It takes a long time to grow an old friend.

I can't even remember the first time we met. I do remember though that it was a LONG time ago. At my count, it will be 25 years this September. For those that are figuring out when that was - it was 1980. I was 8 and in the 3rd grade at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, VA. And what was it that brought us together way back when? They do say that opposites attract. I was very particular about making sure my shoes matched my outfit - you were comfortable in your sneakers all the time. I insisted on doing my hair up with bows and headbands - you liked yours down in your face. My mom wouldn't let me have all those sugary snacks, potato chips, cookies and such - your house was packed with them. I can say at the tender age of 8, that attracted me to you - the snacks your mom stocked in your house!! And what about our tendencies to keep things neat? My room was meticulous - your mom PAID me to clean your room!! For some reason we loved being with each other and you were quickly coined "My Best Friend". Then, my parents divorced and we moved away. You still wrote me and sent me cards during that time. Those letters got me through the rest of my 6th grade year - I took them with me to school and read them when I was supposed to be studying. Whenever we visited, it was you that I wanted to see. I missed you so much then. Just 6 months later we moved back and you and I were back in school together. What a dynamic duo we made in the 7th and 8th grades!! Those poor teachers. We were inseparable. I needed someone to lean on and you were there. Although we went to separate high schools, we still maintained our friendship. We saw a lot of each other during the week for Wednesday night youth group and Sunday School. Remember all those skiing trips together?? You and I on the double diamond slopes - look out world!! Poor Steve Holley. And then the unimaginable happened to your folks, they divorced too. Well, at least you had me to lean on - I could empathize with you - been there, done that.

And then there was college. We were at theologically different schools in two different states. I remember you writing me more than me writing you. Was that the way it went? Those 4 years, 4 1/2 for me, passed quickly. We saw each other on holiday breaks and off and on during the summers. Before we knew it, we were in each others weddings, just 13 months apart. Can you believe we both found men who wanted to put up with us?? And before I knew it, you had moved out of the country to Germany. We were at different places in our lives - you were experiencing a new culture, language and lifestyle. I had just bought a house, a minivan and was on my 3rd child. You STILL continued to send me letters and neat packages. I don't think I wrote you once during that time or even emailed you. That time was the hardest for me. I felt so distant from you. I had a hard time remembering even why we were friends. And then, a ray of hope, you moved back to the states. It didn't matter that you were in a different time zone, or even that you were on the other side of the U.S., at least you were in the country. Last year, I made a New Year's resolution. I promised myself that I would make more of an effort to keep up my end of our friendship by emailing, writing, or calling at least once a month. I didn't do a stellar job but it was definitely better than the past few years. And then, you got pregnant! YIPPEE! I couldn't believe it finally happened for you. I was so excited. I also realized that this would be a great opportunity to really be there for you. To support you in any questions you had and to be available to lean on.

To bring us to the present - my mom recently had a trip to Seattle, WA. I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to join her, not only because my kids had been dying to go but because I could finally get together with you. I was really nervous about seeing you. I couldn't help thinking about all those emotions and doubts. But when I saw you walk out of the hotel - they all disappeared. It was suddenly like we hadn't had all those years and miles between us. All those memories we had made when we were kids and throughout the years, all those experiences, all those adventures came rushing back to me. I suddenly remembered what it felt like to be with an old friend. Those few hours we spent together during that short time were invaluable. I was reminded that there really were more similarities than differences. We laughed, talked, listened, yelled at the dog, watched Shrek, talked about babies - I could have stayed for days just to get caught up.

And to our future, I just can't wait. I look forward to hearing from you in the next couple of weeks. I better be on your list to call whenever you have that baby. I am so thankful that we had that time together, Barbie. I want to thank you for sticking by me. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have made it this far. I want to promise you that I will try my best to do better. I will actually pick up the phone during nap time when I see your number come up on caller ID. I will give up my quite time to connect with you. I will email you more often - that means you have to promise that you will check your email more often! I will actually remember your birthday this year - I can't promise that it will be on the exact day but I can promise it will be within the month. I love you, my dear and I am so thankful you are in my life.

Starting off early . . .

As many of you know, we homeschool our 3 kids. I am constantly trying to do things to keep it refreshing and a fun place to learn. One of the things that I have done since Jacob was in kindergarten was to use candy to learn about money. This is our third year homeschooling and Jacob is in the second grade for his age but the third grade for the lessons we are teaching him. Olivia technically is to young for kindergarten - her birthday misses the cut off date - but we have started teaching her with a kindergarten curriculum. Gabi, being only 3, is also getting an early education in pennies. I couldn't consider leaving her out as this event involves food - something she just loves. So this year, I have two to teach about money and one to just throw M&M's at. Thursday's seem to work the best for this and Olivia has aptly named the event of teaching money using candy as Candy Store. She also insists on asking me just about every five minutes when Candy Store is going to be open. Today I had to remind her that if she asked me one more time that we weren't doing it. That finally shut her up. So, I announce that candy store is open and Jake and Olivia run to join me on the floor. They have grabbed our separate cups of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and Jake has raided my wallet for any cash he can find. I sit there waiting for them to collect the loot with a huge bag of leftover holiday red and green M&M's, the chosen snack for today. I call out to my youngest to hurry herself up or she's going to miss her favorite part about Thursday's. She finally joins us and plops herself down next to me. I start our routine of asking each child to give me a certain amount of the money they have sitting in front of them in exchange for a handful of candy. My dear sweet Gabi looks at me and hands me her pretend credit card. I couldn't believe it. Where had I gone wrong? Who taught her to hand over those lethal pieces of plastic in exchange for wanted goods? I, of course, couldn't stop laughing. The other two just looked at me with a blank stare. Ahhh, an opportunity to teach a lesson. After I explained to my 2 oldest the many options we adults have to pay for the things we want/need and laid a strong point that credit cards don't take money directly out of your checking account - you can use them to pay for things later, they too enjoyed a laugh! Gabi figured if they were laughing, she might as well too. My dear little Foo Foo.

You wonder how I can type just 6 days after my injury. The swelling is finally subsided and I can now keep my hand horizontal without it throbbing to bad. I am using ebaying as physical therapy for my injured pointer finger. In the next few days, I will post an update of my OWEE!!