When Tom and I were first married and living in Hampton/Newport News, summer of 1980, we met another couple through the Navigator ministries at Langley Air Force Base on the Virginia Peninsula.
Tom and Ann have been serving the Lord for many years now, and we recently arranged to get together with them when we were on our fall get-away. Whenever we plan outings, day trips, or vacations, I like to brainstorm and figure out who lives along the route wherever we'll be traveling...and try to set up a time to visit.
The Lord providentially worked out the logistics of us getting together because the only time we could meet with them happened to be a day when they had a lot of irons in the fire. They didn't say how much they had to rearrange in order to carve out an hour in their schedule, but I think it was quite a bit of juggling!
Another reason it was providential...we've only had the misfortune of being locked out of the van once in our lives, but on this particular busy morning of packing up in the hotel parking lot in order to go meet Tom and Ann, it happened again! The only set of keys fell out of a coat pocket and were inside the locked van. Oh, no!
The Lord arranged for just the right hotel staff member to overhear our predicament, and she called a locksmith who had us on our way within the hour--at no charge even! Wonderful!
Here we are in Panera Bread having to say good-bye and head out to our next stop. The hour passed way to fast!
We will always remember Tom and Ann as the couple who kept our 20-month old in the middle of the night when we were in the hospital birthing Hannah. I guess you can say we go back a long way! Thanks Tom and Ann for your treasured friendship!
New Friends and Old Friends
Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.
Friendships that have stood the test-- Time and change--are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray, Friendship never knows decay.
Cherish friendship in your breast-- New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.
by Joseph Parry (1841 - 1903)
~ Deb
What a joy to reconnect with treasured old friends. I'm glad you got to visit with your's.
Victoria
Posted by: victoria | Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:32 PM
I was just going to email you to ask if you got to visit them.At least your Tom still has hair.I always remember Ann's curly hair from way back in the day.
Glad you were able to get unlocked!
Posted by: Tammy | Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 07:06 AM
True friends are indeed a treasure as well as a gift. How blessed you are to have these friends.
Posted by: Connie | Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 07:41 AM
What treasured memories you have made with your friends. =)
Posted by: Amy, a redeemed sheep | Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at 06:56 PM
I love this poem, but have heard only the first (and last!) line. I did them in cross stitch for a friend a while ago.
Posted by: Carrie | Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 06:06 PM