Final stops on the way home

Sunday brought visits with friends. In the morning we met up with friends I've had since seventh grade. We used to sing together in choir all through high school. Mar was in our wedding, and she now has a spunky daughter who is as close to exactly like her as possible, haha! Even though I haven't seen Mike since graduation, we picked right up where we left off and it was just like we hadn't missed any time in between. I have THE best tribe.

Much closer to home, we had ice cream (of course) with our camp friends, Tom and Stacy, and their lovely daughters. They'd stopped through last summer when I was doing chemo and had no hair. These sweet girls have been praying for me for a long time, and it was so nice to be able to hug them and thank them and their terrific parents! They've had six weeks of adventures out West and were also headed home but managed to squeeze us into their schedule. 

Yes, we are missing a child. Damon is spending the week with Pap- you didn't miscount. 

And continuing with the lovely sunsets, even in Ohio:

                                     

Spring silliness

 

The last weekend in March brought a visit from Hinrew, Muggin and Zia. This is the only picture I got, because we were all busy being lazy. They joined us and participated in our Friday night home group, which was really neat. There's never enough time with these guys. Thanks for making the trip to come play with us!

 

I got to meet my new cutie friend Hudson for the first time. He's only 4 months old, and I hadn't seen his mom since last spring break. Talk about never getting to see people you love enough...

 

This is another of my cutie friends, Bella. I hadn't seen her mom since last spring break, either! Bella is an 18 month old firecracker, just like her mother. She's big into sharing right now, and was pleased to hand us our own belongings all through lunch.

 

Check out those ringlets! She just lives up to her name.

 

Here's her awesome mom, Mar. Or "the Mayor" as our kids hear when we talk about her, haha!

 

Our own cute urchin snuck a photo op in as well.

 

Handsome Hudson and his beautiful mom, Lisa.

 

It was so good to catch up with these girls. They've been lifelines for me since our girlhood and I really wouldn't be who I am today without them. Priceless treasures. And their kids are cute, too.

 

Grandma Barb and Pap came out for Easter. We had way too much food, went to church, and did our general goofing off, including the kids' hunt for their Easter baskets. This year said hunt happened at sundown and they used flashlights and glowsticks to find their loot. Our apologies to any neighbors who thought there was anything suspicious happening with all the lights bobbing around...

 

Carrie's clues ranged from the playhouse to the inside top floor of the "barn" (shed) to the top of the rope in the oak tree out front. More than one of the kids found clues in our "Harry Potter" room under the stairs (game cupboard) and in the laundry room appliances. One was in the bathtub, two were in our "secret" staircase, and Carrie's lean-to hosted a couple clues itself. They had a ball, though they were incredibly late to bed. Oh well, it's spring break...

Girlfriends old and new

Oops, forgot this one. These are the kids in Aunt Sherri's car the weekend Dada and I went to camp. They gave us hardly a backward glance as they all piled in for THEIR adventure. They would gladly move in with her!

And this is my new friend Isabella. Isn't she darling? Her mom, Mar, and I have been friends since 7th grade. SEVENTH GRADE. Holy cow, we are old...

Anyway, Mar was kind enough to drag this poor, sweet baby out on a Saturday night to come meet us at Eat N Park during our camp weekend. She's just perfect, Mar!
 

 

My beautiful BFF Lisa came up too. Nothing like girlfriends past, present, and future!
 

 

I would certainly not be the mom or the woman I am without these two awesome women. I am more thankful for their friendship than I can ever express. Thank you, Lisa, for putting up with me since I was 6! And Mar, looking forward to getting into shenanigans with little miss Isabella. If she is anything at all like you, look out! ;)  Love you all!