So.....fast forward to July....Matthew was in Kindermusik camp, and as usual, the mothers do the typical small talk for those few days during the week while the kids are in class. The last day, one of the mothers, Susan, who I had seen at church, but didn't know, asked if we wanted to come swimming at her neighborhood pool after class. The kids of course were thrilled, so we decided to go, and it was a really fun time for all of us. There are just some people who you immediately "click" with, and Susan is just one of those people. It's so nice to have friendships that are so easy, and where you feel so comfortable with the other person. We have had several other play dates since that time, and we were so excited to go to the Fireproof Premier with Susan and Tony a few weeks ago. We so enjoy spending time with them, and I am just so thankful the Lord brought Susan into my life for a new friendship to develop. It has been great getting to know her family, and I look forward to many more fun times with them.

A few weeks after meeting Susan, I was talking to our former neighbor who had moved out of her house last summer after she got married. She told me a family would be moving in next door....with 4 kids! Goodness! I wasn't quite sure what to think. However, from the first day we met Kathy, Aaron, and their four girls, we knew the Lord was continuing to answer our prayer for Matthew to have lots of playmates. They have 4 children...ages 4 (soon to be 5- Matthew's age), 3 (SB's age), 2 and 5 months. Aaron is the new chaplain at Shorter College, and they have served at various churches around the country before coming to Rome. I would describe Aaron as a "free spirit"- ALWAYS making the children laugh and have such a good time (recently he rigged a zipline in his backyard for the kids to play on, and even today, he brought out a bunch of pillows for the kids to have a pillowfight- they loved it!). Kathy is such a wonderful, nurturing Christian mother and wife, and has also become a good friend in the past month. We feel so blessed to have such great neighbors....and permanent playmates for our kids! Wow- the Lord certainly answered our prayers! Pictured below are the kids playing, and the bottom picture is the first day they moved in....we shared some popsicles with them as Mom and Dad were getting moved in!



Then, there are the friends who are just always there when you need them, and even at times when you don't know you need them.....Naomi, for example. What a godly example of a mother and wife she has been for me! She is my inspiration for homeschooling when I see what all she has accomplished with her daughter who is older than Matthew. My children love her daughter, Abbey- we have had TONS of playdates and fun times together. Naomi is about the most thoughtful, generous, kind and considerate person I have ever known (actually, there are two of those in my life...the other being my mother!). I have learned so much from Naomi, and I can always count on her for encouragement, advice, and prayer on the other end of the phone line when I am in the midst of a difficult time, or anything else (i.e....spending hours helping me decorate for a bday party or dressing up as a clown in 100 degree weather for a bday party!). I thank the Lord so much for Naomi's presence in my life.



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Then there are those friends who have been with you through times of growing....such as the college years. I was able to visit with my college roommates a few weeks ago, and it was really nice (although not nearly enought time) to catch up on one another's lives. God has really blessed all of us- all together we have 9 children! I don't think any of us could have imagined how blessed we'd be 13 years after we graduated from Samford University. Kathryn, Leigh Ann, and Susie are precious women who love the Lord, and I was so fortunate to spend 4 years of my life with them.


I just wanted to share this answered prayer...the Lord really does know what we need when we need it. His timing is perfect and always right. He knows the people we need to have around us for our own growth, for friendship, even just for fun! I am honored and grateful to have these friends, as well as many others, in my life. Make sure to tell your friends how special they are to you! They need you as much as you need them!