our friends

I met my friend Rochelle in college. She stood out right away as a free-thinking hippy chick. I knew we should be friends. She really was influential in helping me see non-conventional ways of living (who needs bathrooms?) She's always encouraged me to think and live more naturally. The seeds she started planning all those years a go have really taken root now. Although we haven't lived near each other since our girls were babies, we've kept up our friendship through many moves, states, kids and years.  She's one of those friends I know I'll always stay connected to. 

Rochelle and her husband and 4 kids came to visit us last weekend. Our kids love each other so much. They were all born with in a couple months of each other. Charis and Eva are especially close since they are only 10 days apart, and have seen lots of pictures of themselves together as infants. They always immediately reconect, no matter how long it's been. Rochelle has had one more kid than me recently. Baby Lilly. Charis was in love. She knows what she wants for Christmas now (Santa ain't gonna deliver that though).

We both have Jo Jo's. Jonas and Josiah. And they are both amazing and beautiful little stinkers.

Lots of fun was had climbing trees, playing dress up, eating yummy farmer's market food, and talking about kids and China and God and parenting.

We could hardly pull Lilly away from Charis. She must have given her 10 good bye hugs and kisses.