Happy Birthday Courtney!

Me and Courtney in Flushing Meadows,
Queens, NY
at a Billy Graham Crusade

Bridge jumping in Martha's Vineyard

Today is the birthday of my dear friend, Courtney! Courtney and I became friends 9 years ago when we were fresh out of college and nannying in New Jersey. I knew no one outside of the family that I nannied for (and I really didn't even know them very well), when I first moved to NJ in November of 2001. I had prayed for a group of Christian friends and after 3 weeks of not meeting anyone in my age group, I began to pray for just one friend. A few days later, on an airplane ride home for Thanksgiving I sat next to a girl named Emily, who happened to be a nanny in the town next to where I was living. She began telling me about her friend Courtney. Before the plane landed, she gave me her phone number and wrote down the name of the church that she and Courtney attended.  The next week I met up with Emily at church where she introduced me to Courtney.  I only hung out with Emily a time or two after that, but Courtney over the years has been to me like Jonathan was to David. She was the answer to my prayer! I am blessed to have a friend that knows we as well as she does.

Top 10 things I Love about Courtney:

I love...

1. ... Her sense of adventure. We have had several grand adventures over the years (see evidence from pictures below).

Building sand castles in Bermuda

2. ... That she is always reading a book that makes her think. Courtney is very introspective.

3. ... Her competitive nature. One time when we were playing tennis, she had the nerve to call me Grandma. Let me just tell you that was probably the best tennis match we've ever played!

4. ... That she is a dare devil (well, I love it except for when she is driving). Pushing the "danger" boundaries is something in Courtney's nature! We've gotten ourselves into a couple of predicaments because of it, but our adventures have been more memorable and I'm thankful for that!

Watching the sunrise on Chappy

Boating in MV

5. ... How Courtney has so much compassion for others, especially when others are hurting. People are drawn to her and I have always admired her willingness to listen and to give a hug at just the right moment.

Watching the sunset in MV

6. ... That Courtney and I have witnessed each other growing up as adults. We are not the same people we were 9 years ago. We still have some of the same quirks but we are better than we were. Thank you, Lord!


7. ... That she is easy to talk to. We have spent the equivalent of years talking about EVERYTHING!

Courtney and all of her bridesmaids at her
bachelorette weekend in VT.

8. ... Her love for the outdoors. Long walks, swimming, running, biking, exploring, skiing,  jumping on the trampoline, we've had a lot of fun outside.

Dancing with a dolphin in Bermuda

9. ... That she likes to sing along to good music in the car with the windows rolled down. "It's a great day to be alive..."

Courtney and her handsome hubby, James.

10. ... Her desire to be more and more like Christ. 

                                      
                                                  
                                                  
                                                              




                                                    

                    Courtney, I love you and wish you a very happy day! 

Meet My Neighbor Monday

Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.  ~Rod McKuen

This is long overdue! I have now been in San Antonio for over a month and I continue to meet so many wonderful people every week.

                                               Alyssa (Left) and Jessi at a '70s themed Chi Alpha event

This week the spotlight is on two new sweet friends, Alyssa and Jessi. I picked them both this week, because I had the pleasure of hanging out with them tonight when they came over for dinner. I wanted to celebrate them both.

Alyssa is a sophomore at UTSA and is studying Art and Communications. She hopes to one day be a graphic artist. Alyssa grew up in Houston and enjoys being in college only a few hours away from home. She lives in a house here in SA with 3 other girls... all four of them are truly amazing and I have had a blast getting to know all of them! Alyssa you are a blessing.

Jessi is one-of-a-kind! She manages working full-time and being in ministry full-time. She is a college women's small group leader and leads a weekly small group with 14 or 15 girls in it! She also tries to squeeze in one-on-one time with each of the girls. I don't know how she does it. Proverbs 27:17 says "As iron sharpen iron, so one man sharpens another." Jessi's life serves as such an example to me, her faith sharpens my own.

-M