I have a new close Buddy.

No.

No it’s not the Cake. Though the Cake was heavenly, and could very well be my best friend forever. Especially with the state I’m in.

No.

My buddy is the one holding the Cake.

(Don’t judge me for capitalizing certain words that hold reverence in my vocabulary)

Yeah. She’s the one holding the Cake…Like I said.

I realize she’s blurry. Hold please.

I just needed to feature the Cake one more time.

I mean, isn’t she just adorable.

My friend, not the Cake.

Jamie-Lee is my sweet dear buddy who I’m getting to know more and more all the time.

She is precious to me.

When we moved to Chicago I didn’t really have any friends.

I met a few people here and there but was really wanting to find some good buddies in our church so that we could see each other all the time. First, we had to find a church. That took us almost a full year.

Then we found our current place of worship which we LOVE.

And my sweet Jamie came up and talked to me day one. I cried a little when I got home.

Then I finally got into a Bible study that she started and I loved it. And I cried a little when I got home.

And ever since then we’ve been getting closer and closer.

Don’t get me wrong, I have some other kindred spirits (I always think of Anne of Green Gables when I say this, but it’s true) but not anyone close to me, a phone call and a quick CTA or car ride away. I’ve really needed that.

Jamie-Lee is someone who loves to serve, knows people’s names after the first time of meeting them, believes that kindred spirits get to know each other by doing messy things, not proper things. Like helping clean a basement that had sewer water all through out, or letting you cry on the phone when you’ve had a bad day, or being honest about sucky things and happy about great things. She’ll go grocery shopping with you, bake with you, rummage through thrift store finds and not think you’re cheap. She’ll answer her phone at 2 in the morning for you and not resent you for it. She loves college students and investing in their lives and cooking for them and giving them a home away from home…which I’m sure their mother’s appreciate tremendously.

She goes from woman in charge, to woman in love in two seconds when she sees her sweet hubby. She hugs, she cries, she laughs and she encourages you.

She’s a great friend to have. I’m so lucky that God put her in my life.

What’s even more awesomer about this whole thing is that our hubbies like each other too. In fact…they are even on “besties” terms.

I’ve been thinking a lot about blessings, and grace. I haven’t felt much of them lately for myself, I’ve actually successfully been throwing myself a pity party.

So when I think of blessings I begin to think of people. And Jamie-Lee and Josiah are our blessings.

They are quickly becoming “Our People.” And let me tell you, it’s been a hot minute since  Hubby and I both have close new friends that we both can relate to and enjoy.

That’s her and her sweet Hubby and this picture was taken at the same picnic as the Cake. It was a day of celebration as our sweet pal, Haley (in the red shirt) was baptized. These cool kids are some of the people they invest in and give up their home to.

Best summer day of 2011 for me.

Do you have a friend you couldn’t live with out? Or are you cultivating that relationship?

Lovies