Carolyn

It's intriguing how friendships begin.  Carolyn and I sang on the worship team together over a decade ago, but I never got to know her.  She married the son of one of my very special friends, Julie, but still we were not acquainted.  Steve and Carolyn moved away, Ellie was born, Julie went home to be with the Lord, and Carolyn was still someone I knew of, not someone I really knew.  A few years ago Steve and Carolyn moved back to the area with their two children.  Ellie began to participate in our children's programs at church, and Carolyn and I became facebook friends.  That's where it began.  She joined the worship team again, and this time a friendship blossomed and grew.  Carolyn is a caring and giving person.   She is very open and honest.  She is truly a devoted wife and mother, and the spiritual growth of her children is of utmost importance to her.  Carolyn is a Thirty-One consultant, and is very passionate about her business.  She is a true friend, the kind that can be trusted with anything and everything.  My whole family was sad when it was time for her family to move again.  My kids had become very attached to her's.  My boys, who were all much older and bigger, adored her son Micah, and would search him out at church.  My daughter enjoyed spending time with Ellie, despite their age difference, as well.  Eric and I also became friends with Steve, who we had not really known before either.  I thank the Lord for bringing them back here for that short time.  We miss them, and hope that they will be able to return one day, but our friendship will remain despite time and distance.  Thanks for being such a great friend, Carolyn!!!  ♥

Uncle Rod

A cherished member of our family has moved on from this world. Uncle Rod loved Eric and I, he loved our kids, and we loved him. Aunt Peg and Uncle Rod were probably the first of Eric's family members that he introduced me to beside his parents. They welcomed me immediately into the family as a shy 16 year old girl. They loved me and made me feel like I belonged. That was 20 years ago. We have spent wonderful times together since then. Uncle Rod and Aunt Peg have been like another set of grandparents to our children. Uncle Rod took time to come and visit with us. We spent weeks and weekends together at cabins in the mountains of Pennsylvania and Virginia. We visited places together such as New Market Battlefield, Horseshoe Curve, and Shenandoah Caverns. He helped us on many of our home improvement projects like our roof, our chimney and our bay window. He loved to tell us stories of when he was in the army, and about his friends from the 82 Airborne Division. He was so proud when Cody went to NYC to march in the Veteran's Day Parade, and he gave him a challenge coin to commemorate the occasion. Cody will cherish that always. I know that he was special to all who really knew him. I wasn't born into his family, but he was, is, and always will be as dear to me as an uncle can be. We all will miss him. I am very glad that we had a chance to spend one last hour with him on Friday. Sunday morning he left the pain of this world behind him. We are still here to face the separation, but we have the hope in Christ of seeing him again one day. We will carry on and remember the good times as something sacred. They will remind us not to waste the time we have here on earth, but to invest it in those we love, just as Uncle Rod invested in so many of us.

Cheryl

I have known my friend Cheryl since our Austins were babies, and they are almost officially teens now. Cheryl has always placed her family at the top of her priorities. She was a stay at home mom until her youngest started school, and then she went to work in the school where she could be near her kids and have summers and other vacations and holidays off with them. Cheryl is a grandma now, and shows the same love for her grandson that she has for her children. She is diligent about teaching and demonstrating moral character to her children as well as to the girls that she leads in the youth group at out church. She is a great encouragement to her friends, always having a kind word to lift them up. Cheryl is a loving and devoted wife, always speaking well of her husband. One of the things that makes me smile is the way she will send out an email to the team, when Craig is leading worship, and sign it Craig's secretary. Making sure we are "on the same page" is just one of the ways she blesses us all. I'm glad that we are friends and that we have been able to watch our kids grow up in church together. Thanks for all you do to make the world a little brighter.

Ted

I don't know if it matter's how I choose what friend to write about, but today Ted Bryant was at the top of the list on my facebook profile. Let's see, I have known Ted since I was in eleventh grade. We had something in common... Eric. I was Ted's worst nightmare, but he accepted me as a friend and together we weathered some difficult years of adjustment. Ted was there for me. It may have been five hours in a car, but he was only a phone call away. He was a great pen pal too. I still have a collection of letters and coloring pages we exchanged in the mail as we each endured a time of separation from family and friends. These are bittersweet memories in many ways, as the hurts in our lives at that time were very real.

Ted was the best man in our wedding, and Eric and I were both privileged to stand up in Ted and Betsy's wedding: Eric as his best man and me as a bridesmaid. We should have done a better job of staying in touch with Ted and Betsy and their lovely daughter throughout the years. I am thankful that in the past few years we have been able to get our families together a few times. Those times have been a blessing to me. Ted has grown into a faithful Christian man who loves the Lord with all his heart. He stands out to me as a great example of faith. He has a great desire to spread the gospel and see people saved from their sin and living their lives for Jesus. He participates in ministry at http://www.northpointeny.org/ through music and other avenues to effectively share the Word of God. My life has been greatly blessed by knowing Ted. Thanks for always being there friend. ♥

Rebecca

I have decided to bring this blog out of hibernation. It's sometimes difficult to decide which friend I should write about, so today I closed my eyes and randomly typed a letter in the search window on facebook. My friend of the day is Rebecca Braswell, more familiar to me as Becky Hails. I have known Rebecca since the day I started Kindergarten. She was was very friendly which helped to ease my anxiety, though as a five year old I am sure I didn't think of it in those terms. Becky rode my bus which meant I always had a friend nearby. I was so shy that it wasn't usually easy for me to get to know people. She was at the first birthday party that I can remember having. Becky liked to laugh and joke.

As with many of my friends time and circumstances have put distance between us. My interaction with Becky is now limited to the social network of facebook. I can see though that she is a devoted mother and a loving wife. She seems to be able to face life's challenges with joy and confidence. I understand that she is an excellent artist working mostly with pottery. She has a positive outlook on life that is uplifting. I am glad that we can be connected once again regardless of location. Rebecca, I am praying for blessings in your life and family today.

Jennifer

Oh, my. My friend of the day idea has turned into friend of the month. It's time I planted a new flower in my garden. Today I have chosen Jennifer. Such a terrific friend is she. We had so much fun together when our kids were preschoolers. She was the one I called to take care of my three kids, ages five and under, the evening I went into labor with the fourth. What a friend! One of the things I really appreciate about Jennifer is that she is very encouraging. She always has affirming words to lift my spirit and build confidence. She is also very gifted at the art of the two way conversation. She shares and she listens equally which is really a blessing to me. She is genuinely interested in others. Jennifer is also a great mom! She strives to raise her children according to the will of God. She is a wife who loves and honors her husband, and she is also a devoted daughter. Jennifer, you have been a blessing to me. I thank God for your friendship.

Nancy

Wow, it's been a while since I worked in my garden. It is definitely time to add a new flower. Today I add my friend Nancy. A book could actually be written about her, but for today I will settle for a brief blog entry. Nancy is the field worker for Child Evangelism Fellowship in the area where I live. I met her at a released time class (http://www.cefcenclin.org/childmin.php) for my children's school. I actually went there to investigate what they were teaching my children and found a whole new world of ministry that I didn't even know existed. I was pleased to find that CEF does indeed teach the truth from the Bible. Nancy is an excellent teacher. She explains the word of God in a way that everyone can understand. I have actually learned a lot just by listening to her teach, but she went a step further and encouraged me to take some classes which have really helped me to develop some skills. Nancy was one of the teachers of these two classes, TCE I and TCE II. If you have ever had an interest in learning how to present the gospel to kids (or anyone for that matter) and lead them to Christ, I recommend checking out these classes (http://www.cefcenclin.org/ttrain.php). In addition to being fully submerged in children's ministry, Nancy is a dedicated wife and mother. She has three grown children, and is in the process of helping two of them plan their weddings. She always takes the time to talk with and pray with anyone who is struggling, or to give advice to less experienced mothers who are facing new challenges. It has been a priveledge to get to know Nancy over the past five years. Nancy, thank you for all you have taught me. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Chris

This a different sort of planting than usual. I have written about new friends. I have written about family. I have written about friends that I have known in recent years, but this is a friend that I have not been in contact with since high school. What I have to tell you will relate to childhood. Chris moved to my school in the fourth grade if I remember correctly, and he just seemed to belong with us. One of the things I remember about Chris is that he was accepting of people, and another is his sense of humor. Chris was a good sport and loved to laugh. One of the memories that will go down in hiss, down in hiss, down in history is the time Chris played the ♪Mayor of the Munchkin City in the county of the land of Oz.♪ I won't go into detail about the incident during dress rehearsal, but it was a testimony to Chris' good sense of humor. I hope that he and our fellow munchkins will be amused by the recollection, unless I only remember because my mom was the seamstress. I remember him being a people person and a good friend to most everyone. Because of time and circumstances I don't really know Chris now, but he was a good childhood friend. Chris, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Tom

I was actually outside working in my flower gardens today! What a beautiful warm, almost spring day! Tomorrow is officially the first day of Spring. Now I am finished outside for the day and it is time for my virtual planting of a friend. Tom is quite knowledgeable about the plant kingdom having a specific fascination with the carnivorous varieties. He's raised many of them in an enormous, impressive terrarium that he built with the help of a friend. He has a heart for children, and has been a big brother to a few boys who were in need of companionship and guidance. He has been a leader and teacher in several children's ministries throughout the years that I have know him; in fact I first met Tom when we were both serving at Vacation Bible School. Above all Tom's love for the Lord and the truth from His word direct every area of his life. I am glad I got to know Tom while he was still living near by. He made a move way out west and we don't have the opportunity to get together much anymore, but friends are friends forever and my family values our visits with Tom. We enjoy geocaching together when he is in the area. The excursions we have shared will long be remembered; from the frightfully cold windy New Year's Eve 2008, to flinging a tennis ball on a string at a lamppost the following December, and crossing the very narrow bridge during the summer in between. Neither will we forget the infamous "crow shooting" the time we went hiking out at Scotia on a Sunday afternoon. Tom, your in my thoughts and prayers tonight. Come visit soon!

Anita

I'm so glad that Anita is growing in My Garden. She is so kind and so much fun. My family met Anita and her husband through our common interest in geocaching http://www.geocaching.com/). As a team they have hidden many enjoyable geocaches that our family has appreciated. One morning a group of geocaching friends got together for breakfast and Anita handed out kazoos for kids of all ages. Outside the restaurant after breakfast some of us played a song together on our our kazoos. Another time our family was hosting an event and she made balloon animals for all of the kids. Anita is a clown of course, and I mean that very seriously, although as a clown she goes by the name of Toot. I encourage you to visit her bright colorful website at http://www.toottheclown.com/. It has been a delight getting acquainted with Anita. She has really brightened our caching community with her playfulness. Thank you Anita! My friends are planted in my garden with prayer, I will be praying for Anita and Toot this evening.

Shannon

Here is a friend who I remember from my early childhood. My cousin Shannon was admired then and is admired now. It's funny how when you are very young four years makes such a difference, but as time passes the gap closes quickly. As a girl of nine or ten it was a big deal to hang out with my cousins who were older than I was. I remember fun filled evenings with a large group of cousins playing kick the can while our parents sang. Visiting with family in Virginia was a highlight of my childhood and fun was always anticipated until one day when we thought we might lose Shannon. He was in a terrible accident and it is only by the grace of God that he recovered and is still with us today. (As I think about that statement it really is true for all of us spiritually, it's just more physically evident in some cases.) It was so traumatic. As he lay in a coma and as he gradually came out of it I believe I prayed like I never had before. As the months passed we were all so thankful that he was coming around, and at the same time I remember being troubled because he just didn't seem "himself" to me. As years passed everything seemed different, but growing up does change things. I soon had the opportunity and privilege to actually get to know him. During my later teenage years we were able to relate to each other as friends like we never really had as children. I remember a few times in particular: hanging out at the bowling alley, getting a bite to eat at the truck stop in Ephrata, going to see Ground Hog Day in the movie theater; just spending time together. I am so glad for those memories. Of course now we are both adults. Praise the Lord, Shannon has recovered from his injuries. It's such a blessing to see him as a husband and a father. I'm so thankful for his faith. I am always amazed by all of the people he knows. I don't think my cousin Shannon has ever met a stranger. At family gatherings I think he makes a point of talking to almost every person there. I admire his outgoing personality, and genuine interest in people. Unfortunately I am not as close to any of my treasured cousins as I once was, but it is nice when I have a chance to reconnect with them. Shannon, I thank God for the life He has given you. You are a blessing!

Melissa

I thought today seemed like a good day to plant Melissa in my garden. I've been thinking about how long I have known her and was surprised to discover that it will only be two years this July. I was so surprised that I searched our geocaching logs (http://www.geocaching.com/) to find the Monster Buck Hunt (the event where we first met) and confirm this information. Melissa became a good friend so quickly that it just seems like we have known each other longer. To illustrate what a sweet personality she has I will share that my mother-in-law met her once for only a few hours at a CITO (Cache In Trash Out) event, and when the event was over she expressed to me what a beautiful person my friend Melissa is both inside and out. Of course I agreed with her!!! It hadn't take either of us very long to reach that conclusion. My whole family has felt so welcome and accepted by Melissa and her family, it's not everyday you meet friends like them. I have never met anyone more devoted to her husband and her children, she is constantly giving of herself. She is a hard worker too; taking care of her family and their home, and recently even adding a job into the mix. Melissa has lived in many different places in the past ten years and I am guessing that there are people all over the country who miss her and wish she could be closer. Melissa, you are a beautiful flower in my garden of friends. My prayer for you is that as you have been a blessing to those around you so also may you be blessed by others. ♥

Cathy

Today's beautiful blossom is Cathy. I was fortunate to get to know Cathy while she and her family were attending the same church that my family attends. I went to visit a cell group one week when my husband was out of town, and it was there that I really got to know this friend. It's hard to believe that this summer that will be five years ago. Our families attended the group together for a while and it was really a pleasure to spend that time with them. That was a difficult year and the group was really there to help me through it. Cathy is so kind and encouraging, and I know that she can be trusted to measure a situation according to God's word. She is open and sincere which makes her easy to share your thoughts with. Cathy is a fabulous, loving mom who has spent many years homeschooling her children. She's creative too, and really great at decorating. Cathy is lots of fun to be around. Cathy, I am glad I got to know you and your family, you are in my prayers this evening as I thank God for you.

Sherrie

My garden planting of the day is a very friendly flower who makes people feel included and accepted. I know when I hear her laugh that I have a friend in the room. Sherrie has faced many heartaches in the past few years, but she has leaned on God to get her through each one. She is a loving and devoted wife and mother, her family is her pride and joy. She is active in her community. I have seen her out ringing bells for the Salvation Army, and I've overheard her talking of plans for the scholastic book fair at her son's school. I have a feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg. I am glad to know Sherrie; she is a friend with a sweet yet dynamic personality. Sherrie, keep laughing, keep smiling, and keep trusting God. There's a prayer in my heart for you this evening.

Aunt Ruth

I present to you today a flower that has been blooming in my life since the earliest days of my childhood. She is my Aunt Ruth. As long as I can remember she has been kind and patient. I have fond memories of coloring eggs at her house on Good Friday. The adults would first have to complete their task of making and coating peanut butter and coconut eggs, it seemed to a child that this process took forever, but our turn would come and we would make our pretty eggs to play hide and seek with. Many fun times and family gatherings occurred at Aunt Ruth's house, and I remember spending many weekends there. It was a place where I felt peaceful and safe. When I look back at some of the things we got into it is a mystery to me how she so calmly bore all of the noisy, messy, sometimes destructive shenanigans of three imaginative children (her son, my sister and I). On Friday nights she would take us to the bowling alley where she participated in a league and there were even more cousins and friends to hang out with. When I was in my teens and early twenties I worked with my mom and Aunt Ruth at their sewing shop. How she loved me through those years is another mystery, but she remained kind and forbearing as I grew through all the difficult stages of life. Thank you Aunt Ruth for giving me a place to relax, have fun and be a kid when life at home was so stressful. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ♥

Chelsea

Each flower in my garden of friends is unique and beautiful. Today I am adding Chelsea. One of the things I admire about Chelsea is the wonderful job she has done as a nanny. I believe the family that she has worked for has been exceptionally blessed to have this godly young woman loving, nurturing and influencing their children. Chelsea has endured trials and losses that have made an enormous impact on her life. I found this quote on her facebook page, "Life is 10% of the things that happen to you and 90% on how you react to them." Rather than letting them tear her down and make her bitter, Chelsea has leaned on the Lord in the difficult times and trusted Him to make her stronger through them. I also found that her goal in life is "to be used for God's purpose instead of trying to use Him for mine." So many times people get this backwards, but she's got it right. Chelsea, It's a joy to see you happily engaged to Peter; getting ready to begin a family of your own, I pray for abundant blessings in your life together.

Jeremy

The friend I want to share about with you today is Jeremy. He is the youth pastor at Park Forest Baptist Church, and an all around great guy. He is dedicated to his family as well as his students and youth leaders. It is obvious that he enjoys spending time with all of them. He promotes healthy relationships between teens and their parents; a characteristic which I particularly appreciate. Jeremy has a heart for outreach and encourages the youth to share their faith with their friends. He has set up special events where kids can bring their friends to have a ton of fun and most importantly hear the gospel. He has also made sure that students have opportunities to serve the community and share the gospel in missions situations. Jeremy loves the Lord and expresses this through teaching and music. He participates on the worship team and even leads it sometimes. He has been such a blessing to our church and to our family. Thank you Jeremy for all you do. I pray that through your diligent ministry you will have the joy of continually seeing teens and their parents put their faith and trust in Christ.

Titus

I met Titus about four years ago when he came to my house to teach a 5 day club for kids. He was great with the kids, he got right down on their level and played hide and seek with them. He was really good at teaching too, he has a personality that captivates his audience. The second opportunity that I had to see Titus in action was at day camp a couple of years ago. I thought he was like a ray of sunshine that brightened everyone's day. He seemed to make people feel welcome, included and important. He was fun and energetic; on the more serious side however, I remember him showing compassion for a friend as she cried over a strained relationship in her life. My interaction with Titus has been mostly limited to those encounters, but they left me wishing that I knew him better. Titus is an attractive young man with a great deal of potential. Titus, my prayer for you is that you will look to God's Word to lead you in your decisions, and that you will use your special gifts and talents for His glory.

Elaine

Elaine is a friend that I met when I was 15 years old. We were sailing to Mexico on the Bluegrass Supercruise in 1991. I spent a good portion of that week hanging out with the Deaton family and have some very fond memories of trying to barter with the local people on the islands and cruising around Cozumel in dune buggies. That summer I was invited to spend a week at their house in Georgia, but by the end of the week my flight home had been changed so that I could accompany them on their family vacation to Panama City. I just really appreciate Elaine "adopting" me as part of the family, I had so much fun hanging out with her kids. I remember going home with a new outlook on things. I had felt so accepted by the Deatons that my self esteem improved. Many of the problems I faced at home seemed more manageable because I felt like I had a refuge. I was able to visit with the Deatons a couple of times after that, but being more than 700 miles apart, well I haven't seen them in a long time. I do have hopes that since my kids are older now we will plan a trip to Georgia one summer and will be able to visit Elaine. I feel very blessed to have this special lady as a friend. Elaine, I thank God for you and pray that he will bless you and fill your days with joy and delight.

Eric

Happy Valentine's Day! I have been planning for some time to pay a special tribute to my dear sweet husband on this day, but now that it's here I can't find the right words. I met Eric when he was 17 years old. His interests included volleyball and volleyball. Not being very athletic myself and not looking much like a volleyball, I worked hard the first couple of months to get his attention. When we finally started dating in January of 1992 we found that we did have some common interests such as music, movies and food. Most importantly we discovered that we shared the same faith in Jesus Christ. Eric is kind and respectful. He's a hard worker, and he always plays fair. He is the smartest person I know and yet he never comes across as a know it all. It's nearly impossible to beat him at a game of strategy, if there's an element of luck involved one might possibly stand a chance. He is friendly and out going, but when we met I thought he was quiet and shy. He still loves to play volleyball as well as softball, but his favorite activity now is geocaching which for us is a family sport. He loves to go out hiking in the woods searching for the treasure at the end of each journey, but he always waits for the times when the kids are out of school and we can all go together. Eric gets involved in the community by volunteering to help with special groups and activities at church, work and school. He is a faithful, loving, devoted husband and father. I could write volumes about this friend who is also my sweetheart but this summary will have to do for now; I want to go spend some time with my Valentine. I love you Eric! ♥