friendships makes us fresh

One of the nice things about traveling is that every trip offers opportunities to make new friendships or nurture old ones--if you make it a priority and take the time.
Every connection starts with one person being brave enough to make a move---to take the initiative and hope the other person will respond in kind. As scary as it might feel at the moment you do it, it usually works. As Jordan and I traveled out here to Washington we took advantage of many serendipitous opportunities to stop and visit family and friends along the way. Many a mornings, afternoons, and evenings Jordan and I found ourselves sitting around kitchens, backyards, and livingrooms drinking whatever and getting lost in conversation because it just felt so right and good and the conversation flowed so effortlessly. Jordan and loved visiting with our Aunt and Uncle in MO...sitting on lawn chairs in the warm/cold MO sun while we exchanged stories about our work and our lives. I just love my family so much I wish I could travel to see them more. We enjoyed Erika and the family sooooooooooo much I would love to just hug this little character right now! She is also the best colorer in the world (wink).

Jordan and I could have visited museums, gone shopping, or easily fallen into the trap of staying on top of our emails in the hotel rooms, but these brief interludes turned out to be amongst the most memorable of our trip---and I have every hope that as we return to Florida we will have the same experiences!


So aside from that...as I know we have now been in Auburn for a while we finally made it to Lake Tapps ward on Sunday! Kate and I were sitting in relief society and met some amazing women, they were so kind and opened up themselves and wanted to really get to know us. All about our husbands and what we like and where we come from. It truly placed a huge smile our my faces and such a comforting feeling in our soulthat we just screamed with excited for future get togethers with them. We have already been extended an invitation to go to Robin's home tomorrow as they will and are starting a quilt as a way to say thank you to a former friend of theirs that has sense moved away...I am so happy and can't wait to call Kate and let her know the good news. Now Kate and Parker are so awesome! I am so glad that they are here with us and we are here with them. We are always involved in such great conversations Kate and I are...go Dr. Laura! LOL...games, movies...they are two people who are examples to me in my life, they exemplify how we should live as Christ did...loving each day and showing humility and interest in others.
That being said I have been having such a overwhelming feeling regarding the love of those around me that I have began to rethink my New Years resolution! So I don't want to get rid of the one I made...so what about starting a mid-year resolution (being June and everything).
How easy is it to make resolutions and yet it is so hard to keep them (grrrr). Every year, women resolve to lose weight, reduce stress, work smarter, and improve their relationships. I thought a little more specificity and that I will from here on out have a friendship resolution. I know that there is no substitute for setting aside time for your friendships and the payoff is worthwhile. Don’t just talk about getting together. Mark you calendar...that's my plan. (smile)

Thy friendship makes us fresh. - William Shakespeare