GREAT WEEKEND

We had the best weekend away. It was one of my most favorite times we have had as a couple. There was nothing overly special, just the simplicity of being together. We spent time with his Nana, walked down by the water in Devonport, had a hot chocolate and flat white, spent time with Sam's family friends, laughed for hours in front of a fire, looked at old pictures, had great conversation and even had one of Sam's parents friends sit with Sam for hours helping him plan out our next steps in business. It was such a neat time to watch a very accomplished business woman (she runs the business side of her husband's photography business which is one of the top ones in NZ) sit with Sam and not only encourage him and praise his talent but look him in the eye and tell him she wanted to invest in him and help take 10 years of figuring out his business off his career and fast track him where he can be. She was so in tune with where we were without even seeing Sam for years.

We also sat with other family friends Sam grew up with for hours on Saturday night looking at old pictures and hearing story after story about their times growing up and vacations at the beach and how funny the kids were. It was so fun to be caught up in these memories. It reminds me of the moments I have had with my mom's friends Patty and Shirly or my Dad's friends Mike and Tim. There is something about those best friends of your parents. The way they watched you grow up, the way they just love you unconditionally, the way they are almost as proud of you as your parents....such a incredible experience that I don't take for granted. While I don't get to see my parents friends regularly I cherish who they are and have been in my life. Saturday night I was just so thankful for them and grateful for the part they played in my life. I look forward to the day I am sitting with my best friends kids and they will bring their spouses over and we will get to love on them. And maybe tell a few stories that will make them blush...

And at the end of the weekend I felt like I had just ate a HUGE yummy ice cream and then got to add sprinkles on top. We were able to get a car! After a few long months of waiting and looking Sam found us the perfect car for an incredible price.
It is quite the family car, but in the end that both made us smile at the new places we are going. While these last few months have been so trying and challenging the gift we received in the midst of it of a strong foundation of friendship built, working together to make life work, and seeing God in ways we never expected or didn't notice until now has made the journey so precious.