That Was the Week That Was

My 2011 definitely is going out with a bang, not a whimper!  This was an awesome week spent with awesome people.  My lovely wife Marilyn was on vacation, so she was at home.  My son Will was out of school.  And in addition, I was able to spend a great deal of time this week catching up with people from my past.  For instance, I had lunch on Tuesday with some great friends from Kissimmee. That group is pictured above.   Todd, Jocelyn and Lisa were all in the youth group at FUMC-K back in the 90's. Todd and Jocelyn both live out of state now, and I had not seen Jocelyn in person since around 1996. We spent several hours at a Chili's in Tampa just hanging out and catching up with one another, and it was truly a wonderful thing.

Then Tuesday night Marilyn and I shared a Taco Tuesday dinner with our dear friend Lisa Jewett, pictured above with me in New York a few years back on a youth trip with Wesely Memorial UMC.  Like my scarf?  :)

Wednesday for lunch we met up with another former Kissimmee youth, Brook Teoli (above with Marilyn and I).  Brook now lives in California, and I had not seen her in about 15 years. It was amazing to catch up and meet her family.  

In addition to all of those wonderful gatherings, I also got to spend a lot of time talking and texting with another old Kissimmee friend, Teresa Reep Tysinger.  It has just been amazing to catch up with her over these past few weeks. You know those people in your life that you can be apart from for years, and then when you see them again it is like no time has passed?  Teresa is one of those people in my life, an I feel blessed.


You know all the posts I write talking about youth ministry and relationships?  This week has been a perfect example of why.  Old friends sharing life together years after our youth group days have ended is just as good as it gets.  And I wouldn't trade these (and so many other) relationships for anything. Blessings to all, and have a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve!


Because of Jesus,