“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: “What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
~ C.S. Lewis

True friends are hard to find, and a kindred spirit is one in a million. Well maybe that’s an exaggeration but I’ve had about seven kindred spirits in my life so I don’t feel like I’m exaggerating. Those people in your life who know what your thinking. Who suggest garbage plates before you even know you want one. Who stay over all night watching How I Met Your Mother, or Downton Abbey, or really stupid movies that make you laugh so hard your stomach hurts for hours. You can communicate with them just by looking at them. They’ve seen you at your worst and still love you. And you can tell them your dreams and they don’t think you’re crazy they just want to help you achieve them. They get you. Liz is one of those friends.

Today, Liz did something brave. She got baptized. She stood before her friends and family and told us about her relationship with God and publicly declared that she wants to follow Christ with her life. I’m so proud of her. I’ve known her for her whole life and it has been so amazing to see her grow into the beautiful, loving, Godly, kindred spirit that she is.

Baptism is a beautiful symbol of dying to ourselves and our new life in Christ.

It was a great time with family and friends. I’m so happy that I got to share this moment with them. 

True friends are always together in spirit.
~ Anne of Green Gables

Tomorrow, Liz is going to do something just as brave. She’s leaving. She’s packing all her stuff up in her car and moving to Kansas. God opened the door and she’s taking a huge step of faith, walking away from all that is familiar and comfortable, and leaving. And although this is making me the most sad I have been in a long time, I couldn’t be more proud. I know that God has huge things in store for her and I am so excited to see what amazing things come from Kansas. It seems unlikely. It’s so far away. I miss her already and my heart hurts because there aren’t too many people left here who get me. But she’s doing something exciting. She’s not wasting her life. She’s pursuing God AND her dreams with all that she has. She’s chasing a lion. That’s the way I want to live my life. I’m so thankful for her friendship and for her courageous heart. I love you Liz!

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” 
~ C.S. Lewis