8 kids later...

It's gone from this....

To this....

These two pictures make me smile because of so many reasons...more than I can list on this little post. We were reminiscing this weekend of some of our favorite moments over our last decade (plus a few years) of friendship.  We remembered how we met for the first time at a membership class at our church in Springfield, VA. There was a first impression, since I was training for a 1/2 marathon, that I was "athletic." That impression didn't last long (could have been because I laughed out loud at the comment). Despite that we knew this couple was special and became fast friends. Even though we met them then, our friendship really "blossomed" in a very small, very unwaterproof tent on a very rainy night in Shenandoah the summer of 2004 (yes, I was very pregnant with Annika and camping). We really got to know them that night when the laughing started and we haven't stopped.  

This past weekend reminded me of how thankful I am that God has brought friends into our lives like the D's. We were such babies in the first picture.  Together we have grown from blissful newlyweds to clueless first time parents to comrades-in-arms training up our children in the way they should go.  We started in our small apartments in Virginia and are now living in our middle-of-the-country-homes in Kansas and Texas.

Again, we stayed up too late each night talking about life. We laughed until our cheeks hurt. Arranged a marriage or two. (You are cordially invited to Landon's and Adaleigh's wedding in 2034 to be followed by Simon and Cora's in 2040). We basked in the warmth of our friendship and a good Malbec. 

Over the years Dan and I have realized that when you have friends like these, you hold on to them. We make it work to get together. We take our kids out of school, drive eight very boring hours just to sit and share life face to face. We end each visit with "next year it's our turn." There is just something about friends who knew you before you were "(Insert child's name)'s  parents."

Sweet times. Sweet friends. Thanks again, D's, for making the trip and making our weekend one to remember.

Love y'all. :)

P.s. just for fun...pics from the last two spring breaks...

2012

2013