Friends

Everyone needs good friends. If you're fortunate, you'll have some that are more like family than friends. (Actually, they might be closer than family--you can't pick your family but you can pick your friends.) Judy and I are fortunate to have a couple who are friemaly/famends (working on a combo word of friends and family but I don't think I've got the word yet--coining words is not a job for the illogical, illiterate, or idiots and there are days when I qualify as all three). Gary and Judy came into our lives back in ninteen-ought-seventy-seven. Our families matched up very well--except for our Chad. Gary and Judy didn't have a match for Chad, so our poor son was often the "victim" of schemes by the four older girls. Somehow he held his own.

During our years of friendship we've experienced: the birth of Chad; the weddings of all 5 of our children; the birth of 13 grandchildren (they've got 4 and we've got 9); the death of one of our grandchildren; the death of three of their parents and two of ours; Gary's heart attack (slowed him down for 72 hours); Judy L's bout with cancer (lasted a total of 6 days--a story within itself); my Judy's bout with breast cancer; my resignation from a church here in Lubbock; their car wreck; our moving to two different cities; and various and sundry events.

The last time they were in Lubbock was 3 years, 6 months and 3 days ago. While driving home their car hydroplaned, crossed a median and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. We nearly lost them that night. Our times together are further and further apart in time due to distance, jobs, and 13 grandchildren. But when we do get together, it's like we've just been apart a few days.

They were with us the last three days and it was pure joy. They left this afternoon following church and lunch. Got a text message a short time ago--they're safely home. We're relieved and already looking forward to our next time together. My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you can have a Gary and Judy of your own to share life with. They're a gift from God to us and I'm praying you receive such a gift for yourself.