Pick Up Where You Left Off

You know those friends that you can just pick up where you left off from the time you saw each other last 7 years ago with a few less kids and maybe a few less wrinkles?

Man we love these people!!

Kelly and Tyler were some of our dearest friends when we lived in Ukraine and my friendship with Kelly was what kept me sane (or something like it) during those brutal winters.  We shared life….love of family….passion for Jesus….challenges of trailing spouse-hood….southern belle-ness….and grace-dependant mothering as we navigated early years as missionary wives together.  Our girls took a little ballet class together.  We shared “survival” comfort food recipes.  We shared holidays together between our young families in our tiny sky rise apartment buildings.  So far from extended family, our kids had “surrogate cousins” in each other and I felt I had a sister in Kelly.

Kelly and Tyler were the “first responders”  7 years ago at this time.  They rallied to literally pack up our life in Ukraine for us when we found ourself in a crisis that prevented us from returning to the field.  Kelly was my “eyes” on the ground in helping C sift through our earthly possessions and pack up memories and essentials that would be shipped back stateside.

7 years later, our paths crossed again when the Sanderfords were coming to Thailand for a conference.  We have been plotting and planning for months and anticipating some extra time on each end for our families to overlap.  It was short and sweet and crazy and chaotic and SUCH a blessing!  Hearing the blood-curdling screams of 10 kids playing sardines in the pitch black of our apartment still rings in my ears!  The kids got along as splendidly as their parents do.  So fun!   Thankful for deep, transparent, encouraging friendships that stand the test of time and survive the transiency of ever changing circumstances.

What do you do when your Ukrainian friends come to escape the dead of winter in the tropics?….take them ice skating of course!

Make your own pizza night

long tail boat ride….more fun than Disney world!

’bout maxed out the living room 🙂

Picnic in the park is no small thing with our combined gangs!