God's Way of Making Life Easier

This weekend was so nice for me. I went with Elizabeth to Graf to visit a family that is near and dear to us. The Forrester's lived in Schweinfurt for 18 months and then headed 2 hours away to a different post. They are wonderful role models of what a Christian family should look like. It is my dream to have a family like their's some day.

Elizabeth is leaving us real soon, so she wanted to visit the Forrester's before she heads out. We made the trip down last night and made it in time for a delicious supper. Then we watched (I slept through) a movie and then headed to bed. Today was a great day of relaxing and enjoying each other. We went to chapel this morning and spent the rest of the day at their house. We simply sat around and talked, but it was just so nice. Before leaving, we sat together and prayed for Elizabeth and her big move. Kevin also prayed for Jay and me and our sweet reunion that will be happening soon. Myra said a beautiful prayer and then it was my turn. Well.... I got one sentence out and lost it. I managed to get another sentence out and that was all I could do. From that point on I had a constant drip of tears. Thankfully Kevin closed up saying such precious words about my dear friend.

I tell you what, I know that Army life means friends are constantly in and out of your life, but man.... it really stinks! Elizabeth has been an absolutely wonderful friend to me, especially this last year while Jay was gone. She was my go-to-girl for everything. I could tell her anything and know that she would listen. I could call for advice and she would give it. I could always count on her to give me a great story, because her days were full of them. I could count on her to keep me busy so I didn't have any spare time! Elizabeth kept our house up and running when we were in the states for R&R. She even kept our tree alive that has been trying to die for the last year. Elizabeth and I spent several nights eating at Tres Pesos.... so often that they know what we order by now.

She has given me opportunities to travel (Belgium, Venice, Italy, Poland, Czech, Piza, and several places around Germany). This is Brussels.

She has come over to help me make invitations when I was in a time crunch.

 She has crawled out my window to rescue my groceries, even despite being all bruised up.

She has tried clothes on for me so I know what they look like.

Over the past year, we have come up with many reasons why we should be friends. I think the best one is that we have the exact same glasses perscription. It's great when one of us forgets our glasses and we are driving. We just share the one pair we have! She has truely been my rock this past year. She is my gift from God, his way of getting me through this deployment. I really don't know what I would have done without her.

Our friend Angie has called us peanut butter and jelly. I think that's too funny! But I'm lucky to be in a pair with just a great person. I was talking with another friend of ours on Saturday. She told me that such close friends are hard to come by and that I was lucky to have Elizabeth. Boy, was she right!!

But, God has bigger plans for Elizabeth. She is heading to England to touch even more lives than she already has. She is starting a new Club Beyond program up there. And since England isn't too terribly far away.... I booked our plane tickets tonight. Jay and I will be going up to visit already in January! I know I can't go visit that often, but I'll take every oppotunity I can get.

Elizabeth, thanks for being who you are, thanks for being a wonderful (and unfortunately short) part of my life! I thank for you all that you've done for me and all the things you've blessed me with! I'm really going to miss you!