Friendship

I have commented before about the fact that Babe and I are blessed with a group of very close friends.

Today is the birthday of one of them. Thinking about this last night caused me to re-examine how very close she has become to us. So today I'm going to brag her up a little bit.

Things that I love about this woman.

She is an absolutely fantastic cook. I cannot begin to describe some of the dishes that she has made for us.

I would trust her with my children in any situation. As a matter of fact, my boys do not allow her to leave their presence without a hug, and when the conversation turns to a visit; it very quickly becomes the only subject on the minds of turtle and tank.

This person is a loving mother and wife. I believe that she tends to be the glue holding her household together. Her husband, Foose, is my best friend, and like me, he tends to be pulled in many different directions at once, sometimes not leaving as much time at home as he might like. Like my wife, Foose's wife somehow manages to reinstall balance to her household.

She seems to be involved in every possible aspect of our church. Her generosity with her time and her talents is well known, and she does seem to be one of those people who is known as somebody you can call on for help.

I cannot count the number of times that she has picked up my children from daycare, or watched them when they were sick, or taken care of them in some other fashion.

By now, I imagine that you can understand why we value her friendship so much... Who wouldn't? I know that we are not alone in this, as her other friends also feel the same way. Anytime you manage to connect with somebody who becomes so reliable a support mechanism for you, of course you are going to value your relationship with them to a high degree.

And so, with that, I am wishing her a very happy birthday. I hope that she knows that she is valued, that she is respected, and that we all love her.

Happy Birthday Jody.