Good Friends

I'm having lunch today with a good friend... in fact its taken us nearly 3 months to make this lunch date (a birthday treat for me). It really shouldn't have taken so long to schedule this - but I'm grateful for my good friend, and the fact that she's so patient with my busy schedule.

It got me thinking about the good friends we have as a family, and some really great times we've had together. These are two images I wanted to share of such times. 

This image (above) was taken up at Lake Chelan, Washington on our 3rd annual camping trip with our "old" playgroup. The six oldest  kiddos have known each other since they were 3 months old... and now the kids number 13! It is a fun week, and a wonderful opportunity to slow down and catch up with friends we don't get to see very often, because we moved so far away. In this photo, we had settled the kids down at night, outside, by lantern light, with a book on tape. Percy Jackson held their rapt attention... as they drifted off to sleep in no time at all – and the adults got to enjoy the quiet crackle of the campfire.

This image (below), was taken two years ago at North Twin lake, here in Central Oregon. We celebrated the beginning of summer by immediately heading out on a week long camping adventure. It was a magical week... with young puppies in love (literally), good ol' Central Oregon summer thunderstorms, lots of hot chocolate, dirt & best of all - great friends.

I encourage all of you to take a moment and celebrate the friendships in your lives. I know I can get too busy and wrapped up in the now, to really think about and appreciate the special people in my life that don't live under my own roof. I hope they know I love them... because I do!