New Hampshire and Friendship

You can't make friends like Amanda Johnson-Lufburrow when you are 33. It's not possible. She and I have known each other since 8th grade. That means we have known each other through our first date, first kiss, and first marriages! We have seen each other move from Texas to California to D.C. to Tennesee to Boston to New Hampshire. Amanda and I have shared secrets with each other and kept secrets from each other. We have fought and cried together. We have watched each other grow up, and change; we love each other no matter what.

Now, we are each one married with two kids and so busy that we barely talk once a month. What I know from my recent visit to New Hampshire to visit the my girlfriend, however, is that no matter how much time goes by, we are connected. The kind of friendship we have cannot be replicated. The history we have lived cannot be undone.

Here are some memories we made (notice there isn't one photo of me with my friend... not sure what happened there!):

1. SNOW!!!

2. Holding Baby Claire!

3. Stella wearing my sock w/her PJ's!

4. Cutest bath time EVER!

5. Snow bunnies ready for the mall

Odessa

Sometimes tragedy brings forth an unexpected blessing. That's what happened for me this week when I traveled to Odessa for my uncle Keith's funeral. You never want to attend a funeral-especially one for a man who leaves behind four young children. However, it provided an opportunity for me to visit some relatives I haven't seen in years:

"Paw Paw"

(reminded me that he helped raise me

while feeding me orange slices and peanuts)

Fire Station

(brother Travis recently became an Odessa Firefighter)



Brett
(on brother Travis' motorcycle...
notice the West TX terrain)



Dad and Travis