January 6, 2007

• More pictures from last weekend...

  But first a preface [because who doesn't love a good preface]

  Back to 1998 - I had just moved to NorthWest Arkansas to work with a group called Youth With A Mission [YWAM]....  Five hours [by car] away from my family and the multitudes of younger siblings, I was homesick and wanted/needed to have some children/family environment in my life.  Enter my beloved Ray family - John, Jane, and their three little girls Hope, Hannah and Naomi...who stepped right in and filled the gap/need for family...  They were my family away from my family -  I fell in love with those little girls in very short order, with the added benefit of falling in love with their parents as well.

  Countless nights I spent in their living room after the girls had gone to bed - Jane would stretch out on one couch and I would stretch out on the other with our mugs of hot tea or coffee - John [her husband] would often end up there with us - sprawled on the floor as we chatted 'til it was time for bed.  I cannot tell you the comfort that I found in their home - in their presence...

  Jane is one of those rare finds of a friend who can sit there and listen to you as you talk through things, and simply in the listening [and with a few well placed questions for clarification purposes] help you see/discover things in yourself and whatever situation you are in from a totally new perspective.  She has brought so much clarity to my life - helping me when I would spin in circles in my brain.

  While I was in AR, she and John had their fourth [and last] little girl - Olivia.  I was with them in the delivery room - my first time to experience that with a friend.  There really are no words for how it feels to share that experience with such a dear friend.  Such a priviledge...It is still hard for me to believe that Olivia is now quite a grown little girl...

  So many precious memories contained in this friendship - these are just a few that I could remember off the top of my head...

  Anyway - while in AR this past weekend - in the midst of all of the running about and busyness - I was able to do the quick little 'pop-in' to hug their necks and say the briefest of hello's...[It is never enough time - when will there ever be?]  Here are a couple of those pictures...

  Jane and I - seriously - is she not one of the most beautiful women that you have ever seen? 
  

  John and Hope were not at home so no pictures of them, but here are a couple of the three youngest girls...
  [Olivia is on the left, Hannah is in the back, and Naomi is on the right]  Geez - you think these girls are comfortable having their pictures taken??

  

  This would be the shot AFTER Jane told them to close their mouths for the next shot - obviously Naomi thought it would be a better idea to stick her tongue out instead...

  

  Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am to have such a multitude of amazing friends in my life?

  • 3:26 am
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