But God

Right now, Lisa & I are in High Point, NC. To those of you who know us from AL, you are all aware that we spent the first three to five years in B'ham trying to get back to this town. Obviously, God had a different plan in mind. This wonderful place was only home to us for four years, but we lived alot in those short years and made lifelong relationships! Before this trip, we discussed that visiting High Point had been bitter-sweet in the past. As much as God had bonded our hearts and planted us in Birmingham, we mourned the years that we had lost with our friends here. But God...

This trip has been such a healing time for us. Even on the drive here, we wondered what this trip would hold. We have connected so beautifully with Lisa's 'girls', Lindsey and Courtney Newton. We've known them since they were babies and they were our parents 'first' grandchildren. Lindsey is in college and Courtney is a senior in high school, but they are still those delightful personalities that we fell in love with eighteen years ago. I do miss being a daily part of their growing up years but God... who knit our hearts together back then, has made sure that our hearts are still knit together!

The soul tie that I had to break these last few years has been healed, or maybe its been stretched to allow for the miles to Alabama. I don't know, but God... Somehow He can restore those things that seem to be lost when we choose to follow His plath for us.

Tomorrow, we'll be heading up to Lynchburg, VA to see Lisa's best friend, Julie. The years away from her have also been hard, but God...

Sorry to sound so random, just wanted to let you know that no matter the circumstance, but God...

The Sista's

In the previous post, I made mention of The Princess Sista's. There may be a few of you who don't know who these incredible ladies are. There are six of us. Among us, we represent two single mothers, a grandmother and a great grandmother. Three have struggled with infertility and had hysterectomies. Three have overcome childhood struggles that are not mine to tell. One is a breast cancer survivor. Three have lost fathers, while one has lost a mother. One of us is a new bride, while the other five remain single. We represent two decades in age. Four of us are extremely close to our families, while all six struggle with the irritants and joys that family brings. We have our differences and our similarities.

Five years ago, we went on our first trip to Orange Beach, AL. While there, our friendship was forged through laughter and Weight Watchers. We decided that, when we were together, nothing we ate contained WW points. Thus, The Pointless Sisters were born. After a year or so of misunderstandings of our name, we became The Princess Sisters. Too many people thought we were saying that we thought our lives were pointless because of our single status. NOT!! Our new title is in reference to the fact that our Father is the King, and we are and will always be His daughters.

We have found ourselves sisters in the truest sense over these past five and a half years. We discovered that a yearly beach trip was not enough time together. We have eaten at just about every restaurant in Birmingham. We have attended high school and college football games. We celebrate birthdays, Christmas, the Iron Bowl, and just about anything else we can think of. When one of us misses church, we all miss her. This summer, we adopted a practice (Kathi's idea) that we meet at least once a week. This does not include Sunday morning's service or our Wednesday night classes. Can you tell that we are all just a little bit obsessive? We are planning a cruise for this summer. We talk, e-mail and pray for each other regularly. Although blood connects only two of us, we are truly 'sisters'. God has forged a connection that none of us can explain. I can't imagine my life without them! I am richer because of these women. May you all have friends like these in your lives! I couldn't love them more if my own mother had given birth to them. To list them:

• Marlene Lawley


• Kathi Davis


• Deb Shaw Stark


• Tina Parkhill


• Lisa Moore


• Lara Moore

Time is too short

Isn't it interesting how close Heaven can be when you have those you love around you? My niece and nephews are down here in AL from Poughkeepsie, NY. The house is a WRECK and laughter abounds! Stealing hugs and kisses from a precocious eight year old. Snuggling with a ten year old who has snuggled just that way since he was born. Having 'grown up' conversations with my almost fourteen year old niece. I have heard that in Heaven, we never have to say goodbye to our loved ones, we will have unlimited time together! This month has been a small glimpse of that. There are other people who bring this type of delight into my life. Friends from Liberty Bible College in Pensacola, FL; friends from High Point, NC (after college); friends (and my sista's) from my jobs and my church here in Birmingham, AL. These people are not just friends, they are family. I long to see them on a daily basis, but God calls each one of us to different paths. Some days I can't wait for Heaven. I can't wait for that unlimited time with my friends! Love to all of you!

Lara