steph

This was a bit of a bitter sweet get together.  Adele & her family have been working hard to raise support to get to the mission field of Slovakia.  Their plan is to leave in July, Lord willing.

As they have been making plans & starting to pack, there were several things that they knew they wouldn't be able to get over across the pond.  We asked Dellie for a list & then we surprised her with a "Packing Your Container" Shower.  It was fun to shop for peanut butter, ziplock bags, minced onions in bulk, & things like that.  Steph did some Etsy shopping & found her a locket that has Slovakia on it & she put our pic inside & Christie had the idea that a Kindle would be a good gift.  We all threw in together on that & really surprised Dellie.  She is crying surprised happy tears in the pic below.  They had been praying about whether or not to spend the money on a Kindle & we were able to meet that need for them. 

It was such a time of blessing.

I love it when the Lord allows me to be the part of someone's answer to prayer.  What a privilege!

Surprise, Dellie!

Christie brought her little girl, Claire.  She was tons of fun, although a bit stand-offish.  I understand, we can be an overwhelming crew!  While at our house she tried to get comfortable.  On the side of our fridge we have all of the Christmas cards pics posted in a big collage.  Claire found her family & kept walking by & pointing, saying "My Poppa!"  It was adorable.  Later after Mike came out of hiding & the girls were all getting ready to leave Christie was asking Claire to give me a hug & to thank me for dinner.  She did it with no small measure of reluctance.  Then she walked right over to Mike, held out her arms & when he picked her up she cuddled right in & even gave him a kiss! 

Now I think Mike is irresistible, but I thought it was just a condition I suffered from!  I'm going to have to keep an eye on that charmer *wink* 

Claire was well versed in the workings of the iphone.  She enjoyed swiping through my photo gallery.

Rachel's middle man, Spencer.  We almost didn't see him the whole visit because he was out having adventures on the campground with Steph's boys.

I will never be able to explain the way that the Lord works or why He does what He does.  But there is one thing I know for sure for sure.  It's that He has been so very good to me by allowing me to share in such meaningful friendships with these ladies.  At this point we have been out of college almost three times longer than we were there together & yet the Lord has preserved our relationships over time & distance.  I praise Him & thank Him for that tender mercy in my life.

*We missed you so much, Angie & Rebecca!