Two are better than one (Ecc 4:9a)

One of the richest pieces of coming home has been time with family and friends.  I've been buoyed up and supported by so many dear, dear friends.  These are pictures of only a few of those who have deeply touched me.  I am so grateful.

Jessica is a good friend from high school and has been my personal cheerleader while I've been overseas.  She even organized a party with some of my friends for me while I've been home, which was one of those rare bright spots in the darkness.  I'm SO grateful for her.

Laura and her fiancé Troy came over to share lunch with us.  I've known Laura since I was a little kid, running around at church, going camping, and sharing so many rich memories.  It was amazing to pick right up where we left off 3 and a half years ago, and fun to meet her fiancé.  I've been so blessed by relationships that have spanned decades.

Another decade long friendship is Emily, my kindred spirit and one of my dearest, truest friends from college.  She came to Colorado for Christmas, and a brief visit before returning to her home in Jordan.  It was too short, but we got to snowshoe, reminisce, drink hot chocolate and people watch, making up stories and names for the people who walked past the cafe window:)

I even got to meet her now fiancé, Andrew, and am already plotting how I can possibly save enough money to fly from Bolivia to Ireland in a year to participate in her wedding...  Flights from Bolivia to Shannon, Ireland are hardly a common flight path!  It's made me so happy to meet my friends' fiancés and husbands, especially to see how good they are for each other.

Another incredible gift was my time with old friends from Bolivia, from almost 6 years ago!  Matt and Elsa (middle back and middle front), Jen (brown sweater) and Katie (behind me on right) were all with me in Bolivia while I was an intern.  I lived with Jen and Katie, and got to stay with both of them during my time in Chicago.  We got the whole gang together, plus new husbands Baruch (Jen) and Dan (Katie), for a meal and I can't remember the last time my stomach hurt so much from laughing.  A rich, rich time.  Each of them were so encouraging and came alongside me in my struggles.

Just this last weekend, I was able to get out in the woods with my oldest and newest friends.  Bonnie (left) and I have known each other since pre-school, and she now lives just down the street from my parents with her son Nico and husband Arsene.  Maria (middle) is my newest friend, someone I've really enjoyed getting to know during my 3 months home in the States.  We snowshoed up Capitol creek to a stunning vista, and I had fun driving through the snow on a 4-wheel drive road:)