Answered Prayer

About five+ years ago, when Matthew was a tiny tot, I began praying for a Christian neighborhood friend. I had lots of friends, but not a one in the neighborhood. I've prayed this prayer several times throughout my life, and God always provides.

So, one day I was walking Matthew in the stroller, and I glanced up to see this woman running down her front yard while her young son was playing on the front porch. She introduced herself, we chatted for a few minutes. She gave me her phone number (so we could arrange a playdate) which I took home and magneted on my fridge. After a few days of being too chicken to call, I finally just decided to walk past her house again and see if she was there. And she was. And the rest is history. Sarah and I became close friends very quickly, as did our sons (her Samuel is nine months older than my Matthew). We used to take walks with our boys all the time and have weekly playdates at each other's homes. About four years ago, they moved to a farm in Yadkin county (about 30 minutes away). While we don't see each other as often as we used to, we try to get together at least once a month and always pick right up where we left off. Sarah is lots of fun (well, all my friends are) and lively but also very calming to me. We vent to each other, cheer each other on to good health, exchange kid information, share spiritual stories. The last one is a biggie. She is on fire for God and always motivates me in my spiritual walk. I just love her. My relationship with her is always NON-drama, which I think is a rare. She is a treasure, and our visits to each other's houses seem to get longer and longer every time. My boys would be thrilled if we moved to their farm. And so would I.

And please. She's willing to paint an "eyepatch" on her eye for my kid's birthday party. That kind of girl rocks!