Spreading the love...

Jim and I have some great friends --and as we were flipping thru the computer pictures last night, he wanted me to add a recent photo of his "4 pack". This was taken on Dennis' 55th birthday -- all of these guys are 55 now. (Dennis, David, Steve and Jim) We have had some great times with this bunch of guys thru the years!

And I am also posting a picture of my "gang" from high school years, taken at my retirement party on November 13. This group of girls have stuck together thru thick and thin. Mendy(far left) has been one of my dearest friends, since 1st grade. Susan (second from left), Jane (third from right), Amy (2nd from right) have been friends since 7th grade, then Ann (far right) came to public school from Catholic school in 8th grade. (Annie and I are often mistaken for sisters and we never correct anyone!) We all see each other fairly often and have always had a Christmas get-together since we got out of high school a couple of years ago :) We invite others, but this is usually the core group no matter what the occasion. Weddings, showers, funerals -- we are there for each other. So, kuddos to great, old friends.

Then, there are the friends that we've made in our adult lives...My life in Clarendon would not be complete without the love and friendship of Rhonda. We became friends when Patrick and Lizzie were in nursery school and have been true blue friends since that time -- I don't think we've ever had a cross word or misunderstanding.

Jackie(who recently moved away to Stuttgart) and I have been friends since we both worked at the courthouse in the early years -- it's been so long ago I don't remember the exact year. She finally got to meet sweet Deacon when they were here in November and we had a great time. My photo of her with Deacon didn't work but it was a real cutie.  AND, Jackie has a sweet 2 year old granddaughter, and is going to be YaYa again, as both of her girls are pregnant as we speak.  (some of you may remember that she is also the one that had both daughters get married within six months of each other!)

There are lots of others -- parents of our kid's friends that have become some of our dearest friends.    We have been through some of our toughest times with the Hoseys and we have gained strenth from one another.  Jim has hunting buddies and I have bridge club friends, and book club friends, friends I've met through other friends, and church friends.  We truly are blessed with some incredible relationships and I want to say "Thank you" for the friendships. What better time than the Christmas season to truly spread the love!