We Break For Friends in the Spring

My college roommate Janeen came from Germany to visit with her family en route to a wedding here in the States. Reconnecting with her isn't a problem, so this trip I loved getting to know her kids and their spunk. Today I asked my kids to tell me how they'd remember our smaller guests.

E called Dan "Dr. Chips" at some point and we laughed about that all week. 

We all think that T is smart. Also, it's uncanny how similar he is to my J--it took me all of two seconds to figure this out.

 We marched their family all over UVA grounds. 

 Their oldest daughter L (in pink) is creative and cooperative. The kids said she is "crazy" but that means "fun and silly". 

 Their five-year old I won at the touch-your-nose-to-the-water contest. My kids will remember his playfulness and I'll remember his laughter.

 We made it to Monticello and our band of ten ran all over that mountain in great spirits. 

 One day we made the short trek to Lexington to give them a greater dose of Virginia pride by making the walk to Washington & Lee and also to VMI. Each time I go I love that town a little more. I told them all the Lee and Jackson stories I could think of to transfer some of what I've learned Virginians love about their favorite sons.

 Like J, my E is expressing his defender/protector instincts a little more. He is so interested in his perceived notions of soldier life and has one hundred questions for me about the military.

 Yesterday we took our visitors to the downtown mall so that they could leave their marks on the chalk wall.

 The wall isn't normally this clean and I liked that morning's clear message. "Look up. God will be there in the end." 

 One more stop for pizza, and we had to let them go on their merry way to their next destination.

 I am so grateful for Janeen's good husband Merrill and for our enduring friendship. I wish they lived next door or at least in the next state over, but for now I'm brimming over with gratitude for their visit.