Thankful for friends - F

First, I really wanted to scan in some pictures to put on here but haven't had the time. Maybe I'll get it done soon...Otherwise, just imagine cool pictures of all of my friends.

I have the greatest friends ever! Other people think they have the best friends, but they are wrong.

When I think about my friends who have blessed me one of the things that I am most thankful for is that I have friends from various times in my life, places and with different things in common.

Kristen and Jeremy are two of my friend that I grew up with that I still am able to see. Kristen lives in Denver and I try to see her and her family whenever I can. We always make an effort to hang out when Jeremy comes in town. They share my love for Africa since they grew up living in Africa as a missionary family

David, Elliott, Danny, Jessica, Stacey, Ben, Eric, and Cal are some of the friends from Austin that I grew up with. I don't keep up with some of them as much as I would like to but I have wonderful memories of things we have done together.

Steve, Casey and Kasey were some of my very best friends at ACU. They played such an important part in my life.

Mel, Ashley, Jeff, Linds, Emily, Amy, Tucker, Kyle, Beth, Clint and Andy are a few of the people I was lucky enough to be friends with at ACU. One of the neat things about my friendship with Mel is that we are still a big part of each others lives since we live near each other and are kind of all alone up here. It has been a blessing to have a college friend so close.

Lacy, Andy, Mary, Jeff, Brad and Alli are friends that I have gotten to know through jobs. We definitely formed trauma bonds because of the work we do. Lacy has since moved back to Texas. I get together with Alli once a month and it is one of the highlights of my month. I try to get together for lunch with Brad, Jeff and Mary when we can find a time too.

Sheila, Lynn, Connie, Linda, and Joan are among some of the women I have gotten to know and love in Denver. They have laughed with me, prayed with me, brought us meals and so many other things. At times I think some of us are more family than friends.

And then there is Jackie Beth. I would easily call her my best friend. In some ways we are like the same person - we "get" each other in a way that has to be from God. In other ways we are pretty different. I love that we have been able to stay friends being far apart and not getting to hang out very often. She is the friend that I can say anything to, even if it is over voice mail. One of my other favorite things is that we are able to our dorky, goofy selves when we are together.

I am so thankful for all of my friends - ones that I don't keep up with, ones that I do and friends that I know God will put in my life in the future.

Recent Visitors

For the past two weeks my best friend Jackie Beth as been staying with Josh and I. This is the third year (maybe forth) that she has come for an aerial dance festival in Boulder. Aerial dance is basiclly like Cirque de Sole type stuff - trapeze, fabric, other weird steel frames, bunjees etc. It's pretty awesome. I actually wanted to take a class with her this year but being 8 months pregnant that didn't sound like a good idea.

While JB was here we didn't even get to spend a large amount of time together but it was so great just to have the day to day interactions when we both got home in the evenings. I love any time we get to spend together and wish we didn't live so far apart. Friends are a blessing.

Friday my dad and stepmom came into town for the weekend. We don't usually get to see them very often so this was a special trip. Pam thought it was really important that my dad see me pregnant and I am so glad that they were able to come. While they were here we worked hard on all of my current "nesting" tendancies. Pop and Josh painted the nursery and rearranged the furniture. Pam and I worked on going through boxes that Josh and I had not unpacked yet. Most of them were decorations so we hung up the ones that Josh and I wanted on the walls and then sorted through the rest of the stuff to decide what was going to Goodwill. I'm not putting up any pictures of the nursery yet because Josh has one more thing that he wants to finish before we post pics but I have some of the rest of the weekend. One of the funny things that my dad told me is that my belly actually looks smaller now than in pictures a few weeks ago. I think it's because Addison has moved down lower.

Pop and Pam have been sending Josh and I packages throughout this pregnancy. They brought us a few more things when they were here. One of them was a potty training toliet seat that looks like a baseball - it was hilarious! Baseball is one of the things that my dad and I share so that was a funny present.

The next doctor's appointment is Thursday. I have noticed that I am definitely getting more and more easily worn out. As much as I was hating bed rest restrictions a few weeks ago I almost hope the doctor increases them now. I'm trying not to focus too much on Addie coming early. I'm not super worried if she does come a few weeks early and the doctors feel confident that she would be healthy. I am mainly just preoccupied with wondering about the timing. I have had the due date in my head for so long and have been counting on that time frame - now with the possibility of delievering early it just increases my anxiety. I have started to worry a little more about the actual labor and birth. I keep telling Josh that I am worried I will be wussy and a whimp. I'm trying not to worry about it too much and not worry about the timing either. I am sure that Ms. Addison will grace us with her presence whenever she feels ready. Hopefully that will be at least by the due date and definitely not after.

Baby Explosion

There is about to be a baby explosion! I have lots of friends who are (or recently were) pregnant.

First, a few weeks ago my long time friend Kristen had her second son Bryce. He was about a month early but is perfectly healthy. Kris and I grew up together in Austin when her family moved there after returning from Africa. We got married almost exactly 2 years apart and moved to Denver within a few months of each other. This is Kris and Bryce before they left the hospital (I got the picture off of her facebook).



Then, my friend Jenny had her little boy last week. Jenny and I were in club together at ACU and she worked Leadership Camps with me one summer. Jenny and her husband Chris welcomed Jude on 7/28/09. (Jenny, I got the picture from your blog).


Seeing Jenny and Kristen's pictures and hearing about their family's joy welcoming their new children makes me so ready for Addison to be here. Now for friends that will have babies soon...Next is Erin and her husband todd. We were in Siggies together at ACU. They are going to have a little girl named Ellie.

Ashley Snow, who was one of my good friends at ACU and bridesmaids, is due about 2 weeks after Erin and is having a little girl named Emma.

After than it is finally time for Addison to be born. I'm due about 2 weeks after Ashley. I'm not only blessed that I have been going through this experience with other christian women that I love, I'm also excited that our kids will grow up together and maybe even be friends as they get older. We aren't even all in the same place but it is so fun to be able to keep up with each other thru blogs etc and share this time.

I also have two friends who are due not long after Josh and I are. Kasey, one of my very best friends, another bridesmaid at my wedding, is actually due on my birthday, November 23. Sara is another friend who is due between Kasey and I (not sure exactly when).

Keep, all of the new moms and moms-to-be in your prayers.

Abilene

I was in Abilene all last week for Kadesh at ACU. The theme this year was Revolution and it deserves its own post within the next few days.

As much as I enjoyed Kadesh, just being in Abilene has nice. It is so familiar and comfortable that it makes me happy. I was able to eat Chicken Express and Taco Bueno - neither of which we have in Colorado. One of my favorite things was Cajun Cones! These are truly the best sno-cones on the entire planet and I ate way too many of them. There are a lot of flavors that I like but one of my favorites is the Blue Hawaiian. It is actually a sno-cream, is bright blue and tastes deliciously like coconut.

Sunday we went to church at Highland (where I went while at ACU). It was one of Mike Cope's last sermons there as the preacher. I tend to have a huge smile on my face whenever he says "pour through me the gift of preaching" as he prays before each sermon. After church I went to lunch with the Shilcutt family and my brother and sister-in-law at El Fenix. I miss Abilene Mexican food.

After lunch I went with Jackie Beth to her parent's house and we hung out at the pool. I guess I am no longer a true Texan because I got a sunburn even after using sunscreen. Admittedly, I did not use a super high SPF, but still.... Anyway, it was not very comfortable for a few days and then turned into a tan. The worst part was my ankles. My feet got pretty swollen because of the heat and even bruised turning an ugly purple color on the tops and sides. It doesn't neccesarily hurt it is just uncomfortable. I called the doctor's office on Tuesday and a nurse said just to keep them elevated while I sleep. That helped a lot but they were pretty big again each evening. I know the heat made this worse so hopefully it will at least be a little better now that I am back in Colorado.

I have several pictures of the trip that just haven't made it onto the computer yet but I will add them in the next few days.

Wes

This picture is about 4 years old but it's all I could find on Josh's facebook page.

Wes Encalade is one of Josh's best friends and a guy he looks up to. I love it when they get together because the two of them are simply hilarious around each other. As far as I know they only time they have ever been mad at each other was when Josh pushed Wes into a spider web in high school - that is a funny story.

On Tuesday Wes completed his final chemo treatment. He has been going through chemo for the past few months after having a testicular tumor removed in December. In January or February some tests showed that there was evidence the cancer had begun to spread. The chemo has been rough but thankfully tests show no increased markers or signs of cancer.

I cannot imagine all that Wes, Naomi and their families have gone through the last few months. But, I am absolutely certain that God was involved and working every minute of this trial. The church family in Dension has been supportive, encouraging and helpful through out this whole process and I know Wes and Naomi and grateful for that. I am hoping that Josh will get to go spend a few days with Wes in May - it was hard on him not being close enough to really help out during all of this.

For all of you that have been praying for Wes during this time - thank you. I know lots of people will be continuing to pray that there are no problems in the future. Right now my prayers of praising God for His faithfulness in all of this.

Eric's Wife (AKA Amy Dodd)

I have mentioned Amy Dodd before. Amy is special to me for lots of reasons. The summer that I was starting in the high school youth group Amy was on her way out to head to college. But, that summer we stayed in a house together on our mission trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota. A beautiful friendship was formed and I laughed so much I think I injured myself.

Amy has struggled with having MS for a long time. In fact, when I was so very sick with some unknown illness I picked up overseas she was insturmental in helping me form a positive attitude about how to deal with it. There is a lot of days that I still struggle with the pain but I really feel like for the most part I have a good outlook and focus on God's promise to come back for us - seeing Amy battle her own illness gave me an example to follow.

Amy has also gone through losing a brother. It was more painful then I can possibly imagine, but she focuses on Jesus and his promises.

Anyway, before this gets way to long I will get to the point- I reaed a post on Amy's blog today about how she is going to stop blogging because her MS symptoms are getting worse. I wanted to share not only that post with you but some of the comments that follow it. You will be amazed so I hope you take the time to read it all.

About two months ago I started to experience the symptoms of a Multiple Sclerosis relapse. I kept thinking that it would subside soon enough and I could get back to my regular self.

It just hasn’t happened and I want to share with you some of my thoughts about that.

I have known for as long as I’ve known about the MS that it could get worse. I would be lying if I told you that I am one hundred percent at peace with that reality.

After many years of walking unaided, I recently took advantage of Wal-Mart’s courtesy scooter. It was a really big deal to me. I have always figured that such a thing was akin to giving up hope of returning to normal.

Since then, I have given up walking outside my home, except when necessary. I see the benefit that it is to my family that I save energy. I am still able to prepare meals, clean my home, school the children, and be available to Eric.

Suddenly, not walking makes sense.

Can I be honest and tell you that I HATE that it makes sense? I hate that it makes sense that I should have special parking and fat handled toothbrushes and low heeled, sensible shoes and plastic cups. I hate that I have now fantasized about getting my own scooter.

There are a lot of reasons that I wanted to be so honest about how I feel about this. I have a good attitude because I have responsibilities that require me to. But sometimes people mistake a good attitude for feeling good and happy with circumstances. I do not feel good and I am not happy with my circumstances.

I wanted you to know because this spell has affected my ability to write freely without a lot of effort. My thoughts are jumbled and it is hard to get them out in a way that doesn’t leave me hitting “backspace” or “select all” and “delete”. I have decided that I should make my blogging absence official.

I figure I’ll post some of my archives on occasion and still pop in here and there, but I think it is better if I just go ahead and bow out for the most part.

Thank you all for your patience while I hemmed and hawed about this. I hope to get back someday in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, I would like to leave you with one last piece of advice from Eric’s Wife. Whenever I face anything like this and I start to feel a bit anxious, I just adopt my “Whateverdude, Jesus is ABSOLUTLEY coming back for me” Attitude. WA, for short. A Whateverdude Attitude is how I roll. Unless I’m on a scooter, and then that’s how I roll.

Some of the comments that followed:

Susan says:
I will be the first to offer to purchase the horn for your scooter. Because people need to get out of your way! Let me know when you want it installed… I will be there in a heart beat.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Eric's Wife says:
I was really hoping someone would do the same service for me that my dear brother Nathan used to do. He would walk in front of me yelling, “Handicap coming! Make room! Handicap coming!”
Horns are too subtle.

Anonymous says:
I would like to get you a scooter. Do you have your eye on one kind in particular?
January 8th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Erics Wife says:
Anonymous, I haven’t looked much, but I was thinking small and easy to transport. Thank you for the thought.
Thank you, Darla. I have enjoyed my visits to your blog as well.
Lauren, I also blame Wisconsin. Even though it started before I went there. I’ll be at your place mid-February.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

Anonymous says:
I’m looking for one right now. Don’t buy one. Once I figure out which one, I’m getting you one.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Eric's Wife says:
I have no idea what to say. Thank you.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Anonymous says:
I am ordering you a Phoenix 4-Wheel
January 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Eric's Wife says:
I just googled it and it looks great! I am more thrilled about the prospect of owning one than I can convey. Thank you so much.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Christy McDonald says:
Amy, you’re brave, and you’re strong and you’re absolutely right. Jesus is coming back for you. I’ll miss reading your blog during your time off, you have a great way of making me laugh and think all at the same time, but you do what is best for you and your family, that’s the right thing to do. My family and I will be praying for you. As I tell my husband with a chronic disease, God is bigger than this disease. He can choose to use this situation however He wants.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Anonymous says:
So glad! The delivery estimate is Jan. 14 - 20. Just keep an eye out for it.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Susan says:
Wow, now I HAVE to buy the horn. I will get right on that.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Ginger McBride says:
Amy,
My heart breaks for you. As you said, you have known since the beginning that this was a possibility, as have I. As I read this entry, I want to cry for you because I remember all to well the conversations about this exact future and how “not okay” with this you were then. I know that you are still “not okay” with this on so many levels. I have always hated this for you. Thank you for being an example of how to handle and deal with this. Christ is coming for you and Satan can have his horrible disease back and you, my sister, will have the perfect body we all long for you to have. I didn’t think my respect for you could go any deeper. I am wrong. I love you tons and will continue to keep you in my prayers.

To the Anonymous person who purchased a scooter for Amy- you are a true servant and friend of God. Thank you for blessing her in that way. I cannot imigane the expense of one of those things but I know that not having to worry about it would be a blessing to anyone. Thank you from one of Amy’s friends to another. Thank you.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Anonymous says:
Awww. Thanks. I am happy to do it. Amy deserves it!
January 8th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

Kristen says:
I’m crying. I never cry. Clearly this should demonstrate my love for this blog. And for you.
I’m going to miss coming to here and reading your full out hilariousness. And also learning from you.
That being said, I get why you are doing this and am praying.
I always say, “One of these days the Lord is going to Enoch me out of this place.”
Even still, Come, Lord Jesus.
Much love & Dr. Pepper,
Kristen
January 8th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

Lisa Emrich says:
Amy,
That’s so wonderful that ‘anonymous’ has sent you a scooter. I can’t think of a better blessing right now.
Think of the scooter as vehicle of power and life. It will help to keep you out-and-about with your family in your community.
MS can rob us of so very many things, but it can’t take your soul. That belongs to God.
Keep in mind that this may not be a permanent setback. Physical therapy can work miraculous things. I’ve seen that in some of the folks at the PT’s facility I go to. All the patients have neurological disorders and it’s truly inspiring to see what CAN be done.
You will be in my thoughts. And here’s a quote for you:
“Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, satan shudders and says…
“Oh no… she’s awake!!”.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

Shiloh says:
My dear friend Amy - I will not tell you a bunch of emotional crap about how you have taught me how to deal with my illness by how you dealt with yours. Instead I will tell you that I would gladly walk in front of you and yell for people to get out of your way the way your hilarious brother and my good friend did.
I would also love to buy you a helmet someday so I can decorate in bright crazy colors that reflect all that is Amy Dodd.
Love you!
January 10th, 2009 at 12:57 am

Prayer request update

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Wes Encalade, one of Josh's best friends, had a cancerous tumor removed. Early last week he had some tests to see if the cancer had spread. It hasn't and the doctors have said he is CANCER FREE!!! They will still monitor his progress and watch him closely but they didn't find anything else right now. God is so good!

While we were in Abilene for Christmas Josh was able to drive to Denison to spend the afternoon with Wes. He got there right about the time Wes and Naomi got the call from the doctor with the test results. I know if was so good for Josh and Wes to get to spend some time together. Wes has been a great friend and example for Josh in youth ministry. I know this must be a relief for Naomi and the rest of the Encalade family as well. I cannot wrap my brain around how I would feel if Josh was sick.

Thanks for your prayers on our friend's behalf.
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick man well..." James 5:15

Prayer request

Hi everyone. Some of you may know Wes and Naomi Encalade. Wes has been one of Josh's best friends since high school. This morning Wes had surgery to have a tumor removed. The doctors are fairly certain that the tumor is malignant but we won't know more until Friday.

I know that this has hit Wes's friends and family pretty hard. He is young, healthy etc. so this was a surprise but it is also so close to the holidays.

There are a lot of people praying for the Encalade family today but it can never hurt to have more prayers going up on their behalf.

Thanks everyone!

Robert Reagan

Robert, Danny Reese and I

Robert Reagan is a missionary in Thailand. He works with his wife Jan, who he met there, and their two children Erika (15) and Branson (12). Robert found out a little over a week ago that he has tumors on his pancreas. If this is cancerous, this type of cancer is usually fatal. There have been thousands of people all over the world who have been praying for Robert - for peace for his family and for his total and complete healing.

Robert was a young single missionary sponsored by home church of Westover Hills in Austin. When I was in the 4th grade he came into our class during a VBS one summer to talk about being a missionary. He told us that could serve God as missionaries and didn't have to wait until we were "old enough" or when we knew more. He taught us a new verse to the song Sanctuary - it went like this "O Lord prepare me, to be a missionary, to tell others, about you, and teach your spirit, to those who'll hear it, missionary for you."

Robert has been in Thailand for at least 16 years. When he would come to the United States on furlough we would often go out to lunch or meet. He asked me several times to go to Chiang Mai for a summer internship but it was never able to happen.

When asked to name people who have been influential in my life and especially in my desire to be a missionary Robert Reagan is one of the first people that comes to my mind. Please continue to pray for Robert and his family. The Lord has done mighty things through him and he has a desire to do so much more in Thailand.

The link to a group with updates from Robert on facebook is: http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=27478428628

New Update!!

After typing this I received an email that yesterday's biopsy of one of Robert's tumors at the head of the pancreas show that it is NOT cancerous. He will have surgery Thursday to remove the larger tumor near the end of the pancreas and they will then preform further tests to determine if cancer is present in those cells. This is wonderful news since now the surgery is much more minor. Continue to pray that God gives Robert many many more years in Thailand to serve and reach others. He and his family are an incredible witness to God's power, mercy, healing and love.

Jackie Beth Shilcutt

My best friend has been staying with Josh and I for 2 weeks while she takes aerial dance classes in Boulder. In honor of the fun we have had and her visit I decided to make a top 10 (its actually 12 things because narrowing it down to 10 was too hard) list of JB/Shiloh moments.
These are in no particular order other than the order I thought of them in.

1. Going to Canada freshman year at ACU for the World Missions Workshop - Pack to be Mobile!!

2. Jumping into the pool at her home house with jeans and leadership camps t-shirts on - then giving those pictures to Bob and Jan with a caption that said "This is how excited we are about camp"

3. Sleepovers when we talk for a long time, pray before going to sleep and one of us always falls alseep during the prayer.

4. Sharing the Tour of Italy at Olive Garden and knowing what the other one gets at Subway.

5. Stapling hundreds of dixie cups together and covering the floor of our frineds bathroom, filling the cups with water and even putting goldfish in a few.

6.Camping with armed criminals (that is a really fun story).

7. All of the times we made up silly poems or songs and left them for our friends. We also went to Walmart with 3 dollars in change to see how much random stuff we could buy for a friend's birthday.

8. Learning to Lead - all 6 weeks we did it together. For that matter, all of Leadership Camps.

9. Car trips - these are a great test of friendship. One of my favorite trips was driving to Colorado from Abilene one summer in a tiny car with JB, Andy Zimmerman, Steve Sargent and Kyle Pevato

10. Making up and repeatedly doing the Shackles and Hands and Feet dances

11. Jackie Beth getting stuck in the trash can at her home house because of a hip cramp. We were videotaping the process of making a pie for Clint Burns' birthday and she crawled into the trashcan hole in the counter to pop out and say "surprise"

12. Dressing completely alike (same shoes, shirts, hair and everything) for an entire week and no one noticing until Thursday.

I started out wanting to write a top 10 list, it then grew to 12, I have aleady thought of about 5 more things that I wish I could add!! Friendships like this are incredibly special. I love that we have had too many times to count where we have laughed until our stomachs hurt, been open and real with each other, sat in silence and just hung out, had converstaions about faith and really expereinced God in deep and powerful ways. JB is on of those people I feel totally comfortable around, I love her wonderful family and no matter how long we go betweet visits with each other, when we see each other we pick up right where we left off. This friendship is such blessing from God and I can't wait to see how it continues to grow.

David Michael and Elliott Curtis

Yesterday was David and Elliott Pittman's 27th birthday. This picture was taken at MoRanch when they turned 18. I have known these boys since I was 7...they used to push me down on the playground at church. In middle school they were out of control. In high school we all learned to love them. I have so many memories of both of these boys and different activities with the youth group, trips, hang out times etc.

Some of my favorite memories are:
-David wearing boxers and a purple, velvet body suit at the Mall of American in Minnesota - he didn't know we were going to take a picture.
-VIP camps
-Seeing these boys at Kadesh in 1999 after the Identity year.
-Elliott being my date to my Junior Prom
-So many nights hanging out at friends houses, watching movies etc.
- When the Pittmans and a few others wrapped a dead deer in Christmas lights and put it in someone's yard.
-The night they t.p.ed the Pottberg's house and got caught by the police.
-Working Leadership Camps together.
-Devo's at their house in Abilene.
-Elliott (I don't think David did this one) singing a Backstreet Boys song with some other guys in a talent show.
-David coming to Denver as the ACU recruiter and hanging out with Josh and I.

There are really a ton of great stories with David and Elliott and I am so blessed by their frienship. Happy Birthday!!!

Best Day Ever

Saturday was a wonderful day. I woke up, took my time eating breakfast and enjoying the last few hours with an empty apartment. I had finished cleaning everything the day before so I could relax and sleep in.

About 2pm my best friend/matching twin/partner in crime Jackie Beth Shilcutt arrived at my apartment!! She is here for 2 weeks while she takes Aerial Dance Classes with a company in Boulder. She has one set of classes this week and another set next week. JB did the same thing last summer and took things like Bungee, Trapeze, Fabric, Stilts and other cool stuff. I'm excited to see what she is learning this summer.

Then, Saturday night at about 9pm I went to pick Josh up from the church. He just returned from a week long mission trip to Mexico with 15 other people. They drove to Monterrey and back - 25 hours each way in a van. They were all exhausted but really excited about the things they had done and experienced that week. One of the coolest parts that Josh told me about was that on the drive home they encounter a sheriff in Eagle Pass, TX who was thinking about starting some kind of youth group for the teens in the community so they would not get involved in drug trafficking - he happened to look over and see the van and trailer that said "University Church of Christ Youth Group" so he stopped to talk to Josh. Then, in Raton, NM there was a group of christian bikers who were handing out burgers and chips at a truck stop - they said they were ministering to other bikers headed to party for the weekend. Our group prayed for their ministry and they prayed for the teens as well.

So, between a relaxing day, JB coming to visit and my husband coming home it was a great day!!

Nathan Dodd

Today is my friend Nathan Dodd's birthday. Nathan was killed in a car accident on December 26th, 2003. He would have been 27 today. Nathan was a U.S. Marine, a friend, a brother, a son, and a fiance', and most of all, a follower of Christ.

Right now I am at work and trying to decide what stories to share about Nathan. There are so many to choose from. It's also hard to sit and think about all of those stories because it makes me sad. But it is also a joyful experience to remember all of these things. When I think about my Westover Hills Youth Group it seems that no memory is complete without Nathan. Recently I was cleaning out several boxes of letters, pictures and other "keepsake" things. I found several letters that Nathan wrote me while he was at boot camp, for Christmas etc. I also found pictures from different activities and retreats. Hopefully I will be able to scan some of those and upload them later.

One of the first stories that comes to my mind is that Nathan was a great athlete. He played football and wrestled at Lanier High School. On Friday nights our youth group had 5th Quarter at someones house. We would go and eat, hang out etc as an alternative to all the parties that were going on. Nathan had plenty of reasons and invitations to go to parties with friends from school. Instead, he would bring some of his football buddies to the youth group activities. He also started a bible study for the football team at Lanier.
Another thing about Nathan that I love is that it was so hard to be mad at him. He was so goofy and funny that he would make people laugh and forget all about being upset.
I really hope that any of my friends who read this that had the privilege of knowing Nathan will post their own favorite "Nathan Stories".

Nathan and some of the boys in our Senior Huddle



The last thing that I want to add is a prayer for Nathan's family -
"I pray that you will find peace and be comforted even in the midst of struggle and grief. May you be able to feel God's arms of comfort around you each day as you love and miss your son and brother. I pray that you will remember the moments that you cherish so dearly and find joy in them. May you be filled with a joy, peace, strength, hope, and wisdom that could only come from the Father. " You are loved!!

M&M

Last night I was luck enough to be able to go spend the evening with my sweet friend Melanie and her husband Matt (see above pic). Mel and Matt are living in Colorado Springs but only for a few more weeks. Matt is in the Air Force and will be stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming starting in August.
They sold their house and are currently renting a cute tiny yellow and pink cottage that is sandwiched in between two bigger houses close to downtown CO Springs. I am so sad that they are moving but I guess it really isn't that much farther than Denver to the Springs. Usually Mel and I meet for dinner half way between us. I hope we can still do that even though we will both be driving farther.

Mel has been such a blessing since Josh and I have been in Colorado. When I spoke at a Women's retreat a year or so ago I asked her to come and introduce me. She was with Josh and I when I was in the hospital a few months ago and even cleaned our apartment for us. We have been friends since being at ACU together, working Leadership Camps etc.

I love the way God works through friends!!

(Mellie - I borrowed the above picture from your blog! Thanks.)

*Chez Dishman, Melanie Sutton, me, Melanie Larson at ACU

Lunch with Friends

Today Josh and I were able to have lunch with some friends from Texas - Kelly and Jeannie Ross and their two sons Kyle and Casey as well as Kyle's girlfriend.

The Ross' were a family that was involved with the youth group when Josh was working at Pleasant Ridge in Arlington. Kelly taught classes, came on retreats and Jeannie was a sweet mom who did quite a bit with the youth group too. Josh was pretty close to Kyle - he even came to visit us for a week a few years ago. Casey wasn't in the youth group yet when we were there but he was involved in youth group stuff and was so fun to be around.

Casey and Kelly have come to stay with us on their way to Estes Park to camp and we saw Kelly and Jeannie when there were in Denver last year. They are in Colorado this week to camp in the mountians again. It is such a blessing to have old friends come visit. I love getting to talk to people who have known Josh and I for awhile, it feels refreshing and comforting. God has really blessed Josh and I by putting wonderful people into our lives.

Baby Wheeler

Today my good friend Sheila Wheeler and her husband Jonathan had their first baby - Brayden Mahesh Wheeler. Brayden was born by c-section this afternoon. He was 5 lbs 11ozs.

Sheila and Jon have been great friends to Josh and I here in Denver. They have a lot in common with us and we love to go hiking together and just hang out. They have been a great addition to our church family and we are so happy for them. I'm going to meet Brayden tomorrow - can't wait!!!

My Friend Nathan

I was blog hopping and found the blog of my friend Amy Peterson. Amy was a graduating Senior in HS when I was an incoming Freshman. We went to church together and got to know each other on a mission trip to Minnesota. Amy also has MS and was a huge help and encouragement to me when I was struggling with an illness and being in the hospital so much.

Amy had 3 brothers. Her youngest brother Nathan was one of my good friends. We were in the same class and huddle at church. Nathan was....well there are many ways to describe Nathan - funny, compassionate, faithful, charming, class clown, great athlete, leader, struggling and wonderful. On her blog (ttp://ericswife.blogspot.com) Amy has several stories about Nathan. I read those and have been thinking about him a lot the past few days. Nathan died in a car wreck on December 26, 2003. It was incredibly hard on his friends and I can't imagine the pain his family went through, and is still going through.

I wanted to share several of my favorite memories about Nathan.
Nathan had a unique sense of humor and the uncanny ability to make people laugh at any given moment. Sometimes this was not at the best times..but he was always funny. He could take the most mundane things - like a Wet Floor/Piso Mojado sign that someone put in our huddle room and make it into a long standing joke.

Nathan loved old cars. His first car was a 1967 Cougar. When he got it I really thought it was meant for the junk yard. He worked for months to get it in semi working condition but he was so proud of it. One day he was driving down I35 in Austin and started smelling and seeing smoke come out from the hood. He pulled over to take a look. A few minutes later there was a big boom - his engine had literally blown up. Nathan's next vehicle was an old, ugly brown pickup truck. This truck was not only old, it was antique. But Nathan loved it. He named it some girly name I think. When we painted our huddle room Nathan painted a picture of his truck on the wall.

Nathan Paul Dodd was more than just a funny, charming, cute, athletic guy. He was one of the most amazing Christians I've ever met. He would have been the first to tell you that he was a sinner and that he had faults. One of the things that amazed me about him was that he truly believed in confession. He would go to a party with his football friends on Friday night and on Sunday he would come before our huddle, admit his mistakes and openly ask for help and forgiveness.
At Westover we had a 4pm church service for awhile. Once a quarter the teens would do the service. One night Nathan was going to be giving the lesson. He went up to the front of this huge auditorium and started talking about music. He spoke about how Satan can really get us to be ok with things that we shouldn't be through the music we listen to. Nathan was a varsity wrestler. He would listen to heavy metal or rap music before his meets. Up in front of the church he pulled out about 5 of his cds and said "I don't want to listen to this stuff anymore because I know that Satan uses that against me. " and he broke his cds.

The last story I will share about Nathan (for now) is his compassion. He was the big stud at his high school. He was Captain of the Football and I think Wrestling teams. All the girls loved him, all the guys thought he was cool. Nathan somehow befriended a group of special needs, or disabled kids. He refused to make fun of them like his friends did. Instead he became their buddy, their champion and defender. I think he even took one of those girls - a girl in a wheelchair to his prom.

It makes me smile to think about my friend. He was truly special and someone I will always miss.