things I love 25, 26, 27, & 28 - Emily, Anna, Mary & Jaclyn

Dang - I always miss Saturdays. And then I missed Monday. So while I had something else written (partially), I decided I could post it later and catch up with this one that I had meant to do for a while.

I've done one friend post and here's another - all bloggers. Their fault I started this blog thing in the first place!
I met Emily, Anna, Mary and Jaclyn all through TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I spent as much time in Greensboro as I did in Raleigh/Cary my last year in high school and for parts of college. Part of that was to be in Emily's and Anna's (first) weddings. I had so much fun with Mary (emily's sister) at Emily's - foregoing most undergarments under the navy dress because of the temp (and I could go without a bra then). It was the 4th of July in NC - whew! And I remember spending quite a while under Emily's dress (which had been worn for several generations) trying to figure out the bustle. It was a great! And I had fun at Anna's too - making the garlands for the little girls' hair and someone actually getting mine in a french braid!! I also remember the gray day that the three of us gathered at Emily's close-to-Clayton house, ate a wonderful lentil soup, and then went and signed papers at Lowe's in front of a friend of Emily's who was a notary public for Anna to change her name after her divorce. I remember how tiny Taylor Anne (Emily's first) was for her whole first year. I've enjoyed several TEC weekends with Mary, who sat at the table over from me on my first weekend. We've always had fun together and I love her blog and how adorable her little girl is - it's so cool to me how much Emily's kids and Maddox look like they are definitely from the same family. Kind of how Beca looks a lot like my cousin. Jaclyn and I also worked several TEC weekends together and I remember meeting her and her husband when I joined the rest of their group in G'boro for a Small Group dinner. Everyone has always been so welcoming in that "family". And Jaclyn's daughter is only a few months older than Beca so we always have fun swapping little girl stories.
This is the group that every few months we try to get together. Sometimes life gets in the way but our visits, though brief are always fun and full of laughter. We've had some exciting adventures over the years - trips to JMU, Boone - and I've gotten to visit Anna in Minnesota when I extended a business trip last year. I love that they have each grown into amazing people with wonderful kids. I'm so proud of each of them for stepping out and being able to do things that I would have never dreamed of (especially Emily and her chickens, Mary and her ability to teach music, Anna and her ability to teach at an amazing college, and Jaclyn and her so cool job with the Girl Scouts!). hugs to you all!