A Friend in Need

Please pray for some of my best friends and their family. MaryLee Baker and fellow blogger, Janiece Cooper and siblings are gathering together at their parent's home as I type. Their mother has battled cancer off and on for several years, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 or 94. It was in remission for quite awhile but then about 4 years ago, she was told she had cancer in her back. I think it may have spread to other organs and she has been on chemo or radiation a lot of the time since that diagnosis.

We grew up with their family in the church. Their older sisters are friends of my older sisters and sang together just as Mary and Janiece did with my sister, Barb, and me. The picture posted is of both sets of parents from Easter 2006 (l to r: my dad, my mom, Maryln and Leland) and it has fast become one of my favorites. In fact an 8x10 is sitting on my piano.

Anyway, I know the family would appreciate all your prayers for safe travels, strength and peace in the days ahead.

Happy Birthday, Janiece!

I thought it was 15 years but according to her blog, it must have been 16 years ago today that Janiece's sister, MaryLee and I gave her a party at the Midland Mall. I always felt bad that she got jipped by having a birthday the day after Christmas. It was too easy for givers to hand her one gift and say it was for Christmas AND her birthday. So for her sweet sixteen, I took a few of her friends to the mall ahead of time. We each picked a different store, bought her a gift, wrapped them in the car, wrote a clue as to where she would find it, took the wrapped gift back to the store we got it from and asked the clerk if she would keep it behind the counter until the "birthday girl" asked for it. I don't remember if she asked at any wrong stores or if it embarrassed her to do this, but I thought it was fun, even if she didn't! lol! Either way, I'm sure it was a day she will never forget.

Happy Birthday to my friend's bratty li'l sister, who soon became: 1/3 of our church youth group, lead singer of the Northern Lights, my friend, my confidante and wife of my husband's college friend - how cool is that?! Hope you have a fabulous day!

P.S. Janice, I had plans to do a post before I read your blog (just so you know you weren't an afterthought :) and I'm sorry the only pic I have of you includes Jerry, but I guess he IS your other half...anyway, I'm on the road posting on Tony's laptop, thus the lack of photos. And last but not least, I haven't called you yet b/c I was waiting until you were out of bed. Now my kids are being LOUD!