*daddy-o*

today's friend friday happens to land on the same day as my dad's birthday!  i just can't pass up on this opportunity.  :o)

my dad is amazing.  his work ethic and persistence was and is such an example that i try to live by.  his heart for God inspires me and challenges me to step faithfully through thick and thin.  i attribute most of my adventurous behaviors to the Gleason genes that he has passed down to me.   

dad,
thank you for all of the support and love that you have given to me for all these years.  i love you more i could ever express with words.  happy birthday!
                                         love,
                                              frog

*daddy-o*

today's friend friday happens to land on the same day as my dad's birthday!  i just can't pass up on this opportunity.  :o)

my dad is amazing.  his work ethic and persistence was and is such an example that i try to live by.  his heart for God inspires me and challenges me to step faithfully through thick and thin.  i attribute most of my adventurous behaviors to the Gleason genes that he has passed down to me.   

dad,
thank you for all of the support and love that you have given to me for all these years.  i love you more i could ever express with words.  happy birthday!
                                         love,
                                              frog

*amanda*

i have been a friend friday failure for the past two weeks.  :-(

in the past i've highlighted friends that i have had for years and years, so i thought this week i would share about a new friend.  i met amanda earlier this summer through my church.  the opportunities that i have had to hang out with her, i have been blessed by her openness and willing to step out into the uncomfortable.  i feel honored by her acceptance and trust that she has put in me.

amanda, thank you for your heart and love for God.

*amanda*

i have been a friend friday failure for the past two weeks.  :-(

in the past i've highlighted friends that i have had for years and years, so i thought this week i would share about a new friend.  i met amanda earlier this summer through my church.  the opportunities that i have had to hang out with her, i have been blessed by her openness and willing to step out into the uncomfortable.  i feel honored by her acceptance and trust that she has put in me.

amanda, thank you for your heart and love for God.

*talia nicole*

 

guess what?  i talked to someone who lives in paris today!  it was so fun to update mrs. talia sanders on the events of the last week.  i've been thinking about her so much lately.  it was fun that she would call on friend friday!

crazy.  exciting.  blessed.  i miss that girl like crazy!  she is the one who taught me how to swing dance and is definitely my favorite dance partner so far.  :o)   words cannot express how much fun we can have in any situation.  life is always an adventure.  whether we are just hanging out in fred meyers (because it was the only thing open -- good ole albany...), getting stuck underground in the french metro system, skydiving, talking for hours on the phone, or just doing nothing,  there is no one else who i'd rather be with.

distance, time zones and little obstacles may try to come between us, but it won't work.

friends for life.  love you tal!

*talia nicole*

 

guess what?  i talked to someone who lives in paris today!  it was so fun to update mrs. talia sanders on the events of the last week.  i've been thinking about her so much lately.  it was fun that she would call on friend friday!

crazy.  exciting.  blessed.  i miss that girl like crazy!  she is the one who taught me how to swing dance and is definitely my favorite dance partner so far.  :o)   words cannot express how much fun we can have in any situation.  life is always an adventure.  whether we are just hanging out in fred meyers (because it was the only thing open -- good ole albany...), getting stuck underground in the french metro system, skydiving, talking for hours on the phone, or just doing nothing,  there is no one else who i'd rather be with.

distance, time zones and little obstacles may try to come between us, but it won't work.

friends for life.  love you tal!

*jodi*

this is my friend jodi.  today's friend friday is showcasing this beauty who lives too far away in my opinion.  :o)  we met through a mutual friend and although we haven't had the opportunity to ever live in the same state, i treasure the times we've had together.

i appreciate the laughter and times of prayer.  i love her heart for God and the people around her.  i adore her joyful silliness.  my nephews and niece fell in love too.

jodi ~ thank you for being you!

*jodi*

this is my friend jodi.  today's friend friday is showcasing this beauty who lives too far away in my opinion.  :o)  we met through a mutual friend and although we haven't had the opportunity to ever live in the same state, i treasure the times we've had together.

i appreciate the laughter and times of prayer.  i love her heart for God and the people around her.  i adore her joyful silliness.  my nephews and niece fell in love too.

jodi ~ thank you for being you!

*jenise*

i was SO close to forgetting about friend friday! i can't believe it's already been another week.

this picture of jenise and i was taken in poland. while we had met each other before this point, this was the first time we really hung out for any length of time. can i just say that i'm so BLESSED to know her? it's been almost a year now since this pic was taken and i've been blown away by how God has intentionally weaved our lives together. her contagious laugh and willingness to serve have encouraged me so frequently. as we journey though life's ups and downs i know without a doubt that she will understand and walk with me in faith. jenise...thank you.

*jenise*

i was SO close to forgetting about friend friday! i can't believe it's already been another week.

this picture of jenise and i was taken in poland. while we had met each other before this point, this was the first time we really hung out for any length of time. can i just say that i'm so BLESSED to know her? it's been almost a year now since this pic was taken and i've been blown away by how God has intentionally weaved our lives together. her contagious laugh and willingness to serve have encouraged me so frequently. as we journey though life's ups and downs i know without a doubt that she will understand and walk with me in faith. jenise...thank you.

*natalie alexis*

today i'm starting a friday tradition that hopefully will last for more than a couple of weeks. :o) friend friday! every friday, i will highlight a different friend who means SO much to me. so to start it off we have natalie alexis!

natalie and i met probably around 1999ish (not quite sure...). as i became friends with talia, i would be over at her house and would sometimes see her younger sister. it's interesting to me that we didn't become friends earlier, but i do remember that even two years difference seemed like SO much back in the day...she was, after all, still in middle school and i was in high school. the summer of 2007 we really hit it off. natalie, talia and i were the cool kids of condo 1716 in gresham and the three of us grew close. i loved getting to know her better and was so inspired by her faith, joy and creativity. this week i get to hang out with her for a couple days, and i'm beyond thrilled. she will soon be off on another adventure and i can't wait to see what God will be doing in and through her life in this next season.

beautiful natalie, i love ya!

*natalie alexis*

today i'm starting a friday tradition that hopefully will last for more than a couple of weeks. :o) friend friday! every friday, i will highlight a different friend who means SO much to me. so to start it off we have natalie alexis!

natalie and i met probably around 1999ish (not quite sure...). as i became friends with talia, i would be over at her house and would sometimes see her younger sister. it's interesting to me that we didn't become friends earlier, but i do remember that even two years difference seemed like SO much back in the day...she was, after all, still in middle school and i was in high school. the summer of 2007 we really hit it off. natalie, talia and i were the cool kids of condo 1716 in gresham and the three of us grew close. i loved getting to know her better and was so inspired by her faith, joy and creativity. this week i get to hang out with her for a couple days, and i'm beyond thrilled. she will soon be off on another adventure and i can't wait to see what God will be doing in and through her life in this next season.

beautiful natalie, i love ya!