December 16 Friends

Tuesday:  I did it again! I did not take a single picture of the kiddos today. I think what happens is that I am a little worn out from cleaning in the afternoon, and then the three little children get off the bus, come running into the house, all of them talking at once--and then they are immediately ready for a snack, and by the time I actually accomplish some cinnamon toast and fruit for them, I completely forget about taking a picture. 

So pooh.

Prior to my coming over to the kids' house, though, I had lunch with my friend, Julie. I love her. She has been such an encouragement to me. We eat lunch every single Tuesday over at Russ's because we love the fried chicken there. We order exactly the same thing every week! Fried chicken: dark meat, no wings! Julie's side is always the 1/2 order of onion rings, and mine is mashed potatoes and gravy. Each of us orders a tossed salad, and we drink water.

Since we come at the same time every Tuesday, we have the same waitress--a young woman by the name of Daree (which rhymes with "Sorry"). Daree is so good at what she does that she remembers our order right down to the weird details! She has a very large tattoo on her arm that reads: LAM 3.28. We have asked her about it because it's just so visually prominent--it takes up her entire forearm. She kind of hems and haws about the meaning. So we looked up Lamentations 3.28 which reads: "Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him." It seems a very odd verse to have tattooed on one's forearm, doesn't it? Daree said she chose it because she is a quiet person who prefers to be alone. I don't think that completely answers why on earth you would have that verse indelibly placed on your skin! Anyway, Julie and I have been praying for Daree because she does not profess to know the Lord. We brought her a Christmas card this week and a copy of the book, "More Than Just a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. It's not a big book at all--perhaps 100 pages. I read the whole thing before wrapping it. What I appreciated about it was that it factually lays out the historical and biblical facts about Jesus, and clearly presents that Christ came to save us from our sins, darkness, and this evil world--and promises new life in Him. We gave it to her after we paid for our meal, and she gave us a big hug.

Julie and Victor have given up mailing out Christmas cards (for many reasons), so in response to my card to her, Julie brought me a gift! Look how pretty it is:

"My dear friend--you are a blessing to me."

Doesn't it go so beautifully on my tree? 

We gave Daree the card I designed this year for Christmas--which is a very simple card actually. The Scripture on the inside reads: "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." I John 4.9 It's our prayer that the Lord will use this verse and the little book to plant a seed of truth in Daree's heart.