There is so much emotion wrapped up in lighting this beautiful, intricately designed, metal, Moroccan lantern. It is one of my own lanterns, found at TJMaxx, on clearance, and is on my back porch near the door, with a host of other lanterns that I enjoy lighting when company comes.
I could’ve never dreamed, not imagined, the group of young women that showed up at my house almost one year ago, on a Friday night. It was The.Very.Week. Victoria moved to China. To think that I did not know most of them one year ago, totally amazes me. They came for a Bible study in my living room; but, I was then who was blessed by the community they extended, and then expanded. I was a mama in my nest, missing my China Doll who had just flown to Shijiazhuang for an amazing adventure to live, and teach school there. These precious young ladies, that I affectionately called my *Friday Night Lights* included me in their lives beyond the living room.
Friendships formed, and they invited me to do life with them. They are young women, not close to me in age at all. We have done some fun and life-giving activities, laughed-fit-to-holler, stood shoulder-to-shoulder in heartache and sorrow, and we are looking forward to, praying, and believing, for a bright tomorrow.
There is beauty on my back porch. I pray you find beauty on the porch of your life this weekend. I pray that you have people surrounding you that bring light to dark places.
I usually say to look up; but, in this case, even if you are looking down, there is beauty all around us.
Happy weekend, friends.