jamison.

Tonight as I lathered Benjamin in lotion after a long bath, Kyle walked in the door at the time he said he would.  It was six o'clock on the nose and although Ben and I had had our share of the Taco Soup currently simmering on the stove, Kyle and the bigger kids had yet to eat.

He called to me as he walked in the door saying, 'Hi!  Do you have an extra bowl?!'  What an odd way of saying that he had invited someone to dinner, I thought.  And although it hadn't been a particularly long day for the kids and I, I was still persuaded by my introverted side to pretend like I hadn't heard the question.

I continued to calmly lather my son.

'Krista?'  He called as I heard him make his way into the great room downstairs.

'I'm up here in the kids' room!'

'Come here for a minute...'

'What?!'  I responded.  I was sitting on the floor, legs spread and a small child between them.  That small child, Ben, was naked and calm and... well, almost ready for bed.  I know my husband's tone and I knew there was a 'surprise' in the works.  But I really had no idea as I lifted myself off the ground... slowly.

And then a most familiar voice rang out, 'do you need a hand?!'  As she bounded up the stairs.

I rounded the corner of the kids' room and into the hallway where I caught a glimpse of a brunette with glasses on taking two steps at a time up the stairs toward me...

Immediately my voice caught in my throat and I felt my heart leap... there is no way.  THERE IS NO WAY.

Standing before me - mind you, for only a split second before I wrapped my arms around her and cried - was Jamie.  My best friend from London, England.  She embraced me and laughed - a little surprised at my emotional greeting... only hours later would we realize that God had taken us through the same refinement and was graciously bringing us together to affirm in each other that what God was up to was good and was for His glory.  It was another step in bringing us closer to dependency on Him - and we were getting to do it together!

The timing of her surprise arrival was divinely orchestrated.  Considering the recent month she and I had gone through separately, we both were quick to welcome a familiar face and an old heart to talk to and lose ourselves in - God was so good.  She and I ran to Central Market and laughed and talked until we were blue in the face.  We sipped wonderful red wines and shared our deepest secrets... we shook our heads in amazement and smiled at the fact that we were just now realizing what God had known all along.

This morning we woke with crazy hair and swollen eyes; lacking in sleep but enjoying the euphoria of being with a dear friend... we made a strong pot of coffee, walked around in our sweats and slowly got ready for our morning.  The kids got to school and William, Jamie and I came back here and prepared for the rest of the day.

She's here in the area for the week although not with me here at the moment... and I'm waiting in anticipation of our date at the end of the week - downtown Seattle with the kids before she hops a flight back to the UK. 

This memory is going down in history.  Thank you Jamison... I love you so much.

And remember, draw a line and move on. 

God bless you.