My Birthday

Today is my birthday.  Here's a flattering little photoshoot Aiden did of me the other night at Z's basketball game.  :)

And since its my birthday, I thought this would be the most appropriate day to re-post something my friend had written on her blog, shortly after our time together in Denver this summer. 

Its beautifully written, generous, humbling and yes...slightly embarrassing.  But I wanted to make sure I keep it for all time.

22 years and counting

I am not sure how you describe a friendship or a friend that you have known and loved 

for 22 years and counting.  Where do I begin except back when I was a kid in youth 

group and I met this other kid in youth group we were opposites but I guess it is true 

they do attract at least that has been true for Lisa and I.  We met and became friends 

and now 22 years later we still laugh, love, laugh, love, laugh, and love each other.  

We have been out to breakfast so many times in our 22 years and I can't remember a 

time when we didn't laugh.  One breakfast just a few years ago we were laughing so 

hard the restaurant was staring and other people were laughing.  I still remember the

 story but can't explain except to say it had to do with her brother on a horse with a 

sword which made  no sense and was hysterical.

Lisa has been a constant in my life journey and I can't imagine the pictures of my
 life and my memories without her.  If you know her you know she is kind, 
determined, quiet, horrible with directions, an amazing woman, mother and wife, 
.she is disciplined, she gets things done, she is honorable, faithful, and a prayer 
warrior (I know I have felt her prayers many times in life), she is an amazing 
photographer, she falls asleep fast and sleeps hard, she is fun and loves to laugh,  
she loves coffee just with cream, blueberry pancakes no syrup, and dogs although
 she tolerates them are not her favorite,  she loves the smell of new babies, and her 
home is  a place you love to be because she has an open door policy all the time,  
she is constant, consistent, and true to who God has created her to be and I am 
blessed a thousand times over to call her my friend.

On her short visit this past month I was reminded again how God brought this 
amazing woman into my life for a lifetime not a brief moment not for a short time but
 for the long haul of this life's journey.  When we became friends I knew it would be 
forever I knew I  had found a person who God had given me to share the highs and 
lows of life with and I am so blessed and honored to be on this journey with her.  In 
life we have so few people who last a lifetime with us besides our families but I know 
in my heart Lisa is a lifetimer for me and I never take for granted the blessing God has 
given me in our friendship.

Lisa I pray you know that my heart is always fuller after being with you.  God has 

given you so  many gifts and it is a true joy to watch you use them to make the
 world better and to make me better.  Your friendship has blessed me for 22 years 
and I look forward to at least 22 more years of knowing you and being known by you.  
My prayer is that the God of mercy and love we both serve will continue to guide us 
both in life, in love, and in friendship may we always point one another back to the 
God who gave us one another.  I love you my dear friend thanks for the sleep over 
at my house and the past 22 years you are a blessings.    

Verse #2

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:8