Since we are just getting settled from our trip away and my sweet Chica has decided that being held is a much better way to spend nap-time than sleeping, it doesn’t look like the Advent Calendar is going to be finished today. Let’s be honest there are some things in life more important than the current craft completion. Tomorrow, instead- I hope you will be blessed by it.

For today though, what I can do one handed… OUR TRIP

We spent the weekend in Brian head, UT in a lovely snowy cabin complete with a crackling fireplace, steak for dinner, great wine, Christmas music, the game Catch-Phrase and good friends.

It was once explained to me by a friend that her relationship philosophy boiled down to three categories. There are friends for a specific season in life she said, friends for a certain purpose and others who will become our friends for life.

We spent the weekend away with a few of our closest friends for life. Friends we have laughed and cried with. Friends we have traveled with, bought houses with, prayed with, fought with, blogged with and learned from. Friends who know us enough to discern the truth and lies of our life.

It was a different time than we have ever had with them as our relationship in the past has been built over late night impromptu happy hours and adventurous endeavors together. Our lives have moved on in very different directions yet our first meal time discussion together reminded me of how close our hearts still were to each other.

In the place of deep contemplation and hours of interrupted reading we had cranky babies to wrangle and another feeding time to prepare.

We had walks in the snow and throwing rocks down to break open the ice making dude laugh harder than he has ever laughed before. So hard he almost lost his breath and passed out. He laughed so hard the sound is now singed in my mind where it currently resides replacing the noise of a sleepless night and many missed naps.

This time away made us realize connection with old friends will never be quite the same again. This year has changed us. Their year has also changed them. Like the snow that we walked through being changed by our steps. Our hearts each being molded by life’s encounters…

Jagged and messy in a million different ways.

Yet still somehow connected together.

Them changing our outlook with a reminder of who we used to be. Us encouraging their hearts with a promise of what’s to come. Our friendship continues and moves forward another year in grace.

For life.

BLESSINGS