Skip to main content

"You ain't never had a friend like me"



Truly, I ain't never had a friend(s) like: Andres, Durbin, Erickson, Francis, Hargrove, Heidersdorf, Holtrop, Kwiat, Leatherwood, LeViere, Lewis, McMahon, Michel, Walker, and York.

There are many others--so thankful to have these friendships and more! If I named every friend I ain't never had one like before, this blog would be infinite. And, for that I ain't nothin' but genuinely grateful.
The reason I mention these friends is that: these were the friends that cleaned our toilets, scrubbed our showers, patched and painted our walls, tended to our children, came right over for some heavy (& tricky/awkward furniture) lifting, organized, dusted, cleaned out, vacuumed, peeled, unscrewed, swept, washed, and picked up our house, petted & dog-sat Luna, packed, hauled, dump & recycle tripped, re-homed, worked on, tidied up, and boxed and towed away our belongings, laughed with us, cried with us, helped, loved, advised, recommended, prayed with us, hugged us, fed us, lent their cleaning supplies, labor, tools, and time, volunteered to make our move happen, made saying goodbye important, and encouraged us at Kona Court.

 I ain't never had a moving sale before, we ain't never sold a house before, we ain't never re-homed a Great Dane before, we ain't never moved internationally before, I ain't going to keep this list going--you get idea. Many things had to happen for us to move from 98248 to Dubai. I ain't been this tired in years (ain't been since L was little), but I also ain't never had such unselfish, helpful, and wondrous friends in my life. Our move wouldn't be without you. THANK YOU ALL friends! Ya'll (listed above and unlisted alike) are a blessing from God. Please don't be offended if I didn't mention you specifically by name if I should have. Ain't never my intention to offend, so please forgive me.



P.S. I enjoy learning different terms for things, but there is one term that keeps playing trIcks on me. In the States a sign might read, "FOR RENT." Here, there are quite a few large signs on big buildings that mean the same thing, but use two different words: TO LET. I ain't tryin' to be tacky, but does anyone else's mind add a letter between these words? A vowel in particular? Ain't no: A, E, O, or U (or sometimes Y). I think you know the word my mind keeps sayin' I'm-a-readin'.

P.P.S. "You ain't never had a friend like me!"




Comments

Kristi Andres said…
I just caught these two latest posts... we love you guys too!!! :) So happy to hear you're there and the plane service was great. we felt the same about our service to China a few years ago. Missing your smile!

Popular posts from this blog

friendship, fruit, and love

When we move to a new location (near or far away), we experience a season of transience. To borrow from horticultural illustrations: it takes us time to grow into new environments, become adjusted, and settle. As we settle, the older, most resilient roots and branches need extra tending, pruning, or care; whilst we wish for the newest shoots or sprigs to develop in an expedited manner so that we can get out of uprooted shock and into a new season of growth that leads to a harvest of sweet, good fruits. One of the fruits that takes the most time is the fruit of friendship. Uprooted people need connection through friendship just as much as those who have the advantage of staying somewhere many seasons, years--perhaps a lifetime! Connection and social support scaffold resilience and are vital for our holistic humanity and healthy growth! Growth cannot be rushed. In fact, friendships take time. Though there are exceptions, we generally feel closest to those we spend the most time with. How...

Thoughts: 2 Timothy introduction

I love the Bible! Today, Thru the Bible started 2 Timothy and Dr McGee called it Paul's 'swan song.' He mentioned another author's swan song as well--if you like, please read 2 Timothy or check out the free resources and/or listen for yourself at TTB.org (or with the app--my fave!).  The mention of swan songs reminds me that events, things, attention, etc are all finite. Earth is finite. I am finite. Or as an introduction to 2 Timothy states: "The average human lifespan is longer now than it used to be. But the death rate is still 100 percent" (CSB, Life Counsel Bible).  However, the Creator of the skies, the earth and everything in it, and humanity is infinite ! And, we can be connected with Him by grace through faith in Jesus!  As Paul wrote: "He has saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jeus before time began . This has now been made evident thr...

Escalator E[ad]vent

Live music in the beautiful (souq or souk) section of Dubai Mall Went looking for an advent calendar (similar to the reusable one we had in The States) and I made a scene in the mall. It wasn’t a purposeful scene. Totally accidental. Rode up the escalator. But, at the top, I ran into problems because I jammed my shoe into the final step. It happened in slow motion. I pulled one foot out (along with the shoe) when I realized what was happening. The other foot, however did not make it fast enough, so I had to let the shoe go for my toes’ sake. It went. It stuck. The escalator stopped. All toes accounted for and undamaged. It took those behind me a few seconds to realize that they needed to start climbing if they wanted to continue their journey. Like (Cinderella’s) Prince Charming, I stood by the lost shoe. In fact, for a moment, I thought I might be trampled (maybe Cinderella was wise for running?) for trying to pull the shoe out.  I went from a Charming to Ugly Step-Sister po...