Fall friends

There is nothing new under the sun. And so my mind turns again to thinking of life in terms of the changing of the seasons. I love the fall. I have been longing for Fall. Warmish days and cool evenings. Crunchy leaves and warm drinks. Pumpkins and corn mazes. Bonfires and toasty marshmallows.

But fall always comes with a cost, with loss, with an ending.  The weather cools, the days shorten, leaves fall.  I have been longing for the season of life in which I now find myself, but at the same time I am experiencing the shifting seasons of friendships.  A fuller schedule and changed time commitments make it difficult to spend time with friends.  Some friends have moved away. Others have changed churches. Still others have had their own life changes or made choices that have taken us along different paths.

I love the fall, but I am grieving the loss of summer. I am enjoying being married, but I grieve the loss/transition/change of so many friendships all at once.

But this, like so many others, is just a season.  So let those leaves fall! I will enjoy the season as it is:  beautiful death, leaves red, orange, and yellow, making room for something new.   The trees won't always be bare;  I am hopeful for a future spring.  Friendships revived or new ones birthed.

too far away...

All my closest friends live too far away!  California, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Charlotte, Statesville.....Why can't everyone just live close by?  Like on my block.  I want to walk over to your house and come in without knocking on the door.  I want to take walks with you and hear how your week has been.  I want to bake you cookies and bring them over just because.  I want us to have a TV night every Thursday to watch our favorite shows and laugh together.  I want backyard bonfires and game nights.  Shared meals and shared lives.  I want to see you at church on Sunday, every Sunday.  I want to be in Life Group with you and study God's word.  I want to live life with you.  Everyday life.  Why are you so far away?

One year ago...

This week is the anniversary of our sweet Aimee Powell's death.  It is incredible to think how quickly a year goes by.  It always seemed to me like her soul was too big for this world.  No matter how she tried to fit in it, it was always uncomfortable and not quite right- like a sweater too small.  Aimee, we are thankful that you are with our Father.  We love you and miss you so much.

Here are some thoughts from a friend:
"Sometimes happy endings are not happy at all, but they are still endings. This does not mean that they are the wrong endings, or that a better ending slipped by. Perhaps in a broken world, imperfect endings are at times the only way to close a story. They are the only endings that fit. They are the best endings. --thinking about and missing my friend Aimee." - Josh Stockment

Psalm 27

Of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?
 ² When the wicked advance against me
   to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.
 ⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.
 ⁶ Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.
 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.
 ¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

Saudades

I was just talking to my friend Brenda in Brazil. And we ended the conversation with the Portuguese word "saudade"....she said that she likes that word because it means so much more than the English phrase "I miss you."....So, I typed it into google, and this is what I got http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade