Buddies and Blessings

From left to right: Devon, Karin, Marla, Simone, Cay, & Sarah. Not shown are Jennifer (taking photo), Ema (had to leave early), and Donna (out of town).

For the last two years (with another year left in our study), I have been meeting with eight ladies every Tuesday morning during the school year. Cay and Donna lead the group. Those two, Karen, and Marla are our more mature women, and Devon, Jennifer, Simone, Ema, and I are all at similar life stages and ages. Last year we had a few others in our group who have since moved away or taken jobs that meant they couldn't participate with us anymore. We are doing a Bible study called The Amazing Collection, but as we study each and every book of the Bible over three years, we have also been getting to know each other pretty well. This January, someone had a birthday that we celebrated, and we've been celebrating each birthday since then -- but ALL in very different ways.

Marla purchased this trailer last summer and she and another friend have been refurbishing it. Each week, we hear more about the work she's done to it, but we hadn't ever seen it. Cay is one of our group leaders and, at the end of March, she had had a rough patch as her husband was overseas while she and her adult daughter we waiting to hear results of her daughter's cancer scan. Ema stepped in with the idea of a Bible study adventure to cheer Cay.

So, Marla brought the trailer to the parking lot of the church where we meet. We all brought something different -- lawn chairs, blankets (it was chilly), vintage table cloth and card table, baked s'mores, pigs in a blanket, a blue vintage camping coffee-pot full of flowers, and a camping-thermos full of coffee.

We had our camper-style Bible study there this morning, and we finished with prayer on the inside of the trailer. What a fun time we had!! I love these ladies and how everyone steps in at the shortest moment's notice to support each other. They are really such a sweet blessing in my life and I'm glad I have at least one more year of studying with them!