For a friend is
the most precious
discovery of all. . . . .
Looking at these pictures makes me happy! Joanna and I had such a satisfying visit last week. We met at a local Crackerbarrel (in NY). . .she drove a little over an hour to get there and it was about 20 minutes from our campsite. Rich gave me our one vehicle for the day and he stayed at the camp with the kids (*thank you honey*).
We decided to drive to my hometown so we hopped into my vehicle and away we went. My mom was on her lunch break so we went into her office to say hello. Mom was looking at a Country Living magazine and eating homemade beef stew when we surprised her. We visited for a bit and she took a few pictures of Joanna and I together (*in the golden chairs*) before the two of us left to eat lunch at a fantastic little local eatery.
After lunch we drove to an antique store and had the best time ~ just being together ~ laughing and talking and looking at everything in the store (there was stuff crammed in every available spot, the best sort of antique place).
Many of you know Joanna from her blog here on xanga, but I tell ya, you would have to read every one of her posts to begin to get an idea of her personality. She’s her whole blog PLUS a lot more. There is a great deal of dimension to her and it’s been fun to be her friend for the last 13+ years. Fun isn’t really the right word. She’s such a part of me now that I know I would be a totally different person today if she had never been a part of my life. She inspires me, motivates me, loves me the way I am, encourages me in the Lord, comforts, listens, shares her true self with me, and prays for me. We don’t see each other face to face very often, but we keep in touch through the mail, computer, and phone calls. She lets my kids call her “Aunt Jo”.
Guess what I found? Fiestaware!
I bought one fiesta plate ~ a vintage chartreuse~ the 2nd dinner plate down from the top.
We ended up back at Crackerbarrel for a little more talking and a few more pictures before going on our separate ways. I went back to my family feeling like a new woman! I was in such a good mood (I told Joanna that our visit was like a good medicine *the kind that’s easy to take* 
). There was such a marked difference in me that Rich encouraged me to go back out the next day. But it wasn’t just the getting away that put me in such high spirits. . . .it was spending time with a good friend.
To have a friend is to have one of the sweetest gifts that life can bring: to be a friend is a solemn and tender education of the soul from day to day. ~Chinese Proverb
Good to be Home 
Shanda,Your day sounds wonderful and what a delight to be able to spend time with your dear friend. Your husband is such a sweetheart to free you up for the day. Thank you for sharing your refreshing time with us.Gina
How good and pleasant it is…. to dwell with friends.
sounds like a great time! wonderful pictures and what a blessing to have a lovely friend like her!
(I have one vintage chartreuse saucer…I LOVE IT!)
So thankful for your sweet time with Joanna. You are both incredibly blessed to have one another as dear friends!!!
oh how fun!! This is such a delightful post, I can feel your happiness that day.
And the camping pictures….awww…makes me want to pack up and head out today….lol….except its tooo hot here!! We still haven’t done a get away with the kids this year yet, so we’ll see….Happy day, friend…. *smile*
How wonderful to have met such a great lady! I am sure she would say that you also bless and encourage her. Friends are treasures.
fun times for sure ~
Shanda Banda!!! I had a great time with you! It was so much fun to read your description of the day! Each part of the day with you was a gift for me as well!
Love, JO
Shanda, I don’t believe in coincidences, and today’s Crosswalk/Girlfriends in God devotional was about friendships. Mary Southerland ended the devotion with this thought, and it definitely applies to this story and these pictures “It’s not like it used to be, when my mom was growing up. Friendship was a priceless commodity in her day. Time was taken to sit and visit. Schedules were gladly altered to fit in time for a friend. Not so in today’s world. I wonder how our lives would be impacted if we made friendship a priority?”
I’m glad you got to make your friendship a priority and have such a good time.
Fabulous post!God is good.
Lucky you! Naaa! I don’t like the word “luck” – how about “blessed” you! Y’all sound like a perfect friendship match.AND, I’m impressed that you know how to spell “chartreuse” correctly! I always stumble and then say, “yellowish greenish” color!!!!
Looks like you had a wonderful day spent with a wonderful friend. Great pictures!! I have a friend like that. I can truly can be myself with her, and she still like me afterwards haha. :o)
Kelly
I love being with my bestfriend! I’m glad tosee such great pics!!
Time with a friend is wonderful — relaxing, rejuvenating, refreshing… I’m glad you had such a great day with Joanna.
How fun!! I can feel your excitement….and your smiles couldn’t be bigger in the pictures…or your eyes brighter!!! 🙂 How sweet.
I’m so glad you had such a good time with your Joanna. Being with godly girlfriends always lifts my spirits, too. It gives me energy, I think… to keep going… as a wife and mom in the Lord.
Good Afternoon Shanda…..I’m happy for you that you had some time to yourself with your friend. Your husband must be very understanding of you to suggest that you go out again. Its always so relaxing when you have a friend when you both fit each other. I had a friend like that. I could be who I was and she didn’t judge me, she was never a negative person either. We always had fun together, we could communicate things from our hearts and we both understand where each other was coming from. Our friendship was where she could come into my house and just help herself to something to eat. It didn’t matter what. I remember one time she came over and I just happened to finish making a sauce cake….(ummm from a box…lol) But she ate the whole thing….we were laughing so hard about that after. But I’m glad that you have a friend that is special to you.
Have a wonderful day…..
Such a happy time…what a blessing. A lot of great pictures of the two of you! I am glad the time lifted you up so much. Jenny
Oh how sweet Shan! What a blessing you both are to eachother! I loved all the photo’s. Love, Lish
Shanda, you and Joanna look SO CUTE together!!! I am so happy you were able to share that day with her – I know that feeling of refreshment, having spent time with a true friend, and one who stimulates and encourages personal growth and creativity…it sounds like Joanna is that type of person for sure. And so are you!
What a blessing to have such a dear friend. We crave those relationships. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you had such a nice visit with your friend…the pictures are great, as usual. You can definitely see the friendship there.
How special! You are so blessed to have a husband who let you “get away” for the day, and to have a dear friend to spend the day with. Thank you for sharing pictures and thoughts from your time together. Your sweet friendship shines through my computer screen and touches my heart. A true Christian friend is a gift from God!
That is Awesome that you had such sweet fellowship with a dear friend of yours.
oh, I envy you that time together. Uninterrupted and lengthy time alone with a friend is soothing to the soul. What a wonderful friendship you have. 🙂
this looks like soo much fun. I have to admit I am a little jealous of the close friendship you girls share!! Did you guys meet on xanga or did you know each other before? I know that I need to work harder to make my friendships a priority… it would do wonders for me and my family.
What a couple of sweet ladies. You can see the fun and love on both of your faces. great!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time!It’s great to have a friend to do things with…