Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

"Make new friends. But keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

Those are brilliant words that I learned as a Brownie in Troop 69 growing up. I can still picture standing with our Brownie sashes on, in a circle, holding hands and singing this song. But I don't think I really have grasped the true meaning until many years later. This week has been a full week of work and other activities but the highlights of this week would definitely be centered around friendships. Oh, and family of course.

Last weekend, I went to the 'Noke to celebrate my adorable niece Raygan's first birthday. I know I am completely biased but that kid is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen. I say the same thing about her 6 year old sister and her 6 month old cousin. But I had the grandest time just chilling with my family. I hadn't seen Raygan since Christmas and that was 1/3 of her lifetime ago so I wasn't sure she'd remember me. But the second she saw me, she came to me and reached out her arms for me to pick her up. Maybe she's confused like the rest of the world in thinking I look like her mom but she just came right up to me like she had really missed me. And Cayton of course came running and jumping into my arms. (It won't be too much longer until she is too big- or I am too short- for her to do that so I just relished it even more!) Raygan's birthday party was on Saturday and as a typical 1 year-old, I don't think she really knew what was going on. Until the cake. She had had cake on her actual birthday (two days prior) and she was shoveling it in. And this time was no different except the icing wasn't hot pink. She ate the entire cupcake in no time flat. And was even willing to share some icing that had fallen out of her mouth with me. Such a sweet girl! Such a sweet family!!

On Saturday night after the rest of the family had gone to bed, I headed over to the Kerrs. I realize that I have known the Kerrs since before their youngest was born and Sarabeth is now 20! They were Sunday School teachers of mine in middle school and I was their babysitter back in my teenage years. I have always held their friendship dear to me and I always try to stop by their house during trips home because I just love them! And now their oldest, Claire, is engaged and will be married in September. Wow, I feel old!! But I have appreciated their friendships and examples for more than two decades now! I am so blessed!

Monday, I had the true treat of getting to spend the day with another special family. I met the Robertsons last October when I was in Azerbaijan and they made sure I was okay during my unfortunate illness from the unknown pill. I have only known them a short time and really not all that well. But well enough to know they are a super duper Christ-loving family! So when I heard they were in DC, I took the day off of work to spend with them. We played tourists and on paper it didn't seem like it would be all that easy considering they have 7 children and DC was a bit crazy hosting an international nuclear summit. But it was the most perfect day! We hit a museum, had a picnic lunch on the National Mall and then took a tour of the Capitol. We ended the day with dinner at our friend Lesley's house where we had some awesome Lebanese food. It was like having our own little international summit! This family exudes love and kindness and gentleness... pretty much all of the Fruit of the Spirit and I was happy to spend the day having that rub off on me just a little bit! :)

Later in the week, I met up with a friend who I had met when I first moved to DC but I hadn't seen her in about 11 years. Thanks to the marvelous world of Facebook, Kelley and I have reconnected online and she e-mailed me a few weeks ago telling me she would be in town and wanted to do dinner. I thought it might be a little awkward considering it had been so long but seriously, it was one of those conversations that picked up literally where we probably left off 11 years ago. Kelley was my Bible study leader when I first moved to Alexandria and really made me feel like part of the group. I told her that in many ways, I have her to thank for my happiness living here over the years. She was one of my first "new" friends when I didn't know many people and she made me feel connected in my church family who I have come to really love and cherish over the past 12 years. And I was soooo excited that we were able to have dinner and catch up and not really miss too many beats along the way! I think I'm going to plan a trip to Tuscon to visit her soon!

This week God showed me that I have all kinds of friendships and each one is a blessing. He has blessed me beyond measure by putting meaningful friendships in my life and I am forever grateful.