Lisa. And, Don't forget to Mark the Day!!!!

I'm itching to write. My fingers are literally shaking in anticipation of touching the keys of my keyboard with purpose and speed. They try really hard to keep up with what pops in to my brain...sometimes, it's really hard to keep up! (Of course, you know this, if you've ever had a conversation with me--like following a bouncing ball, they tell me!!!!)

I'm ready to write something, though! Something funny, or bright, or encouraging, or truly profound. Because there are so many things I could write about, I've started this post about 5 times.

Yesterday was one of those 'mark the day' days in our family. There wasn't anything special about the date, July 24...or the day of the week, a Saturday.

But, for us, a part of our past met our present, and we eagerly anticipate the future!

Flashback: 1983.

Randy and I had only been married a little over two years. We had bought a house, anticipating the family that God would eventually bless us with! We were youth group sponsors at our church. He also taught the high school Sunday school class. There were 'youth group' kids at our house much of the time. Good times. We were very young, and were able to devote time to listening or encouraging, or just hanging out with our youth group kids.

One day early that summer, I was home for lunch and one of the girls came walking up our drive way. She had found herself with no place to live, and didn't know where to go, or what to do next. Long story short, she stayed with us for the next few months.

Lisa. She was a lot of fun...of course, most high school girls are fun, and funny. I remember a lot of laughter! She worked hard, and tried to obey the zillion rules we placed on her. (remember, I said we were young)

Eventually, she moved out of our home, on with her life, and away from our town.

Fast forward 26 years, to yesterday!

Now we have available to us a social network with 500 million people in it called Face Book. Lisa 'found' me on face book, and over the past couple of months, we've re-established our friendship! And, eventually, we made a plan to 'mark the day'...and have a meal together!

Yesterday, Lisa brought one of her daughters and came to our home for dinner. It was fun to visit and hear about her life. We got to talk about things life has brought to each of us, through the years. She's become a very sweet lady, a lover of kids and a confessed chocoholic...She's happy in her life, and loves her family very much. Our kids thought she was great, and loved meeting her & her daughter.

Before she left our home, she shared that she especially remembers the holidays that she spent with us. Thanksgiving & Christmas in the 80's were crazy times for Randy & me, we'd go to all parents, and grandparents...and she made all those trips with us! I think we even spent Thanksgiving in TX that year!

And, so, I"m feeling very sentimental...sort of 'old'...and VERY thankful! I know it is true: you can't separate your past from your future. I don't know what that means to this situation, but I can see us becoming good friends.

And, for that, and the chance to get to know her better now that we're older, is something I didn't expect, so I'm truly thankful! And, so, I'm looking forward with great anticipation!