Blessings

My Ukrainian friend and I were talking the other night over mint tea and Dove chocolates. Her husband works night shift and she gets lonely so sometimes I drop in to say hi and we both swear we'll only talk an hour to one another but it always ends up being two or three.
We've been friends pretty much since I came here to go to school, and have been around for a couple different dramas in each others lives. We've seen each other cry, laugh, go through life-changing events, etc. I'll admit she drives me crazy sometimes and I also know the same can be said of me from her perspective. However, when we worked in the Cafeteria we were often mistaken for the other, as we're both about the same height, have the same hair color, both have an Eastern-European look, temper, and have strong opinions that we voice more than we probably should.
She's far more girly than I am, though, and currently owns more pink things than I probably ever will in my entire life.
And I can be a little more earthy than her, and will borrow and watch her husbands war movies and discuss disguisting missiological dietary experiences with him while she turns green and tells us we are nasty people ;-)
I've already told you about my Didi.
And then there's my Cameroonian friend I've written of before, who pushes me beyond what I think I can do when we exercise together and constantly exhorts me to grow more godly than I currently am, to guard my reputation in an appropriate manner and laughs louder and more exuberantly than I can. I've received more beauty products from her than I ever thought I would own and learned more about self care than I thought possible and overall have learned how to be far more feminine than my farm-girl self would have allowed for. I would never, though, describe her as girly. Her femininity has a distinct flavor to it that I guess comes from her heritage of African nobility. Its that grace that leopards have; smooth, subtle, and while beautiful has a strong undercurrent that can become dangerous when needed as soft when allowable.
My most favorite memories of praying, bar none, are with her. I am convicted, encouraged, and awed every time, be it in a group setting or one-on-one. She's gotten me through some of the toughest times I've been through and somehow loved me the more because of it.
Then there's my two room mates, from the same people group in India but different tribes, and as different as night and day but still so similar sometimes. Both fashionably astute and deft in the kitchen, we've learned with and from each other. They've helped me overcome my phobia of Curry and chili powder, and encourage me to hone in my skills of subtlety.

And it struck me the other day that these awesome people and I are in a transitory place in life; college and seminary isn't someplace you settle. At least, not long-term. And one day we'll all go our separate directions, and while we may visit the various locations on planet Earth God has called us, we won't be all gathered together again until we meet again in Heaven.
Which is a bitter sweet thought.
But its interesting how old friendships have also changed and deepend with time, even though we are far apart. My friends from Hungary and Romania and I still keep in touch, and with all the new technological developments its been fun. Not the same of course, but we are still able to update one another on important life events and join in prayer together.

And family is always there. Despite chaos, life changes, tragedy, joy, pain, love, loss, abundant grace, family is still there. Which is awesome how God has orchestrated familial ties to work like that.