night out with friends.

The Great Escape Room

Skate Par-Tay!

to my beautiful Jaimie....

Today we said our final farewell to our dear Jaimie here on earth. I had the incredible honor of speaking at her funeral. It's hard to put into words what she meant to me, but I did my best....

The first night that my friendship with Jaimie really began was years ago in a Starbucks in Northville. We were there with a group of friends, but we seemed to be in our own little world talking at a trendy wooden table about the things God had been speaking to her that week… which were the same things God was stirring in me for months. Talks of purpose, mission and sacrifice and SO desiring the heart of God to be the driving force in all of our decisions gave us the ability to finish each other’s sentences and laugh at our common ground. That night we connected in a spiritual way. A way that set the foundation for a friendship that continually drew me closer to God. Throughout the years we would look for opportunities to sneak away for coffee to talk and even joked about our covert operation to have our husbands let us go out at 10pm to talk over café mochas. We figured if we could get the kids in bed and our husbands on the couch watching the game, we could meet up and talk for hours without anyone missing a beat. She would always beat me to the coffeehouse and have our drinks sitting at the table when I arrived… and if I even slightly moved for my wallet she would slap my hand in protest. I actually boxed her out once to pay and she sent me the money in the mail the next week. Those nights were my most precious moments with Jaimie. No one pulling at us or stealing our attention, just us, challenging and encouraging each other to know God more. She knew things I was going through that very few people knew… she was my confidant, my sounding board and my loudest encourager. She has been one of my closest and dearest friends, and even though I keep saying that her legacy will live on through her children and the kids and teens she has poured into, I am also confident that her legacy will live on through me. She always pushed me toward Christ… not only by speaking life to me… but by the way she chose to live each and every day.

Oh beautiful Jaimie… thank you for the honor of calling you friend… a role I cherish more now than ever. You will be missed every single day.

Noah is here!

Noah Grey Lapenta Stout

One of God's perfect creations.

I'm simply amazed.

(Special props to Heidi for chronicling the entire week!)

that friend.

You know the friend.

The one who has seen you at your worst.

The one who reminds you of your worth.

The one who laughs at the same things you do.

The one who knows your looks, your sighs and your heart.

The one who knows what the tears are for.

The one who has seen parts of your heart no one else has.

The one who loves you unconditionally... and then loves you some more.

The one who has arms strong enough to hold you when the going gets tough.

The one who made all the inside jokes.

The one who knows the kind of macaroons you prefer.

The one who knows how you take your coffee... and how that's changed over the years.

Yeah... that friend.

Well, she's having a baby.

His name is Noah Grey.

I couldn't be more excited.

i might be getting slightly old.

So I just realized this last month that one of the friends I grew up with almost since birth, and his wife, whom I have been friends with since junior high will have a daughter in Legacy this summer. WHAT????? I was working in Legacy when she was born, how did this happen? I put my arm around her last week and she was as tall as me, and now she will be coming to our youth retreats!

Olivia, Chris and I back when Liv didn't roll her eyes at my crazy dancing.

friendship.

I mentioned before that Isaac will be attending a new school this year for 1st grade because of our move. The thing that bothered me the most about this transition was all the incredible friendships both Isaac and I made, and having to face the fact that the time allotted for those last year would not be the same for this upcoming year. There are a few friends that have added so much to his life... and their beautiful moms have added so much to mine. Kristen and I were pregnant at the same time and met out of our sympathy for each other. We ended up carpooling each others kids and texting each other for prayer throughout the week. Crystal's son and Isaac went to Preschool together, so it was a relief when they ended up in the same class at Violet Elementary. We ended up getting to know each other's families much better this past year and she is now getting ready to have her 3rd child. (She is one gorgeous pregnant lady!) 

I am so grateful that we have stayed in contact over the summer and that our boys are still able to hang out and do life together. Tonight we celebrated Skylar's 6th birthday at CJ Barrymores. The boys had a blast, but I think the parents laughed harder than the kids! Thank you ladies for continuing to be a blessing in my life.... God had perfect timing for your friendship!

soccer.

date day with aunt mary ann