Friends and Family

Boy, am I wiped out!  What a fabulous weekend it really was!  I am truly grateful for all the friends we have and for our extended family.  I'd like to take a moment to thank God for all of these people in our lives.

Alan and I kicked off my weekend with a date night to Ogden.  This is an extra special treat for a couple of reasons.  One, Alan and I went out on a Friday night together!  Very rarely do we ever go out on a Friday night or even have a date night because of our crazy schedules and because of Alan's overwhelming college classes.  My weekend nights are usually spent home snuggled in bed by myself watching Dateline, 48 Hours Mystery, or some other depressing television show.  Mark it on the calendar that Friday, May 4, 2012, Alan and Tia went out to enjoy ourselves!  Two, we actually left the house alone!  As rare as it is for us to go out on a Friday night, it is equally as rare for Trey to be left at home with a sitter. 

Some of you reading this would probably laugh at my idea of a date night once you finish reading about the night's events.  But I have to say that I am very happy with the time we spent together and the events of the night.  It's a two hour drive from where we live to Ogden and we left our house in the early afternoon.  I had made plans with our friends, Randy and Erica, who we haven't seen or visited with in over two years.  We met them at Applebees and spent some time catching up.  Have you ever had friends who you've been separated from for so long and then met up with them again only to learn that the meeting is awkward, with no subject to talk about, leaving you wondering if you're even still friends at all?  I'm so happy to report that this was NOT the case with these two.  Our conversation went smoothly as if there had been little time that had passed since our last visit.  There is absolutely no question of how real this friendship is.  Now that's a great way to arrive for our date night!

The excuse for our getting out on a Friday night did not at all revolve around the actually day being a Friday.  Rhonda had recently published her first book Every Essential Element.  Milan and Rhonda had planned a book launching event where supporters could come and meet Rhonda and her mother, Gaye.  Rhonda would also be reading a excerpt from the book. 

I have to tell you that I purchased a copy of the book on my Kindle the moment I knew it was available.  I was so excited to support my friends and help them get the word out.  I also wanted to read the book first so I knew I would be promoting something worthwhile.  It didn't take me long to become completely devoured in her story.  Gaye's life experiences are based on love and faith and her perseverance has paid off.  I am envious of such a tight-knit, successful family and hope that at the end of my life I can be as rewarded as this woman.  Her story has inspired me to look beyond the present and realize that there is so much more to life.  I look forward to life's next adventures and even get excited when I look down the road 10, 20 or 30 years from now.  Thank you Rhonda and Gaye for writing such a powerful book.  Gaye, you are truly a hero!

When we first walked in to Union Station in Ogden, we found Milan standing tall and proud, and he was smiling BIG!  The pride and love he had for his wife was obvious to everyone in the room.  Our visit with him was much shorter than we'd have liked, but it was great to see him so happy.  Rhonda was also quite busy signing books and welcoming supporters as they arrived.  The room was full of over 100 guests, including friends and family.  Did I mention they have a supportive family!?  I don't think I'll be able to describe the amount of love I felt in that room as I sat on the bench with Alan resting my head on his shoulder.  It almost brought me to happy tears.  I could feel the genuine appreciation Rhonda and her brothers had for their mother and father, as well as the pride Gaye had for her children.  I swear I felt the presence of Rhonda's father, and I know how happy and proud he was of his family.  I hope the rest of the family could feel what I felt.  They are truly blessed. 

Part of showing our support for their book was to purchase a copy, even though I had already gotten the electronic version.  As I stood in line waiting to purchase a book, I had no idea what I would do with it.  I considered giving it as a gift, but to who would I give it to?  And then I heard it.  "Joy."  "Give it to Aunt Joy."  I had no idea for sure when I'd see her next, so I'd send a package to her.  I know she has been under a lot of stress with her own big family and has found new challenges in being a mother.  This has got to be the perfect gift for her! 

We stayed for the author's reading, gave our best wishes, and went out for a little bit of shopping before taking the long WINDY drive across the desert.  The conversation on the way home was based on thoughts of our friends who we had seen that day and the desire to move closer to them.  We both really miss doing fun things and we miss the ones we love.  There was a pause in the conversation when we both got tired and I checked my Facebook account from my smart phone.  My cousin, Adrianne, had posted "Spontaneous trip to Vegas? I think yes!"  Hmmmm, there might be something to this!