"Make new friends....

but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

Yesterday I had lunch with someone that I've known since about second grade.  It was fun to see her (we haven't seen each other since I was pregnant with Elisabeth).  She is now married with two young kids and it was good to catch up after 18 years!

I've also spent time with my dear friend, Sue who was my neighbor until 7th grade when she moved to another city across the street from my friend from church, Liz.  We have maintained our friendship for many, many years.

When we were in Seattle last week, we spent the night at the house of some new friends.  Previously I "knew" them through an internet connection (not a dating service).  No, this lovely woman is the ESL coordinator for our company and we have done some work together.  We were able to meet and spend a lovely evening with her and her husband.  They have served faithfully overseas for 18 years in Hong Kong and the Philipines.  They came back to the states quite a while ago and continued to serve in many capacities.  Now, close to retirement age, they continue to work and travel training different teams to teach ESL in many countries.  What an example to us!

When we left them in the morning, we drove down to the Ft. Lewis area and met up with my next door neighbor from my childhood neighborhood.  She is married to a really nice man who has served in the Army for almost 25 years.  It was interesting listening to him about the current situation in Iraq and other matters.  Best of all for Elisabeth, they have a teen daughter her age and they were able to drive away from all the adults and go and have ice cream.

After visiting with Christie, we drove further down Washington state to see my college friend, Tami and her family of eight children! 

Here we are trying to blend in with seven of the eight!

Any of my Chico friends remember this warm and truly fun friend?

What I love about Tami is that she is truly a friend of the heart.  We live such different lives- she home-schools , has eight children and is just so content.  We public school and have one child.  Yet, we each live by our convictions for our own lives and there is no division or tension at all.  That is true Christian unity.  I love her!

Tami's oldest daughter makes soap and it is just the best.  Do yourself a favor and buy some-it's wonderful!  http://www.chehalishills.com/index.htm

After leaving this fun family, we drove back through Ft. Lewis and spent about an hour and a half with some other friends.  When we lived in Germany, we were involved with the Bamberg Hospitality House.  Mark and Carol were the missionaries there and played an influential role in our lives.  We have kept up and it was sweet to see them now serving at Ft. Lewis.  The military has changed and they are serving many men with real needs and hurts.  They are quality people doing an important work.

Then we drove up to Canada and saw my aunt, two cousins and their families.  Somehow, I forgot to take pictures.  But it was a fun evening with nice people and very relaxing.

Tuesday we drove to a tour of Trinity Western and then we drove farther into the Fraser Valley to meet a friend that I  have known through an on-line community for about 10 years.  She is Sarah of Emerging Mummy fame -http://www.emergingmummy.com/- a writer, a thinker and everything she portrays herself to be.  She and her family are the real deal. Just lovely. Love is growing in their marriage and in their home.  What a joy to meet them in real life.

Tomorrow I leave California for three weeks in Missouri.  More friends, more sharing, more time in familiar places.  Looking forward to seeing many of you!