We are very blessed to share our lives with a whole bunch of people. The ups and down, good and bad. One person with whom I have shared some of the most extreme highs and lows over the past 13 years is my friend Kelly. This is her 4-month old Nehemiah sleeping on my chest today. Kelly and I met while working at Old Republic. We are the godparents of her oldest son Shayne (who will be 17 in a few weeks - OMG!!!!!), and we have held hands, slapped faces and truly explored what agape love mean as we've run this race together.

Seeing this little face makes me cry. He is so beautiful, and so perfect. In a couple of years he'll be crazy and start talking back...in 17 he'll be a week away from taking his first college tour. When Kel and I met, Alex was not much older than Nehemiah is right now. Sammie was just about to move from twinkle in the eye to...well, you know. It all goes so fast...

I think Kelly and I have learned, practically, what it means to 'honor one another above yourselves.' (Read Romans 12:9-21) Our friendship has trained me for some of the relationships God has prepared for me right now, and today I realized that and praised Him for her, her sons and the wonderful man He has provided for her.

David shared a verse that has become very important to him in his ministry and it struck a deep, deep chord for us as well. I think it sums it all up very well:

"we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you no only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
1 thessalonians 2:8