Amigos

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. ~Edgar Watson Howe

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind. ~Toni Morrison, Beloved

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul.

~Edith Wharton

Yesterday was a really emotional day for me.  Well, really, the past week has been a hard week for me.  And on top of just feeling super tender emotionally this week, I have been in and out of my doctor's office because they believe I had a cyst rupture.  First we thought it could be appendicitis, but since the pain actually started off bad, then slowly got better, we erred on the side of a ruptured cyst. 

All that said, it's been a long week.  And I miss baby Kathryn a whole lot this week.

Which just goes to show you how great our Maker is. 

Yesterday, I got a package in the mail at work from my old friend Jess.  I have three friends in my life who I count as my oldest friends, and all three are still a big part of my life.  Jess is one of those three. 

She sent me the sweetest card and in it, reminded me of words I wrote to her when she was going through her own life changes back in 2002.  I wrote to her:

"I have to tell you, I am so proud of you...of your strength, your courage, your perservering spirit.  I know wihout a doubt God is going to bless your faith and courage.  While it is easy to remember those things that are changing, I challenge you to remember the constants...a family who loves and supports you, friends who make you laugh, both far and near, and a God who is unchanging.  Take time to enjoy the journey."

It was weird reading something I wrote, that nine years later, I need to apply to my own life.
But what was more touching to me than anything was that she had kept this card from me for nine years.

You know the song, "make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

Jess, you are a GOLDEN friend.

Then, yesterday, when I got home from work, my bestest friend called. 
I think she hates she's so far away. 
So we got to talk, which is difficult these days, with our schedules, that crazy time zone difference (an hour really DOES make a big difference!), and kids, husbands, etc. 
Lately, I can sense the concern heavy in her voice. 
She hates she's not here, that we can't talk more, and I do too.
C--you may not be here, but don't worry, you're always here :-)

Then, last night, BT and I went to dinner with some friends of ours here in town.  Friends we have known for quite some time, but all from our Birmingham life.

At the end of dinner, they told us about the bench donated in Kathryn's memory at Samford, all by friends of ours from college, and friends now. 

I broke down in tears in a major way.

And I cried the entire way home.

I just can't explain it. 
Honestly? 
It hit me really hard because I realized something: 
I was worried people had forgotten her...

And then, on the way home, with Thomas watching Mickey in the backseat, and me and BT up front, we came up over the mountain to an enourmous hot pink sun, setting in the sky.  No clouds around, just a giant hot pink ball of fire in the sky, a perfect full circle.

I've always been blessed with friends. 
It's been one of my things: so many wonderful, amazing friends.

They made their presence known yesterday.
Then, at the end of the day, my sweet sweet girl showed herself to me in that giant pink ball in the sky.

It's really really difficult sometimes. 
But then you have days like yesterday, that help you remember you're not alone.
So thank you, friends, every single one of you.