An Inspired Artist and Inspirational Friends

L-- is in the habit of taking pictures. She holds her hands to her face and tells us to smile. She sees something of inspiration and pulls out her camera, holds her hands to her face and says click! We had the pleasure of hosting good friends Karoline and Andrea as guests in our home this week, and L-- particularly enjoyed their company. Each of them brought out wonderful sides of her. One afternoon, L-- was showing Karoline the movie out her window. L-- enjoys bringing the remote control into her room, sitting on her red chair and watching the drama taking place out her I-Max sized windows. This particular afternoon, the drama involved zoo animals and she began to take pictures. Karoline pulled out her digital camera and handed it to L--, so she could capture the zoo animals in real digital media. Below is her artwork.





Often an outsider can bring out a person's gifts. L-- and S-- both shone in Karoline and Andrea's warm presence. Both are gifted teachers who felt quite comfortable relating to children in a very personable way. Karoline encouraged L-- to think and act on her creative instincts, reading a beautiful picture book with her, embarking on imaginary journeys together to Beijing and Hong Kong, and taking real photos of the zoo outside her window. Andrea built her independence, enjoying time together without Mom around either on walks or just talking in her room.

I enjoyed their place in our home as well. Tonight the dinner table felt empty and the after-bedtime home feels too quiet. Karoline and I met in Sunday School in 4th grade, and were best friends by 7th grade. We shared our dreams, our humiliations, our youth group and our imaginations. We visited each other during college. She stood next to me at my wedding, and we've stood together at friends' weddings since. And this week I realized how much I've missed her.

No doubt the best friends are those with whom a gap of time has no impact. It doesn't matter how many days, months or years since we last spoke. I can share as much with her now as I could in 7th grade - in fact, surely more. And what a blessing to live so far away that we are forced to spend a week together if any time at all.