Is it Monday, already?

Langston sleeps through his first park outing!

It was quite a busy weekend indeed!

First, on Friday afternoon, Karlyn and Langston had a park play-date with our friend Kira and her two sons Wesley and Owen. It was Langston's first trip to the park and from all accounts, a great time was had by all. Then on Friday evening, we said goodbye to another pair of friends, Heather and Dave, who were both accepted to seminary in Virgina. The next morning, we had lunch with another couple, Tripp and Elizabeth, who two years ago left Los Angeles for Napa wine country but returned this weekend to attend the wedding of our mutual friend Phil.


And finally, on Saturday afternoon, we attended the 50th wedding anniversary BBQ for Mom and Dad Harris, two of the kindest people this side of heaven.

Emerson once said, "Keep alive the fires of thought and all will go well." Though the same can be said of friendships, keeping alive the "fires of friendship" surely can be difficult. We didn't learn that lesson this weekend, but it was consistently reinforced. And as I reflect on the past 48 hours, two thoughts immediately come to mind: First, author Napolean Hill, who in his classic text, "Think and Grow Rich" simply, yet profoundly, reminds us that "there are no excuses." The second, my own father, who on several occasions hopped a plane in order to see an old friend and when in their shock they asked why he had come, he smiled said, "I was thinking about you!"

That was the great lesson of the weekend - that thought without action, like faith without works, is dead and leaves us mourning missed friendship opportunities. Yes it's true, we very often think about our friends, but it is also true that we have too often made excuses as to why we didn't see them. Well those days are gone, I'm happy to report! In fact, we were so motivated by this weekend, that we are getting together this Thursday at our house for dinner and a movie. Nothing fancy - some takeout, a DVD and lots of fun and laughter - guaranteed. By the way, you are all invited.