Company!

I've had such a good weekend. Some friends who use to live here came for a visit. It was Elena's birthday. She just turned 9, but she thought visiting me for her birthday sounded great. So, she and her sister Grace and their parents came for a visit. We went out for lunch and then came home and played games and went to the park. And, of course, a birthday calls for cake and ice cream. And we played a lot with Hadley. Hadley loved all the extra attention!

Elena

Grace

Time for cake!

The Compliment

Grace, Andrea, Elena, and Addie

This weekend I had a fun visit from some friends. Allison, Elena, and Grace moved from Illinois to Michigan where Allison remarried. It was really hard for me to see them go. Since they are in the UP, it takes a bit to get up there or down here depending on how you look at it.

A few weeks ago, Allison asked about all of them coming for a visit. I had to work at BN, Saturday night, but they made into town Saturday afternoon after visiting other friends in Chicago. We played with the cats, talked, played a game and then met up with other friends at Culvers for dinner.

The gang of kids at Culvers

I headed off to work at 7:00 and everyone else went to out to an indoor kind of arcade/pro putt in town. They bunked at my house and joined me at church on Sunday where they got to see a lot of familiar faces.

Allison shared with me about Elena's excitement over coming. She apparently told her gymnastic teacher that she was going to visit her "best friend Amy." What a high compliment to be considered any child's best friend!

It was a delightful time. It had been so many months since seeing all of them that I wondered if there would be any awkwardness. I was thrilled with "falling back into friendship" that happened.

A Bounty of Snail Mail

Lately my mailbox has been very busy. Much to my surprise, Jesus has been writing me. I've gotten several cards with Bible verses tucked inside them! They have been very encouraging to me. I know that some hands must be helping, but I appreciate the effort and do feel like Jesus is writing.

Then, I've picked up a pen pal. Elena and Grace use to live here. I sent Elena (8) a birthday present. She sent me a thank you not and said, "Write back!" I did. I asked her if she was asking to be my pen pal. I promised a letter for every letter she writes me. I've gotten my third since the end of September!

Lysa Terkuerst looped me in on a project for Sharon at Joy in the Truth's son. It involved a traveling journal and postcards and info about different parts of the country. It was through school. Interestingly enough, his teacher's name was Mrs. Barnhart. Mrs. Barnhart was the name of my kindergarten teacher. (No, we don't live anywhere near the same state.) I passed the journal on as instructed to Elena in Michigan who was going to send it to someone in Florida.

And then there is my Compassion child. Kay (Kayirangwa) from Rwanda wrote me the sweetest letter ever.She asked for prayer for school and for her mother who has pain in her back. Then she told me how beautiful Grace and Elena's pictures were. (I send pictures of various people and thought getting pictures of two little girls might be more fun than just adults or cats!) I had mentioned their mother moving and might not have been clear that they had moved too. She wrote:

She asks if Grace and Elena moved too? Kayirnagwa liked those children alot. If they too moved it's sad and if she had been able she would have come to remove you from that loneliness.

She's praying for you that you have a happy Christmas.

How sweet is that for her to think that I might be lonely because Grace, Elena, and Allison moved and want to help?

I love email. I'm probably addicted to it, but I must say that all of this snail mail ROCKS!

Pieces of My Heart

Sometimes God gives us people for just a time. And sometimes those people take bits of our hearts with us when they go. I have to believe that even though I will miss them and hate the having to say "Goodbye" that our meeting and doing parts of life together was for all of our good.

Today, I am saying "Goodbye" to Allison, Grace, and Elena. I met them through church in December 2006. We quickly became friends. Allison has graciously shared her girls with me. Yesterday, I spirited the girls off for a few hours of fun.

We went to Barnes and Noble and I let them each pick out something. Then we had lunch out and then went to the store so they could help me pick out flowers. I am not much on yard work, but last year a friend helped me plant some flowers in front. I liked having them, so we picked some out for the front and got two longer planters to set on the deck. (I hope I did it right and that they survive the planting!

This is Grace watering the flowers.

Here are Grace and Elena working in front of the the house. (Sorry, they got a little dirty, Allison! But they had fun.)

Elena and Grace with finished product out front. Last year they spilled over the pot. I hope they do this year as well.




We did white and orange daisies in the back. But I think the two prettiest flowers are the ones in pink! I love this picture of them.

And because it wouldn't be time at Amy's without popsicles and the park, we headed down to the neighborhood park. This is Grace on top of some of the equipment. I've loved listening to her pray over the last year and a half.

Here is Elena, digging her way to China. Actually, with her heart for God, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she ends up as missionary somewhere . . . .

Though it hurts to say "Goodbye," I wouldn't have traded the bit of sunshine they've been in my life for anything.

And with believers, it never is totally a goodbye but more of a "See you later!"



Please pray for their new adventure -- wherever it leads.