day of summer

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Shanda

We went strawberry picking in a quiet open field. There was a nice lady just down the row from us who was friendly and spoke like she had known us forever. From the race of Joseph, I feel sure.

They were 29 dollars and 15 cents for 11.2 pounds.

The air was hot and fresh. The sky was blue.

I remember standing at Grandma’s kitchen counter when she made a fruit pizza (it was the first time I had it). I don’t know why I had to make one today but I did, I had to.

Seth seemed to hang in the air as he leapt from the dock into the warm pond. The boys were happy and carefree. Everyone is getting browner from the sunshine but Michael’s nose is sun burnt and red.

Seth found a beautiful insect.

David had a friend over and there was a feeling of celebration as it was the first day of summer and the house was full of people we loved.

Perhaps that is why I felt the impulse to make the fruit pizza?

All thirteen of us, at four o’clock in the afternoon, had a little summer day pizza party.

The moms sat and chatted at the table while the kids all ran off to play games and swim.

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…”
― Susan Polis Schutz

busy kitchen, happy hearts

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Shanda

Good morning, dear friends and relations, it is a beautiful fall day. The official first day of winter is in one week and it currently does not feel a bit like winter. Caleb, my precious soft hearted boy, had tears in his eyes this morning as he looked at the weather report for the days leading up to Christmas. NO SNOW. He said he prayed about it, too. He wonders if we will have ANY snow AT ALL this winter. It’s so important to him that it makes me long for snow, too. What a happy boy I will have on that day.

I went down to the chicken coop to let out the hens and give them a bowl of leftovers. I collected three eggs and stood at the pond to look at the beauty around me as I prayed a good morning prayer to God, asking him to send down his blessings on this old world, thanking Him for all He enables us to do each day….learn, grow, think, laugh, praise, heal, feel, work, BE…new creations. The old has passed away and the new has come like a miracle. Every good thing comes from above and our thankful hearts please Him.

The birds are happy, too. I have a feeder by the porch which brings in the songbirds. They sit in the bushes by the house and take turns flying over to select a seed.

I opened windows and turned on the house fan for some fresh air. Later on I will go the post office to get a Christmas card weighed because I bought a pack that require extra postage, but how much extra? I need to figure it out and get to work writing my cards, which I do so love to do, sending out mail is a pleasure. Receiving it is, too!

*****

How about one last post featuring dear Hannah? Oh, we had a lovely visit, doing so many simple sweet things together like sing and play piano, put together puzzles, watch TV, go for walks, and……..WORK IN THE KITCHEN. How fun it is to work side by side with another woman in the kitchen! Four hands are better than two. And we were blessed with two little helpers….eight hands ready to work in the busy kitchen.

While Hannah set to work making her famous chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles, I began a batch of Christmas cookies….Russian tea cakes. I only regret that I didn’t think of sending a box home with her because they are a very sturdy and delicious cookie indeed, able to survive a trip to Alaska.

flour, eggs, butter, water, salt…..such humble ingredients turn into the best of comfort foods…NOODLES

She rolled the dough as thin as possible and then cut the noodles on a cutting board.

Then, she sprinkled them on a floured cookie sheet to dry for a little while.

I put Seth and Sarah to work rolling balls of cookie dough. “Is this one too big Mom?” she asked. “Yes, a little.” “Okay,” she said as she solved the problem by taking a chunk off to put it in her mouth.

just right.

sweet happy Hannah. In this picture you can see the paper Angel garland over the entry to the dining room. Hannah bought one for her house, too. Isn’t it pretty?

The noodles are all cut out and waiting to be placed in hot flavorful chicken broth.

The cookies are done and powdered sugar (which Sarah called flour over and over regardless of my corrections) was everywhere — reminding us of Caleb’s elusive snow.

I left Hannah briefly in order to pick up my teenagers from High School and take a few of their friends home. When we returned, dinner was done. She made fresh and creamy mashed potatoes for us to pour the soup over. Every bit of this meal was homemade and it was so delicious that even though I was filled up by my first helping, I knew it would be a crime not to enjoy a second helping. So I did.

And it was just what Grace needed to recover from a long long day of school.

But that wasn’t the end of Hannah’s work in the kitchen that night. As soon as she was done with the chicken, she began a batch of overnight cinnamon rolls.

((By the way, Hannah was wearing an apron that she made for me years ago.))

THE NEXT MORNING……Sarah eagerly watched the cinnamon rolls bake in the oven at 350 degrees.

pretty pretty profile

The cinnamon rolls were blanketed with cream cheese frosting.

Once again, I helped myself to several cinnamon rolls too many just for the sake of taking advantage of the freshness, the homemadeness, and the lovingness of Hannah’s baking. Although she mourned what she considered *a shade too brown of a bottom*, let me assure you THEY WERE PERFECTION.

After our cinnamon roll breakfast, we took David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah to the movies. But before we did, we attempted a “frameworthy” photo of the two of us. Forever friends.

That night, Hannah helped us decorate our Christmas tree. Tomorrow I will share the family photos she took of Rich and I with the kids. But this next one was one that I had Grace take of the two of us holding books that we bonded over. I first believed Hannah was a possible kindred spirit because she mentioned on her old xanga blog that she was reading the James Herriot books which I absolutely LOVE. Then, later on, once we became pen pals and got to know each other better, we read several LM Montgomery books together, including Pat of Silver Bush.

Book recommendations!

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

“True friends are always together in spirit” LM Montgomery

meeting together, a blog post of friendship

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Shanda

What do I look for in my friend?

Someone who can feel what I feel. or

Someone who doesn’t have as much emotion as I do, and can balance me out and tell me the logical facts, and calm me down. or

Someone who likes the same things I do, whether it be books, nature, fiestaware. maybe

Someone very similar to me. what about

Someone who tells me when they are hurting and struggling, so I can help.

Or, someone who is almost my opposite who can teach me things I never thought of before. perhaps

Someone older, someone younger.

A listener. A person with heart and soul. or

Someone who lets me love them.

A person who cares, loves, is kind and patient.

But most of all, the person I want for my dearest friend is a woman who has Jesus in her heart.

Not a pretender, not a “head knowledge” of truth, but the heart that is just like mine, a Jesus-heart.

In other words, I have found in my own experience of friendships, that there is no formula whatsoever but a foundation through Jesus Christ, for the purpose of “whatever reason”–that certain something she can give to me, or I can give to her to help us both be better people and keep pressing on the upward way. The Holy Spirit draws us together, He writes that woman’s name on my heart, or my name on her heart, and we have a relationship to enjoy for as long as we can.

God has put women in my life that I simply cannot forget and will not forget. We will be as loyal as the day is long. I know this because we annoy each other at one point or another – – but we can never do anything to cut the tie of friendship we feel is ours to keep.

I do have my own very priceless circle of friends that is written in stone, but there is room on the stone for more. I am always open for more kindred spirits. But I don’t go searching for them, God puts them in my path, whether at church or wherever.

Some of my friends even live “in the computer” and even if it sounds far-fetched, I know it’s true and I love it! I love that I have friends whom I have never seen face to face, yet can share common interests, encouragement, prayers, and so on.

Social media is the modern age’s pen pal system!

God’s people are everywhere and He can use all kinds of ways to draw us together. He wants us to have close relationships with others. It lifts my spirits to hear from my friends, and it’s wonderful to be a blessing to my friend, as well. I need it in order to live because life gets so heavy at times. The burdens are great. Things happen to shake me, and I can reach out to a friend and see how it is….she stops what she is doing and prays for me in love and concern.

It’s such a beautiful thing, I cry.

Anyway, one of these friends is someone I am blogging about today. Her name is Bridgette and we met years ago at church. Some of the fun things we have in common are the love we have for our families, pinterest, and fiestaware. We also have the foundation, which is Christ. Bridgette’s friendship humbles me because I can’t always see why she cares for me so much. I feel shy around her at times. I love that she encourages me by sending me happy emails of chickens wearing sweaters, or by sending a text message of a picture she took of a spider. She loves keeping up with me by reading my blog and she remembers things I wrote even a long time afterward and that means a lot to me.

We had years of time together as members of the same church, talking and visiting at those functions and also getting together, just the two of us. I remember one night after church we went to Crackerbarrel together and drank ice tea with our meal…I didn’t sleep a wink that night from the caffeine. Also, we were pregnant at the same time…several times..which was fun. And, when she and her family moved away I was heartbroken, as a matter of fact, I’m still sad about it. But such is life.

Mostly what I sense around this special woman is the quietness of a life lived close to God, and a heart warm and open to love anyone and everyone. She truly has a grace-filled heart for encouraging other people, and what a gift that is!

When Rich and I took the children to Georgia recently I was able to arrange a long-overdue visit with her. She was a lot more excited about it than I could have imagined. Thank you, B, for your faithful friendship to me. I love you and care about you and yours. I’m here for you anytime you need a friend, day or night.

We met at a pizza place. She has five children, one of the girls is hidden next to Sarah.

She talked about Sarah to her daughter so much that it was love at first sight.

We only had the time it took to eat the pizza, because we had such a long drive ahead of us. Bridgette and I would have liked to have a longer visit of course, but were thankful for what we managed to squeeze in. She sent me on my way with snacks, a journal, coffee, and chocolates, which I am still enjoying.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

“Dear Jesus, please bless any woman reading this today with friendships that will lift her spirits, make her laugh, and help her along in whatever plan you have for her life. Help her to be a good friend to others, too. Give her someone she can trust, in Your timing and in Your way. Help us to obey your prompting when you place someone on our heart. Thank you for supplying our every need. If we need a friend, you will give us one.”

breakfast with friends

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Shanda

We got to visit with old friends this morning.

Karen moved away over a year ago. She was traveling back through the state this morning and asked if Kathy and I could meet her for breakfast.

It felt just like old times.

Leo and David have been friends since birth! I let David skip school this morning so he could see his friend.

They folded paper airplanes at the table. After they ate their yummy breakfasts they played checkers.

I had Sarah Joy with me, too, and she got to be friends with Karen’s son Charlie. They both wore striped shirts.

Karen has a 3 month old baby girl now. Her name is Audrey.

She was a doll! She smiled a lot and never cried.

She was absolutely delicious.

She fell asleep on me as her mama chatted away. We sat and talked for a long time, our waitress was thoughtful enough to bring us fresh ice waters so we wouldn’t get parched. She got a really good tip. 🙂

After a while, we headed into the gift shop so the children could pick out some candy.

Charlie and Sarah played with the magic sand together while David and Leo shared a bag of gummy worms.

Karen and Kathy~

One last picture before we had to part ways again, which was bittersweet.

I’m glad to have friends that are forever.

***

I took David to school late and stood in the office pondering the tardy slip that I had to fill out. “REASON FOR BEING TARDY” What do I write? I was hesitant to tell the truth and almost wrote “He had an appointment”. But I didn’t want to lie. I was thinking, “Is it okay for him to miss school for a fun activity?” “Will he get into trouble?” “Will they reprimand me?” So, I asked Dave, “Why are you late to school?” and he laughed and whispered back, “Because I was at Crackerbarrel?” So, that is what I wrote; “He was at Crackerbarrel.” When I was done, the secretary came around to rip out the slip and sign her name on it so David could take it to his teacher. She read what I wrote and made an offended noise. My heart stopped.

“What?” she exclaimed to Dave, “You went to Crackerbarrel? Did you bring me back anything? Did you tell your Mom thank you? You’re a lucky little boy!”

All was well.

How about you? Do you have special friends that continue to come back to visit you through the years? Or, maybe you go and visit them from time to time?

Do you tell the detailed truth on your children’s excuse notes?

Happy Monday!

PS:

old picture of David and Leo from 2008.

our visit with Hannah

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Shanda

(Caleb and Hannah’s list of things to do)

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think.

It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

LM Montgomery

Last week, we welcomed Hannah into our home. Hannah and I met here on xanga about five years ago, and began writing letters back and forth. We have a lot of the same interests, including family, reading, music, and love for the Lord. We sensed that we were kindred spirits and dreamed of meeting someday. It was such a blessing to finally see each other face to face. She was here from Tuesday afternoon (the 15th) to Monday evening (the 21st). I have a lot of nice pictures from our visit and I wanted to get them all together into one blog post, along with some notes of what we did while she was here.

on TUESDAY….

I baked a cake for Hannah’s Tuesday afternoon arrival. I decorated it like an envelope, with our addresses, in honor of our writing letters to each other back and forth for so long. I used a lemon cake mix and frosted it with homemade frosting, with my little Seth and Sarah sitting on the counter, watching. They love to see the colors get mixed into the frosting. As soon as we were done, we bundled up to drive to the airport.

On the way, we stopped at the grocery store and bought flowers for Seth’s bedroom, which was where we put Hannah for the week.

It took her a day of travel to arrive here from Alaska. She was such a trooper, and stayed awake the whole day despite jet lag and all that travelling.

As soon as we got her in the house and settled, I fried us some fresh eggs for a snack. She gave me the gifts she brought me; a new quilted table runner (she made it) and a set of owl salt and pepper shakers. We were amused that the plates I served the eggs on matched, perfectly.

My darling little Sarah, having a snack.

Sarah Joy and Hannah, getting to know one another.

While Hannah and I were busy talking, Sarah got into the pretty cake! She put finger prints all along the bottom, tasting the yummy frosting.

I admit I was somewhat aghast, but dear Hannah told me to take a picture.

Hannah read books to Caleb, Seth, and Sarah.

For dinner we had honey baked chicken.

on WEDNESDAY….

On Wednesday, we woke up to fresh snow and a snow day for the school children. It was a wonderful day for them to spend time with Hannah, and we wondered, did she bring the snow from Alaska with her? Caleb took us outside for a morning walk in our pajamas.

Sarah in her nightie. (with pants and warm boots underneath)

We made yummy muffins from the cookbook I gave to Hannah for Christmas.

By the way, if you have day old muffins, they taste delicious split in half, buttered, and grilled in a pan.

Hannah plays the piano and we girls did a LOT of singing. We sang a lot of hymns from the hymnbook, and some praise songs, too. She has sheet music stored on her ipad, with a wireless pedal so she can turn the pages hands-free! Very cool.

She has a beautiful singing voice, and it was a dream to be able to sing two part harmony together (she choked up more than once), we both love the old hymns. Grace’s beautiful soprano voice made it even more lovely.

Hannah took a break from singing now and then, so she could concentrate on the piano playing.

Since it was a snowday, we were able to go to Panera for lunch, leaving the little ones napping and Jacob in charge. Then, OH JOY! we went to the bookstore for coffee. We each picked out some magazines to browse through, too.

We went to a craft store, because Ethan wanted more yarn for the blanket he’s been crocheting for a couple years now. Rich came home to the sight of THREE of his boys working away on their handiwork. Hannah and I made a dishcloth together. She would do a few rows and then pass it to me, so we got it done in no time.

Caleb had beginner lessons in crochet, and David crocheted three long strands and then had me braid them together for a rope.

Parker, our big lovey boy dog, also adored Hannah.

Hannah gave David his very first piano lesson.

We had chili for dinner.

on THURSDAY….

She gathered eggs.

We went for a walk.

We drank a lot of tea and coffee.

We snuggled in blankets on the couch and talked.

And, after school, we took Grace and visited a fabric store. Hannah quilts and sews and she was like a kid in a candy store. She was able to fill her arms with some lovely fabric for herself. I bought some fat quarters and some darling Beatrix Potter buttons which Sarah promptly took and ran off with. I haven’t seen them since.

Rich brought home pizza for dinner that night.

on FRIDAY….

We went to the coffee shop in town with Seth and Sarah. Hannah and I sat at a table by the window, and the two little ones sat at their table next to us; so so darling. We snacked on bagels and cake and drank the most delicious caramel lattes. I love our small town coffee shop.

There was a store next door that I had never been in. When Hannah saw an owl calendar in the store window she asked if we could go inside. It ended up being the most delightful place, my friends, FULL of beautiful and unique little things. I bought a few things for myself and others, my favorite being a leather wrap bracelet.

Hannah made a homemade noodle dish for dinner that night.

Incidentally, her recipe is here today.

on SATURDAY….

We went to NYC. What an adventure!

When we came home, we ate leftover noodles for dinner.

on SUNDAY….

On Sunday we went to church together. Afterwards, Hannah and I took the four older boys to Crackerbarrel for lunch. We all sat together at a big round table in the corner.

We had a lazy Sunday afternoon……..and little Caleb did one more item on his list…..”read to Hannah”

For dinner we had a nice big salad.

and, lastly, on MONDAY….

This picture was taken by Kathy on the last day of Hannah’s visit. Soon after, I had to drive her back to the airport. We had such a great time together and she proved to be just what I gathered by her letters and blog; pure sweetness and so very pleasant and kind. We all love her. My only wish is that she lived closer!

“True friends are always together in spirit.” LM Montgomery (one of our favorite writers)

karen

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Shanda

Yesterday, David and I had the unhappy business of saying a fond farewell to dear friends, because they are moving away. Karen has been my dear friend for over 10 years. We met at church and as we are both believers, our friendship has a beautiful spiritual quality to it, as we are not only friends, but sisters in Christ.

So much has happened in the last 10 years and Karen has been there for me through it all. She shares a love of domestics and although we had grand plans on learning crazy-quilt stitches (she even went so far as to photocopy her booklet of designs for me), we never quite got to it. We both love to cook, we both love the woods and the magic of them (elves, fairies, and mushrooms), we love books, quiet things, and the simple pleasures of life like a good bar of pretty soap, fiestaware, vintage Holly Hobbie, and Kate Greenaway’s illustrations.

We’ve made friendship memories over stew on the first day of Fall, pumpkin pancakes in the small apartment Rich and I used to live in with our toddlers, good tea, good chocolate, coffee, and cookies. She knows stories of my childhood, and I know the stories of her’s.

We are both wives and mamas,and love our homes. Our husbands are friends and our boys–David and Leo–are buds, and have grown together to be fine young men. Our littlest ones, Sarah Joy and Charlie, are about the same age, and last year we nursed our babies together on my front porch. Oh, I shall miss her.

I’m thankful that although her mind and life are currently in a whirl, preparing to move, she was able to take the time to come over “one last time” before she left.

Our mutual dear friend, Kathy, also came. The three of us have done so many fun things together, with lots of talk and laughter, and yes, also a sprinkling of sorrows. Growing though life with good friends is such a gift from God.

Yesterday, as I prepared for my friends, I made homemade soup and bread. Lit candles. And when they arrived, it was like it always is; chaos with the little ones running around, as their mamas neglected them to have a good ol’ gab session.

David and Caleb stayed home from school to spend the day with Leo and they had a good time playing with their guns, jumping on the trampoline, and sitting on the roof.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” CS Lewis

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Elbert Hubbard

When they left, we hugged. I said, “Don’t go!” and I called her sweetie and she said, “I love you.”

There were tears.

I have enjoyed the love of her friendship, for which I am very thankful. There are promises of a yearly visit and of course there is also email, letters, and maybe she’ll start a blog. Here’s hoping.

It won’t be quite the same, and that’s the part that makes me sigh.

with good friends

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Shanda

with Matt, 2006

Our family first met Matt years ago when he started coming to our church. He and Rich quickly became friends and started running together. Tuesday became our day to have Matt for dinner and the guys would run.

Matt moved away to finish schooling, met a lovely lady, got married, and now has a baby son. Even though he moved away from Connecticut, he’s been so good about keeping in touch with us and visiting when he can. He and Laura are leaving the US in September as missionaries. Thankfully, they had several churches in the area that they needed to visit before moving to Africa, so they were able to swing by and visit us, too.

They arrived in time for lunch, to spend a couple of hours with us before travelling to a church in New Jersey. We had food ready for them; salad, fruit, corn on the cob, chips, and sandwich fixings. We had just enough time to catch up, eat, admire the baby, talk, and (of course) take some pictures.

Laura let me have some fun with her baby boy, Ian.

I spread out a blanket on the floor by a big window to take some pictures of him.

He’s a big three month old, she says he’s already growing out of his 6 months clothes and weighs about 19 pounds.

I just can’t stand the cuteness of a swaddled baby.

It was such a treat to hold him.

Isn’t he a handsome little thing?

We took him outside on the porch.

Here he is with his adorable mama, Laura. We had about five minutes or so before an afternoon pouring rain came down.

Matt and Laura visited us last year, too. I didn’t know Laura was expecting Ian until after they left and Rich told me. heart

I just love this big group portrait!

Friends and family in Christ.

Pray for Matt and Laura as they get ready to fly for Africa on September 11. They will spend 2 years there before they come back to visit the States again.

We’re so thrilled for them and all that is happening in their lives. (they have a blog:HERE)

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit us, Matt and Laura. We love you guys!

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge–because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

pool party

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Shanda

You know what makes me feel really really happy? Sitting and gabbing with a friend while watching our children have fun together. And that’s what I got to do again today! My friend Caroline invited us to a campground and we got to swim in the pool.

Grace couldn’t find her bathing suit so she wore a t-shirt and shorts.

David is like a fish, he loves to swim! We are used to a POND, so David does miss the pond creatures when he’s in a pool. However, swimming in clear water is a nice treat.

He did take a break to read the rules. One of the differences between the pond and the pool is that he is not allowed to run around the pool at breakneck speed.

Caroline helped Sethie swim and he loved it. He is not afraid one bit, unless he accidently floats onto his back.

The wonderful children. The older boys like to swim in shirts, I’m not sure why but if I had to guess I think it is because they are in that teenager self conscious stage.

They had a lot of fun splashing each other and playing catch with a little football.

Caroline generously provided lunch for all of us. A picnic! We had watermelon, sandwiches, and drinks.

There was also a basketball court.

And a playground.

Seth rode, what he called, a HORSE. Aren’t 2 year olds so cute? He is talking more and more. It’s amazing to hear his thoughts.

It’s been a crazy week for me personally, lots of emotions and crying. But I have to say, getting away from the house routines now and then does a world of good for a mama’s mental outlook!

We had such a good time! I’m so thankful for friends, here, there, and everywhere. That includes you.

xoxo

already in a frame

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Shanda

If you’re alone, I’ll be your shadow.
If you want to cry, I’ll be your shoulder.
If you want a hug, I’ll be your pillow.
If you need to be happy, I’ll be your smile.
But anytime you need a friend, I’ll just be me. ~Author Unknown

We spent hours at their house today.

And today, I’m just thanking God over and over for this family. God perfectly matched us to be best friends with one another. We’ve been doing stuff together for over 10 years. There are hundreds of sweet memories.

(missing from photo: Bethany, age 2, Seth and Sarah’s bestie).

Kathy and I had the greatest time watching them all play. Poor Tristan and Kevin got stung by bees. David and Emily sat right next to each other on the couch to watch a show. So comfy. Seth and Beth had spats and went skinny dipping (you can do that when you’re two.) Sarah started a few arguements by saying “mine” when toys were taken from her. The older ones played catch, volleyball, and jumped on the trampoline. The pool died and poured out all over the lawn (it was a big huge blow up one).

As soon as we got home one of my children printed out this photo and had me put it in a frame. That’s how much we love these people!

Seth and Sarah in the field

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Shanda

We hadn’t seen our friends Matt and Laura in about four years. What a delight to find them *just the very same* as they have always been.

Let’s see, David was a baby when it all began. In fact, Matt came to see Davy in the hospital when he was born. So, almost 9 years back. How can that be possible?

Matt (who was single at the time) started coming to our church and we began having him over for dinner once a week. My sister was living with us and as part of the living arrangements, she made dinner one night…well, that one night became the night Matt came to our house. He and Rich would go running, and then we would eat as a family. This continued for several years even after Amanda (the weekly chef ) had her own apartment. It’s pretty much a blur to me now, really…except little bits and pieces, it was mainly a nice time for Rich and Matt. I do have old photos. Of Matt on his birthday with the little ones standing around him at the table, with his cake. Of us outside all together. I remember the last time, before he moved away. It hurt, as it always does, to see a friend moving on.

The happy thing is, with friends, it always feels the same when you get back together again.

Matt’s not single anymore…he has married lovely Laura. We’ve spent time with her before (Matt’s brought her for visits several other times) so she’s also an “old friend”.

Last Thursday, because they were back in the area visiting, they came for dinner. And just like old times, the two men went running, talking together as they ran. Laura and I didn’t talk as much because Laura attracts children like moths to a flame. Like flies to honey. Just like that. They basically lined up to show her things. I’m laughing just thinking about it. After we saw the chickens and Davy catching a fish, we went for a walk to the field. I gave up trying to keep up so while Laura and the children explored, I sat with Seth and Sarah.