Friendship and the need for community

So, this last weekend I had the priviledge (sp?) of visiting my dear friend Katie in Gloucester, Mass. (Don't be angry Wilcox and Cade--my plan is to see you guys when I'm out there for her wedding in April!) A few frivolities, first:

They have the COOLEST houses there! Check out the pictures!! All tall and Victorian and fun...and, Gloucester is this great little seaport town, all harbory and fishy--very picturesque! I highly recommend the Lone Gull coffee shop if you're ever in town...fun, comfy atmosphere.

But enough of that. Katie and I had some excellent times of talking pretty deeply, and I was really struck on Friday night with how important it is to be face to face with friends who really know you, and really love you. As I've lived here at Kidder Creek for the last 2 years, intimate friendships have been hard to come by. I've got fun friends, but no real CLOSE, dear friends. And I miss that. It's been hard on my soul, I think. It was really apparent to me last Friday night, sitting on Katie's couch and talking...that we are WIRED for community, to live with people who know us and love and accept us, with all our warts and idiosycrasies. People who are committed to walking the journey with us, no matter what. And I was reminded of how necessary it is to be face to face with at least a few of those people. It really fed my soul to be with her, and then to be in Santa Cruz for a day with some other dear friends...just the beauty of BEING with people who know you...it's almost inarticulate, but I am finding that's it's so essential to the health of our hearts....



So, all that to say...let us bask in the joy of dear friendships with those whom we can see and touch...it is often like water to a parched and weary soul, to be with those people. Revel in it, enjoy it, roll around in it...

that is all :)

the last 2 months...

so, I've been getting hassled about the fact that I've not posted in awhile. My apologies! :) Life has actually been really busy. Let me share the love and photos with you...

1. Cross country skiing 2 weeks ago at Mt Shasta--so fun!! it's one of my new favorite things!
2. Old friends from the high school years...it was super great to see them over Christmas!! Blurry, but...hey, I wasn't the one taking the picture!!
3. world's greatest nephew at Christmas! Oh my, he is just adorable...

And, I just returned from a GREAT weekend in Gloucester, MA (near Boston), for a quick weekend visit with a dear friend...and I will put up pics and a thought-provoking post (I'm letting it marinate today) within the next few days... :) There is actually much on my mind right now...so do check back! There's the potential of some exciting announcements very soon...