O is for Old Friends

The tricky part about being back home is trying to see everyone... well seeing is one thing, but spending time is another. Unfortunately, we never get to spend as much time as we'd like but we do try our best!

Because this is a significant year for us - with our ten year anniversary and me turning 40 - it was really so special to be around old friends. The beauty of these relationships is that the quiet years between them doesn't change the value and the warmth when we do get together! I am so grateful for 'old' friends of all ages!

The kids and I got over to Anissia and Tim's house for a raucous night of bike bashing, toy-trying, running amuck, wrestling, conversation (that's the adults) and a delicious BBQ meal...

Last time Hunter saw Tatianna they were about 2.5-3 years old... but you would've thought they were best buddies who saw each other every week...

they were absolutely hilarious!

Even more hilarious was the way Poppa Bob (or Mr Bob to us) got the kids all wound up right at the end of the night... why are grandparents so naughty like that?!? Poor ole Bob got my kids so wound up they were wrestling and jumping all over him... so he locked himself in the bathroom (then snuck out around the side door and came in and freaked them out while they were banging on the door... HA!!!!)

Besides Hunter & T's almost immediate bond, Helena and Hunter found themselves right at home with Mrs June and were so cuddly that little Delaney seemed a bit confused as to why her grandmother was paying so much attention to this strange girl. But Helena thought it was so natural since it was only a few months prior when the Belikoff's visited our home in Wellington and brought a refreshing sense of California familiarity with them.

And yes, Anissia and me - old friends from high school and church... over 20 years!!! 

When Tony arrived we hooked up a dinner with Danny & Pearl at their super duper child-friendly home!!! I found this particularly significant this visit that these two have known each other for almost 20 years as well... and though they only spent one year of their high school lives together, they recognised such a like-mindedness in each other that they've actually maintained this relationship over these years... and though there are years in between the few hours they get to spend together - those hours are precious and keep reinforcing their like-mindedness. Thankfully, they got an additional couple of hours playing basketball and sharing in uninterrupted conversation.

And now, the fun is getting the whole group together - Hunter (5.5), Isaiah (5), Helena (4), Noelle (3)!!! Thanks Pearl for sharing your parents and family and heart as well!!! We love spending time with you guys!

We met up with Robyn and took a walk down Main Street while the street fair was on... it was good to catch up with her as well - 20 years for Tony... pretty cool to have friends in another hemisphere for that long that you still get to see occasionally!

We got to pop by Leilen's house for an hour and a half one day after work... the kids ran around like best buddies, while I got to hear some very interesting insight into nutrition and behaviour. Plus... I did buy her book (Banish Boring Words), but totally forgot to get her to sign it... hmmmm! Bummer. 

Amber is so good at gathering people... so she pulled together a 'girls night' at a really cool restaurant (http://www.greenleafchopshop.com/costa-mesa-restaurant.html) to celebrate her birthday (but really just because I was home). It was so fun to have these lovely ladies who we've grown up with all gathered around the same table...

Even though we are all approaching (or just landed on) 40 - I think they all looked more beautiful than ever!!! It is neat that although they don't see each other all the time either, when we do get together there is much encouragement and warmth and picking up where we left off.

And of course, we do have some "old" friends! HA! Actually, Uncle John is not only our uncle, but he was our youth pastor and has been a mentor to both of us, so it was really special to spend some time hearing about Seaside and his life, but also to share our journeys and get his insight. And how cool, afterall, he did marry us 10 years ago!!!! Thanks for always being such an encouragement to us - we love you.