Frands . . is that how they spell it these days???

 

 

Mark and I may not be "rich" by worldly standards but we sure are "rich" in friends.  Some of our friends have been our friends for many, many years . . .then there are others like Hayden and Jan.  We've only known them for seven or eight years . . .that is unbelievable.  As I typed that, I thought that it just couldn't be true but our kids were at Auburn when we met so the earliest would have been the fall of 2005.  I feel like we have known them much longer than that!!  Anyway, I actually remember the first Sunday that they visited Trinity.  I didn't meet them that day but the next day at our Monday afternoon meeting, I saw her email address and it had the word "twin" in it and I said to the group, "I want to email her."

 

We became friends and we even worked together for a while and now they have moved three hours away.  We have worked hard to keep our friendship going.  Looks like in this day and time it should be easy to keep long distance friendships going but it takes some work and planning.  I think I thought I would have lots of free weekends by the time I reached this age and could visit more often . . .but weekends are still busy!

 

So . . .we drove up to visit over Labor Day weekend and we HAD SO MUCH FUN!  They make us laugh uncontrollably.

 

Meet their dogs . . . bonnie and angus.  Guess which is which?  (is that grammatically correct??)  Guess which one is whom?  That doesn't sound right either.  Guess which dog is named Bonnie?  Guess which one is named Angus?  Well, that solved that problem!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angus loves my feet and legs.  I mean REALLY loves them. When I walk through their door, he begins to lick my feet and legs.  He licks and licks and licks and licks.  He must like the taste of baby lotion.  It is quite humorous.  I'm like an Angus magnet.

 

 

 

We drove up on Sunday after church and just visited all Sunday afternoon and evening.  It was great to catch up.  Hayden grilled some incredible chicken.  Mark is still talking about that chicken!!  Jan made a salad from Southern Living Magazine that was equally delicious.  I'm sure we had other food . . .but dang, I can't remember!!

 

On Monday morning, we dressed and drove into town and parked in an office building parking deck.  It was a great day to wander the streets.

 

 

 

You know that I could not pass up a picture with this statue.  Look our noses match!  If you could see a picture of my granny George, you would see a nose just like his!!  Our genetic pool runs deep and all the way back to some Cherokee. (not sure which native American group this statue represents)  My granny George was so stinkin' cute and short . . .and she looked about like this statue (not kidding!!)

 

 

 Of course, I purchased a few things . . .and Mark had to carry the sack.  He is such a good man :-)  We bought goo goo clusters for his momma because she LOVES them.  We bought door prizes for our Tuesday night group - thought they would enjoy something different!!  We bought these two small wine glasses made out of red solo cups . . .pretty cute and pretty funny looking sitting in the front of the cabinet with all of the other wine glasses.

 

 

 We were able to stay through lunch on Monday.  We ate lunch at Chuy's in the Vanderbilt area.  I had never eaten at a Chuy's and I don't think Mark had either.  It was pretty good.  As we were driving back to their house, we saw this really cool taco place with lots of outdoor seating.  We need to try that next time.  It looked local (but who knows?).

 

 

 

 There was a younger couple sitting at the table next to us and I walked over (of course, I did - are you surprised) and asked her to take our picture.  It was a really fun 24 hours together and it actually did feel like a mini vacation!  I sure do thank God for our frands.

 

 

Live Love Laugh

Today was one of those extra special days.  We celebrated Nancy's birthday and it was a surprise for her!  Nancy and Nathan teach a young adult Sunday School class and the class planned a "get-together" following church today.  Nancy even signed up to bring the buns!  What Nancy didn't know was that Suzan (hostess with the mostess) sent invitations to some family members and close friends.  We all arrived and those of us who were "surprises -- meaning not class members" were ushered into the party room.  Meanwhile, families and little children were playing and chatting and cooking!

These decorations are sooooo cute!!!  The tables were lovely and all the decorations were so cute!  I  had been wondering how to hang those tissue paper balls from the ceiling . . .Suzan hung them with scotch tape.  I need to email her this week and ask if the tape made marks on her ceiling!!  I was afraid to do that so I can't wait to hear from her!

Suzan and her mom own all of these wonderful chair covers and sashes.  They told me the name of the online company . . .I must get that info (because of course, I have forgotten it!!)  It is something that ends in "rite."  She said they purchased the covers and sashes for a ridiculously low price and have used them multiple times!!  Everytime they put the sashes on sale, she said they order another color or two!!

So, Nancy is notoriously late.  If she is reading this, she knows it is true :-) and we love her lots!  Today it worked out well because we were all able to arrive and be in the room when she got to the party.  The funny thing is that they didn't tell her husband, Nathan, about the party.  He said he found out when he was walking in and there were friends walking in with him . . .friends that are not in that young adult class!  He and Nancy were in separate cars so that was a good thing!! 

Alice and Grace (above) looked so pretty today.

Here is the guest of honor.  Nancy is one of my heroes.  Nancy is a survivor.  I've know Nancy for more than 30 years.  Nancy introduced Mark and me via a canoe trip many, many years ago . . .I knew Nancy from a young adult Bible study and Mark is Nancy's first cousin.  We've raised our children together.  We've spent most Christmas Day evenings together for 30 years.  We've taught VBS together.  We've spent hundreds of hours on the telephone.

Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago . . .and is still fighting that nasty, horrible disease.  I rarely use profanity.  I abhor it actually.  I remember vividly the day that Nancy called to tell me that she had her first recurrence.  I was standing in the kitchen and backed up to the kitchen cabinet and slid down to the floor .. . .all while saying, "Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t."  But Nancy is a FIGHTER!!!!  Nancy has three beautiful daughters and lots of friends and family and we are all so glad that she is a fighter!!  Here is a picture of Nancy and her youngest daughter, Charis, who is a freshman in college this year!!!

 

When Nancy came into the room, she made a little "speech" and it was a tearful speech.  She was trying to tell all of us how much we mean to her . . .and we know that and we sure do love her!!!!

Nancy and her three wonderful daughters -- Lydia, who is working as an interior designer for a local company; Miriam, who is a United Methodist Minister and Charis, a college freshman.

In the blue jacket is my mother-in-law who just happens to be Aunt Susie to Nancy.  In front of my mother-in-law is Nancy's mom.  Two beautiful women of the older generation . . .who have taught us many things!!  (Claire, Nancy's long time friend, is behind the ladies)

There were some men at the party, too!  George is on the left.  He had surgery on Friday.  Mark is in the middle and Guy is on the right.  Aren't they cute??

The centerpieces were lovely - peonies (right?) in Mason jars and balloons - can't get any better than that!!  Looks like a party to me!!

The class members provided lunch - burgers and dogs and sides - and then there was cake!!  All the children gathered 'round to help Nancy blow out the candles.

This cute little fellow in the orange shirt was amazing to Mark (who was sitting right behind where he is standing).  He was using the camera on his parent's phone . . .and he videoed and zoomed, etc.  I laughed and told Mark that I think children come into the world these days knowing how to operate all electronics!!

Nancy and all the children blew out the candles together . . .except for adorable orange shirt boy . . .he is still shooting video!!

Friends and family are so important.  Phella, Nancy and I have been friends for more than 25 years.  Back during the day when we were all stay-at-home moms, I cannot tell you how many hours we spent on the phone.  We talked about all the ages, stages, and quirks of being a stay-at-home mom and if I remember correctly, we NEVER complained about our husbands. hahahaha!   I can remember vividly the day that I found out Nancy was pregnant with Charis . . .we were in the K-Mart parking lot!!  I think we had been at the church during VBS where we were both working as teachers that year.  Over the years, I've called Nancy hundreds of times to ask medical questions.  You see, she is a nurse . . .and a good one.  After my hysterectomy, she came and helped me several times.  I trust her!!  I love her!!  She and Mark have always been close.  He sure does love her, too!! 

Today Nancy said that she wished she could write down how much everyone has meant to her, etc. but she didn't think there were words that would work.  I would like to tell you how much Nancy means to me . . .but I'm not sure there are enough words.  I just know that I love her . . .and I know she loves me.  We are friends, we are cousins by marriage, we are sisters in Christ.  We are there for each other.  That is a good friendship.  I feel so blessed by both of these women.