“It doesn’t matter where you go~
what you do, or how much you have~
it’s who you have beside you.”
My friend Joanna came for a visit this weekend. We’ve been friends since college but rarely get to see each other and it’s been almost 10 years since we had a visit this long. She arrived on Sunday and left this morning. What a treat it was!
We had a wonderful time, drinking tea and coffee on the porch, talking almost nonstop, working in the kitchen together, enjoying the children, watching a movie while snuggling up in blankets on the couch, walking outside, admiring the chickens, looking at books and magazines.
How I thank God for my friendship with this dear girl. We love each other, trust each other, and enjoy each other’s company.
We had really nice weather, too, which was something we were hoping and praying for.
We played Pictionary with the kids…..
And we went on a picnic. Joanna and I packed a couple baskets of food but kept things as simple as possible. We took two tablecloths, a pile of small china plates, a platter of deviled eggs, leftover pizza wrapped in foil, and a container of cupcakes.
Then we gathered up the kids and set off on a little walk, to find a good spot for a picnic.
We brought frosting in a ziploc baggie, and I brought a little pair of scissors. When it was time for dessert, I snipped a corner off the baggie and piped a generous swirl of frosting on top. I brought a mixture of candies in a small canning jar and the children had fun decorating the tops of their cupcakes with their choice of candy.
This is my cupcake. Imagine about 10 or more candies and that’s what the children’s creations looked like.
When we got home, I asked Caleb what his favorite part of the picnic was and he said, “those muffins!”.
“Aunt Joanna” was so good to the children and gave them lots of loving attention. Caleb, in all his honest little boy friendliness, joined her in bed both mornings she was here. None of the kids wanted her to leave this morning. Jacob said, “I hope she comes back soon.”
It’s really special to see how God can use relationships to encourage us and show us His love. I’ve learned so much about myself and about friendship from Joanna and all the many ways she’s encouraged me through the years.
Like anything worthwhile, friendships take time and sacrifice. It’s all worth it. The rewards are a delight. A longtime, faithful friend is as comfortable as an old shoe. cozy blanket? broken-in jeans? sweatpants? a hammock? warm soup?
(Speaking of soup, Joanna and I made soup together last night, for dinner. Rich took the three older kids to their music lessons. Seth was crawling around on the floor, and the little boys were playing in the kitchen sink. Joanna and I stood side by side, each with our own cutting boards, and made a nice big pot of ham and potato soup. It’s so fun to work in the kitchen with another woman. We chopped and mixed and kept the little boys out of mischief.)
Joanna and I have been involved in each other’s lives from the very beginning of adulthood, through early marriage, having babies, raising children, and all those other dear, sweet moments of family living. Over 10 years of growth and change, Joanna’s been there every step of the way, through letters, visits, talks on the phone, and in my heart. My life now would not be the same if she was never a part of it. Not at all. She’s helped to make and shape who I am.
This visit was a dream come true. It was so fun to show her my home, and have her see and experience the places and people I hold so dear. (we went no where and did nothing/we stayed home and did everything)
And I’m so thankful for Rich’s support. He loved that Joanna came to visit me and was sad for me this morning, when he knew she would have to leave and go home. He did everything he could to allow me to enjoy my time with my friend.
Friendship is something I need in my life, and am so thankful to God for that gift.
Good to be Home 
Sounds like a weekend to treasure – and you did just that.
Oh, that visit sounds delightful!! Amazing how those friendships carry on through lifes changes. I have a friend that I only once a year…and it just seems like we pick up where we left off and keep going. Thanks for sharing your visit with us!! Love the fall background for your outdoors shots. The picnic sounds amazing…I will have to use the cupcake decorating idea;).
So happy that it was so wonderful ~ the pics are lovely ~
How wonderful you were able to have such a special visit with your dear friend. What a gift from God! I will be trying that ham and potato soup as soon as the weather cools. Thanks for the recipe. I look forward to it, especially since the beef stew was such a family favorite. Blessings.
With every new picture, I found myself saying, “This is one my favorite.” “No, this one is my favorite.” “No wait, this one, definitely.” “Oops, no, this one!” I think what I loved about them all was that you could really SEE the friendship shining through in each of them, even the ones where you weren’t together! I’m glad it was such a blessed time, full of memories to pull out and gloat over in later months.
so sweet !
This brought tears to my eyes, Shan! I knew your friendship with Joanna was very special but the way to put the words together was so very thoughtful and loving. I enjoyed reading this. I also loved the pictures. Love, Lish
Praise God for sweet husbands who understand. Mine has always encouraged my girl friends, and get togethers,and retreats. He knows they give me that special boost. So delighted for you and Joanna. What a great visit enjoying one another and your beautiful home and area. A perfect time together…cooking, talking, walking, and a picnic! I love all the pictures, but especially the first and last of you two, and the cute one with Joanna and Seth…pure happiness. Enjoying a cozy day, trying to fight off a cold, we have a bit of rainy weather. God bless you,Jenny
What a wonderful time with your friend. So heart warming!!
Very sweet. Great pictures! Love the thought of the little boys playing in the sink while you two were in the kitchen cooking.
Friendship is such an awesome blessing. 🙂 I love all the pictures- and the memories that you shared. I hope Joanna posts some of her pictures too! 🙂
great, great pictures. Joanna really is something special 😉 So glad you had that time to re-connect, how very nice for the BOTH of you.
I wish I had friend like that 🙂 You are very blessed. 😉
This is pure sweetness and I loved reading it and reliving it with you.
This brought tears to my eyes. So happy for you!
The warm friendship between you two takes the chill off of the crisp fall backdrop of your woods! You are a genius to put frosting in a bag and to decorate cupcakes AFTER you arrive at the picnic!!
I am sitting here with tears rolling down my cheeks, I got home just a little bit ago, and am missing you so much!!!”How I thank God for my friendship with this dear girl. We love each other, trust each other, and enjoy each other’s company.” Is what really got me, it is so true!Okay I have got to get a hold of myself or the kids will wonder what is wrong with mommy! When I picked them up and they were asking questions about where I was I said “I hope I can bring you there someday soon.”
You are both blessed…
What a beautiful moment in time~ Friendships are special aren’t they? The pictures of you all are wonderful.
~Cinnamon
What a blessing. Love your picnic..sooo pretty!
A true friend is such a blessing. So glad for you to enjoy some special moments with your friend. I agree with about cooking with a good friend–it does seem to make a meal extra special.
What a beautiful post. I am so happy that you got to spend time with your best friend. Those are cherished moments I know. BTW, you totally have me hooked on Yiruma now!!
I’m so glad you had a great visit with Joanna. It looks like a lot of fun and memories were made – the sign of a wonderful visit. Love You!
This looks so great. You really are new true friends again. Lovely women you are and such nice moods to create at your place.Joy springs from these pages.GreetingsGodeliva
That is so neat that you have kept a close friendship over the years and with changing lives. Seems like its often easy to get caught up with life and lose touch after we’ve moved on to families and such….Blessings~
So glad you had such a wonderful visit. Wonderful memories created for sure…..
A friendship like that is such a treat; like the cupcake with the pretty, fluffy frosting decorated with an extra special something. In that last picture, you girls look like college girls! Love, GAil
Shanda, I am SO HAPPY for you. Love, trust, and enjoyment of each other’s company – it is a true and a “safe” friendship (does that make sense?). Mamma of 7, I am rejoicing that you were finally gifted with this chance to spend extended, quality time with your old friend. I am starting to have a greater appreciation for that now! Love,AngieP.S. I am in MS having a blast seeing old friends, myself! It is hard for me to get to a computer but I hope to do a post on it eventually.
How wonderful that you got to spend time with your dear friend!
I’m so glad you guys had such a lovely visit! The pictures are delightful, I love the picnic, how neat! You’re such a lovely friend, it’s no wonder you have lovely friends, too. OH and that’s one of my family’s and my favorite soups, I make it quite often in the cold months. 😀 Have you ever added corn to it? Hope you had a great evening, love you!
those “lifetime friendships” are the best~what a sweet time for you both.aren’t you glad God made us to be relational beings!!!! 🙂 happy thursday Shan.
Good Morning….It was nice to read about your special friend. Friends like that are to be cherished and treasured. They can add so much to enrich our lives even more….I’m glad you got to spend time with Joanna. Love the pictures. Take care.
Lovely post! I’m so glad you could get together. I plan to do the same next week. I will be traveling about 700 miles to eastern PA to spend a few days with loooooong time friends! We met my senior year of high school and have had a circle letter going now for 58 years!!…through dating, weddings, babies, our children’s weddings, grandchildren and now the death of two spouses. After our children were grown we had our first ever reunion at my home, and our husbands met for the first time – and LOVED it! We continued meeting every two years for a number of years, and more recently every year – just in case it’s the last one!! (We ARE getting up in years by now!) But we take right up where we left off and love every minute! Friendship – aaaahh. An extra special little gift from God.
Thanks for the reminder to nurture friendships; how important they are. With a busy household, many times I push the rest of the world out to keep up with football practices, soccer practices, schoolwork, keeping the house, laundry, etc… You know how it is with a busy home full of precious children. To love our families may not always be to do everything for them, but to take some time to refresh ourselves. Have a blessed weekend. Thanks so much for your continued encouraging posts. Blessings ~ Deborah
Yay for friends, loved ones, God who gives all of the above