i see you - maupin

Maupin has known me for longer than most of my friends because he was friends with my brother first when they were in elementary or middle school. I've seen him come a long way and he continues to follow a direction that I admire. He has a vibrance about himself that is unequaled in many people. No matter what he is doing, if it is important to him, he is doing it with passion and brilliance. He plays drums, lots of times for church. While many church services can get the drummers that just know how to keep the beat and keep everything moving, he is able to bring something different to the table that, in my opinion, makes for a much more enjoyable experience. He has more to offer than I think he even knows, but I think he's beginning to realize it. I'm excited to see where he goes from here and I am happy to have called him my friend for this long.

Who else thinks Maupin rocks?

i see you - josh s

Josh is married to Ciaara. They are newlyweds and very excited about it right now! It's been a real blessing for Lewis and I to hang out with them lately - and always, but really a lot lately. The first word that I think of when I think of Josh is kind. He maybe looks like he could kick your butt, but he wouldn't. He cares about people and I think his kindness says a lot to the people he surrounds himself with. It's obvious that he cares a lot about his friends. My husband in particular has been blessed to be Josh's friend. On top of all of his fabulous personal characteristics, he is incredibly talented and uses his gifts for the glory of Christ. He is sincere and honest about his beliefs and is a blessing to those around him. Lewis and I are honored to have him & Ciaara in our lives. We are excited about the future with them as our friends.

Don't you agree?

Also - today is Josh's birthday. Wish him a happy one!

i see you - ciaara

Ciaara is one of those friends who you know as an acquaintance and then you slowly become more and more involved in each others lives through people and situations you never really saw coming and then suddenly one day you realize that they are one of your best friends. That's our story, more-or-less. Although I wasn't around through a lot of Ciaara's years in the past, I know about them and I think she is a perfect example of how beautifully God weaves together a story that you thought you had messed up. I know I have felt like that so many times and then looked back and God was picking up pieces, shifting things around and then dropping me in the middle of a fairy-tale pretty much. Ciaara is absolutely beautiful and she has a charisma and personality that is unrivaled in most people. She loves to laugh and her smile will make you want to smile as well. She loves her husband and is so happy to finally be a wife and I think she makes a wonderful one. She is a good friend and a truly forgiving person. She doesn't dwell in the past and she is actually a pretty freaking awesome person in the here and now.

All who agree with me, please stand up...or comment.

i see you - sarah c

Sarah is another of the incredibly talented people in my life. She plays piano. It's perfect. Well, to me it is. One day I hope she gets to become a professional pianist. She will be so comfortable in that position. But even if she doesn't end up there, I believe she will offer something great to the world. I've been a part of her life for 6 years now. I guess I have played the sister role as her sister-in-law for the last 4 years. More than anything else, I have listened and watched the way her family sees her. We all have difficult times with our families and Lew & Sarah's family is no different. The thing that has been really beautiful to me is the consistency with which they all continue to see her as she can be, should be, is, was, one day will be. I believe she is in a growth period and as difficult as periods like that are, I think she will come out of it as even more than any of us can see now. She is funny and sweet and unique. She has a style and a spark that is all her own. I know how Lewis sees her and what he says about her and how he looks at her and how he hopes she looks at him and I have to just say that I know your family is supposed to love you, but the way Lewis really sees would make anyone love her just as much as he does. I'm happy to be a part of their family.

Anyone else who knows Sarah and has anything to add?

i see you - ian

Ian is one of the most intelligent and talented people that I know. He has the possibility within himself to make a real change in the people around him. When he is acting on this possibility, the world really does change around him. I've seen it. Some of the most blessed years of my life had Ian as a part of them, really a central part. Lewis and I lived with him for almost 2 years, and as difficult as that may sound to you, I still felt happy and lucky to have him in my life the entire time. I heard someone say one time that we are acting most like God when we are creative and I must say that Ian's creative side is flawless. I believe that when channeled, his creativity can spur people on to want to be better. I believe he is kind and I believe he is understanding. He is funny and interesting and interested. He has potential that is yet to be harnessed and I look forward to the day that he shines brighter than he ever has before. It will be something we will all want to stop and see.

I know some people think the same thing...tell me about it.

i see you - diana

First of all, Diana is probably not going to like that picture, because more than most things, she doesn't know how beautiful she is. It isn't possible for there to be a bad picture of her. I remember how hard it was in high school to be her friend sometimes because she is stunning. I felt I paled in comparison. But then I realized that she really feels lucky to be my friend. That's one of the best things about her, she appreciates her friends in a very sincere way. She is consistently striving to be better - at everything. She has a desire to become a better person every day. I think that's really all you can ask of people. None of us are perfect or ever will be, but if we all just took that initiative to want to be better, we will become better along the way. She isn't afraid to say no, which is harder than it sounds. She is also an absolutely fabulous mother. I find myself in awe of her when I see her with her 2 girls. She is a wonderful wife. Just hearing her talk about Tom will let you know how blessed they really are in their relationship. She means what she says and she isn't afraid to say what she means. She is fun and funny and kind and caring and she will cry with you or laugh with you or just sit in bed watching movies and eating puppy chow (muddy buddies).

And she makes the best banana pudding EVER.

Anyone agree?

i see you - lewis

Lewis is one of the most intelligent people I know. He doesn't just take things at face value. He always wants to know more. Everything he is interested in, he gives everything to. He doesn't do anything half-heartedly. His friends are more important to him than I think they will ever understand. I know what hurts him and what makes him happy and I think he deserves respect and praise for who he truly is. Nobody knows him like I do. We have seen the best and the worst of each other and I still think that the worst day with Lewis is better than the best day with anyone else. He is talented and passionate. I truly believe that one day he will be more than he has ever expected. And he will be that person without shame or guilt and he will let the world know that true, authentic living is a possibility. He makes mistakes, but he will admit to them. He doesn't hide behind a facade of perfection. He respects people who own up to their own mistakes and weaknesses and then he does everything he can to help those people grow to be better. He wants to help. He is a good friend and deserves more of them himself. He makes me feel like I can be better than I am.

That's why I married him.

What do you think of him?

i see you - brooke

Brooke takes pictures.

Brooke is one of the funniest people I know, although I'm not sure she realizes that. I have seen her mature in the last few years into an even more incredible person than she already was. I know that she truly cares about people - her friends, her family - because I have heard her talk about them. She has a talent for photography that I am very jealous of. I wish I had a talent for anything like that. She is unique and unashamed and because she doesn't conform, she shines. She loves truly and she laughs a lot and she is fun and intelligent and will offer something great to the world. Her world has not always been kind to her, but I think at this point, she should be nothing but proud of herself. I know I feel lucky to call her my friend.

I know some of you know Brooke - don't you agree?

i see you - emily

(First of all, no offense to Emily - but these are in no particular order. There is no specific reason why I pick one person over another. I just do.)

Emily has the ability to see objectively in situations where I couldn't. She beautifully balances her faith in Jesus and her life in the world. She and her husband exhibited one of the most profound forms of bravery that someone from a very close family can exhibit and they moved to Las Vegas. They are in pursuit of their calling and their purpose and they strive for this with unabashed courage and integrity. She cares about people in a very simple and sincere way. She will be the one to buy you some $5.00 gift that seems so trivial, but when you realize how perfectly it complements you and how specifically she thought of you when she picked it out, it is beyond value. I'm not even sure she realizes that she does that. She shows strength when her world falls apart, which regretfully it has a couple of times. At moments when she thinks she is being weak and has fallen apart, I have seen more authentic grace and love for the people she cares about than at any other moment. I believe it is the kindness of Christ that leads people to Him and I believe Emily shows this to people.

For those of you who know Emily - what do you see in her?