"...an old friend who has shared our morning days."

There is no friend like an old friend 

who has shared our morning days, 

no greeting like his welcome, 

no homage like his praise.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

I know you readers can change the pronouns in the quotation above to reflect the devotion and love I feel for my Marijke!
Marijke has been my friend for 15 years, since she refused to let me sulk in a tent alone at the honors college camping trip. 

We are evening friends, too! 

Marijke was one of my merry band of friends in college, and we have seen each other through weddings and births and moves and crises and breakdowns and all of it. I wish all of you the blessing of a friend you don't have to hide anything from. And of a friend who will put her kids in the car and drive six hours by herself to see you! What full hearts we had this weekend. 

Here, Marijke charms the kids with books.

It was a joy to see the 9 year old iteration of dear Jeremiah. She was pregnant with him at my wedding:

See him protuding there to my left? He was about 6 weeks from being born in that shot.

And here he is patiently teaching Miles checkers skills, while cuddling Adele. What a young man he is becoming.

We took the kids to Pandapas Pond after church as we needed some quiet and they needed some space. 4 kids and 3 adults in the Pirate House is merry but also quite full!

Both my kids got to try out having an older sibling of their gender. Adele spontaneously said to Evelyn, "I love you" moments after I took this. Evelyn responded, "Ah! I love you too!"

Hasn't my dear got such lovely blue eyes? 

This guy and I have been through a lot together.

Someday we'll get someone who is not six years old to photograph us. 

Is he tough or what?

Labor Day morning came sunny and cool, as the whole weekend had been, as I had asked for it to be. We said leisurely porch goodbyes.

That morning of all mornings, we noticed that the porch morning glorys were beginning to bloom!

The merry band:

Miles says, "I miss Jeremiah. He was a good roommate. I wish they lived with us."

He's so much like his father:

Money shot, right?

This has all gone on too long. Evelyn goes back to her book. 

Thank you for walking with me, my friend.

From far away and near, we're connected by golden threads. And cell towers. And sturdy family cars. And love.