Strong Women, Strong Mama's

We have had a very crazy last 10 days. We have had celebration, we've had sorrow and we've had hope and excitement!
My dear friend, LuAnn, lost her father Sunday morning. She is an only child and extremely close to her parents. We team taught together for the years before I married. She is one of the most loyal people I have ever known. I wish that I could be in Oklahoma with her, but that is not possible. Please pray for LuAnn to be able to find strength and peace.
When I married and moved I was very lonely for my former team teaching members. We were a very close group in Oklahoma and I prayed that I would find some other teachers that I felt the same way about. Well, God answered my prayers and blessed me with an awesome teaching team (Lynne, Debbie, and Christy). It is probaby one of the strongest group of women and mothers I have ever known. My first year of marriage was full of highs and lows as I was terribly homesick, pregnant with Clark, and adjusting to being away from my family. (Yes, Clark was due on our first anniversary... we were young and in love!!!) I was put on bedrest at 26 weeks of pregnancy and my teaching friends were my saving grace. They visited, cooked meals and called daily. They even forced me to the country club pool 3 weeks after Clark was born because I needed to get out of the house. You see, two of my teaching team members live at the pool in the summer! I know that God planted these women in my life, they made all the difference in my family, the way that I mother and my outlook on my life in this small town. Today we are in celebration with these women... you see, my friend Lynne's 18 year old daughter,Jenni, had a heart valve replacement that was a success this past friday. To say that she is sweet is an understatement. She has such a bright future as she will start college in the fall. She is ranked #1 in the state of Missouri High School tennis players. I can't wait to see what her future holds. As this sweet family was in the middle of this trial, their 22 year old son, Blake, opened for the LA Dodgers...yes, the LA Dodgers!! This is Blake's picture at the top of my post. They were able to all be together for his first week in the majors!! Jenni and Blake are extremely close and it has been very trying on them to not be together during this time. I remember when Blake left for camp, Jenni was just lost without him. She took it worse than Lynne. I think as a mother you raise your children to leave your nest, but as the younger sibling it's not the same. Just as the excitement of the Dewitt's was settling down... Christy's son Jacob started making University of Missouri history as he started breaking school baseball records and the Big 12 conference baseball records. What an amazing thing this has been to experience!! These 2 boys have been best friends since they were tiny, and their Moms have been best friends even longer! As the town is celebrating in these boys baseball success, I personally am celebrating in their great character that was instilled in them as young men.... by their Mama's. :-)