Refrigerator Friends

I do like a nice refrigerator. Stainless steel, with an ice maker, a water dispenser and fun storage. What I hate about them? That I have to fill them.....by shopping.....and spending money. If someone could just shop for me, cook for me and clean up afterwards, that would be awesome! The other thing is that sometimes it just smells......usually because I've left something in there too long. It's really bad if that's the case when you have people over. It takes awhile to get that smell out too.

I heard the term this week, "refrigerator friends", as living in community was the theme of our Bible conference. Those are people who can walk into your home, open your fridge and make a sandwich.....without asking. Or can say, "wow, something stinks in there!" To be honest, some of my friends ask for the dates on things I have in there before they will eat it!

The question is, do we have "heart refrigerator friends"? Those who are allowed to open our hearts and tell us something is rotten in there. Or can open your heart and know that you are discouraged and try to encourage you. It is only when we live in that kind of community that we can stand strong. It is only through authentic relationships that we can be how God created us to be.

Why did Peter deny Jesus three times? I don't totally know, but I do know that he left when they came to get Jesus from the Garden. The disciples left. Peter followed from a distance and sat in the same crowd that would choose to kill Jesus. He was standing alone when he denied Christ. It's really hard to stand strong when you stand alone. The longer we live like that, in isolation, the easier it becomes.

Who are your "refrigerator friends"? I have some. I have two now in Indiana. I FaceTime weekly with them. We get caught up but also ask and answer the hard questions. We pray for each other and often together. I have one in OH....who has allowed me to love her kids. She is intentional about asking refrigerator - like questions. I have one in CO, one in MI and one in PA. I can't imagine life without them.

Who are yours?

5 Years

Dear Mom,

I was sitting at another funeral today and it dawned on me that in a few months it will be 5 years since you breathed your last breath on earth and breathed your first in Heaven. I really miss you. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you at some point. Especially when I am now back "home" and could have seen you every day.

A lot has happened in these 5 years.

• I've had a few more surgeries. I'm sure that comes as NO surprise to you since you always said I'd be in a wheelchair by age 25, due to the way I played ball! Well, I've made it an extra 25, and although sometimes I wish I could have someone push me around, I'm happy to say that I am still upright.
• I lost Skylar, your Granddog. She was 16. I now have Jack! who is a small Terrier mix. you'd love him. He'd sit in your lap all day.
• Preston graduated from high school and is now at College. You'd be so proud of him. He's at CSU. Wish you were here to watch him play ball.
• Quinten is a senior in HS and wants to be a Pediatric Doctor. Wow, is that kid smart! He takes after you and Scott. You would love his heart!
• Deacon is 14 and a freshman in HS. He LOVES fishing and has his first homecoming date! He is a little version of Scott.
• Lily is 14 and in 8th grade. We wanted her and Deacon to not feel like they were tied at the hip so kept them a year apart in class. She is spunky, beautiful and a great soccer player. She also loves to make things - she has your artistic bent.
• I'm not longer in Ohio. I got married and moved to Va. Sadly, I am now divorced. In some ways I am glad you didn't live to see that. It will be a year Dec. 26 that he divorced me. Maybe when he gets to Heaven you may want to have a "mom talk" with him!
• Dad is MI and we have finally had to put him in full time care. Mom, he never recovered from your passing. None of us expected the timing but he never expected it really and wasn't prepared. Scott and his family have taken great care of him, but we are praying that God allows him to join you soon. He no longer knows who we are.
• Guess where I am now? Back at CSU. I'm the athletic director and women's basketball coach now here. I came here after my divorce and am beginning my second year here. Crazy huh!?
• I see your friend Peggy a lot. She misses you too. I know you've see Dr. Arp up there. Very sad and unexpected.

Well, I am sure there are a lot more things that have happened, but those are the highlights. Oh, remember Kir? She has a boyfriend! I'm sure you'd love that. While I wish you were here, I don't. Because I know you are singing with Jesus. I wish you could tell me they why's of all that I am experiencing. I wonder if God let's you in on stuff like that.

In some ways, 5 years have flown by. In other ways, it has been slow as molasses. I still remember most details of those days in the hospital and after. I still wonder, to this day, if you were trying to say something to Scott and I as we sat with you in hospice. Your eyes caught ours and you mumbled something. We choose to believe God gave you a moment of clarity and knew we were with you. 

I've also started to be a little "crafty", so to speak! LOL  nothing like what you could do, but I think you'd be proud. I've made a few things for my apartment. Makes me think of you. See, it wasn't a waste of time, trying to teach me all that girly, crafty stuff after all!

Mom, love you and miss you.