All my life friends have been among my greatest blessings. God knew I needed them and He provides! When we decided to go on this journey even the friends who thought we might need medical intervention (I’m looking at you, Purple Princess riding friend), were immediately in prayer for us. They showered us with encouragement and advice and asked a ton of good questions, helping us analyze every angle of the idea. Thank you.

Today I’m writing this post at the kitchen table of another friend. She’s in Austin but has graciously and generously allowed us to live in her amazing home in the Catskills. We’re going to use this cozy, special hideaway as a home base for the next two weeks! Let me tell you about the guts of this girl.

She did not shirk away when I invited my family over to her place.

She contacted a local friend to give us keys and help us arrange for RV storage.

She handed over codes and suggested a church to visit and told us all about the grocery store and where to find various things at the house.

She only laughed a little bit when I called her our very first morning in a total panic because we’d managed to lock ourselves out of the house. All four of us were standing on her gigantic deck admiring the mountains around us when we realized it was darn cold out there and we were still in our pajamas….and the doors were locked.

She refrained from calling the police last night when I texted to beg her to let me arrange her library because she knows it’s been months since I shelved books and a girl has needs.

She loaned us her car though we have only recently discovered where the garage is and have yet to use the vehicle. It’s there and available.

She warned us about bears which totally took me by surprise because I’m a Kansas/Texas girl and bears just aren’t really an issue in those places.

She’s welcomed us into her home and has been a lovely hostess from 1,800 miles away.

Our friend holds loosely to things of earth and instead pours into the Kingdom and her life splashes goodness all over the place including on my family. We are grateful.