He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 91:1

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Girls in Grandmother Faces

                          
                            My heart is overflowing.  My head is foggy. But, I am still smiling........


   This past weekend, seven high school friends (aka: bobkittens) congregated in one city, in one house, with one mind- to have a blast and to reconnect-for a few days of relaxing, sharing and laughing.
   We succeeded.  We have changed from young girls to mostly grandmothers and parents of children leaving the nest.  As you can imagine, girlie squeals assailed the foyer as each one arrived.  Yep.  We were seventeen again.  Our brains and voices were set at that sweet young age, but our bodies didn't hear the yell.  We were definitely grandmotherly, a few didn't fit the bill, but as for me, I most certainly looked the part as the grand Nonnie I am.  I don't mind.  My grand kids really don't care how many rolls or wrinkles I have!  And, neither did my friends.

Bobkittens,  Oct. 23, 2010


Meet and Greet with other high school friends, Oct. 21, 2010
    We started the long weekend with a meet and greet of several outside our group of seven, with others who we had been close to and wanted to include.  I wish I had a audio tape of the evening.  Chatter here and chatter there, and chatter everywhere.  At one point I slipped away and got out my camera.  As I walked around the house and caught tiny bits of conversation, I was just so moved at the tenderness of the words, the compassion of the listener and the soft laughs of memories gone by.  Oh, how sweet is the aroma of friendship.
Special cake made by our host's daughter
    We were able to visit several of our parents who are still in our home area.  They were thrilled to see the girls that grew up with their daughters!  It was hard to catch up with all of us in the short time we had.


    Never underestimate the power of our Heavenly Father to move mountains and oceans to gather together seven (yes, seven~that number of perfection) of the saints to strengthen, support and share their lives.  Thank you, Lord, for this time, and for setting our paths on this journey to gather together.  We had five states represented.  We birthed twenty-two babies in our younger days, and we are grandmothers to fifteen, SO FAR.  I am sure that number will rise considerably in the years to come.
Key chains, but more importantly loving arms 
and ministering hands.  (gift bracelets from one of the Bobkittens)

     Can you remember laughing so hard you can't breath?  Is there ever any moment sweeter than remembering and telling about precious moments about your children?   Do you know how strange it is to walk the places of your teenage years and the memories come flooding back?  And ride around the neighborhoods and call back the events of elementary and high school friends, dances, ball games, dates, parties, church functions, and Christian youth gatherings?   Have you ever sat with long ago friends and closed your eyes and listened to their voices and realize they sound the same as forty years ago?



              Take time to contact your long ago friends.  You won't be sorry.  You will be blessed.


For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 
Matthew 18:20