Shopping at our friends'

Our friends have given us so much I feel like we've been shopping. I write this as a big thank you to our friends, the Harrisons, Browns, Fergusons, Caudles, Woodburys and Holbrooks.

This post goes way back to when the Harrisons and Browns left the east to go back to Hawaii and Utah. I always meant to blog a thank you & tribute, but never got around to it... This picture is from last June when we were the beneficiaries of their generosity when both families left us heaps of boxes of food. We were sad to see them leave yet grateful for their thoughtfulness. Kaelene is quiet dignity, kind, such a good mom, and was a great running partner. Rachelle, I swear reads a book a day (thanks to Goodreads I can see her progress), which I admire, and is such a great example of cherishing her kids' and being so present with them.




We didn't have a chance to know the Fergusons very long, but they were great. They were such a fun couple to be around, very charismatic. They left us a bunch of food too, plus a table and a pretty bathroom cabinet.
Our friends the Caudles, were our faithful temple and date night swap couple. They just moved to Vicksburg, MI and Adam just passed the bar! Yay! We had a great arrangement and we miss them. It was nice to know we could always return the favor if we stayed out late or whatever. I admire Trina's endless list of self improvement goals and her desire to be an active participant in politics and the society in which we live. She is straightfoward in expressing her views, yet I find her pretty tolerant of other points of view.


So this is what we inherited from the Caudles: a TON of classic videos. Anyone who knows us knows we love movies! This collage isn't half the bunch, actually. Thanks, Caudles!


Our other friends, the Woodbury's, just finished law/MBA school and left to go back to Utah. They have been such wonderful friends and were actually the first people to welcome us into the Chevy Chase ward. Sarah is such a generous, thoughtful person and has been an instrument in answering my prayers more than once. I think I wrote about the time I was pregnant, waiting to catch the bus in the RAIN to go to a doctor's appointment, with Elise/stroller/bag in tow. I felt pretty discouraged, but Sarah showed up and gave me a ride to a covered bus stop AND she insisted on watching Elise during my appointments after that too.

Cute buddies, Ethan and Elise.

Each year, when they left to go to Utah, they would stock up our (and other friends') fridge/freezer with all their perishables. This time was no different, and they left us yummy salmon, lean pork chops, frozen chicken breasts. Thanks, Woodburys! We miss you already.
Lastly, Michelle is always giving me such beautiful things, nice clothes, dishes, bags and place mats. I almost feel guilty taking it. The cups and pitcher match the bowls Aaron got me for Mother's Day perfectly and the place mat matches my plates from my mom! Michelle has such great taste, I'll take the things she doesn't want anymore any day! (only a little bit joking.) Love ya, Michelle!