Special Friend's Birthday

Through the years I have been blessed to have 3 sisters who are my best friends; a daughter who is my best friend; and a best friend who is like a sister to me. My cup overflows!

Linda and I met through June's Bible study at Bakerstown Alliance, my church, over 25 years ago. Our Bible study had 18-25 women in it and as we studied some deep spiritual truths, we all bonded. I was pregnant with Jeremy and when he was born, Linda volunteered to have my baby shower. Our friendship has grown and blossomed ever since.

Through the years the two of us have had one-on-one Bible studies, prayer walks at North Park, and studies where we have mentored other women. We have burned up the phone lines with quick calls for "Please pray, Jim just smashed his fingers in the car door, we are on the way to the emergency room" to long calls to pass the time when our husbands worked late hours and we were stuck at home with the kids. Our kids took swimming lessons together at Mars Pool many moons ago, her daughter Dodee having a hard time graduating out of the Snoopy class.

While in my early 30's, I taught two of Linda's children in Sunday School. Jim was 16 and happens to share my birthday! Becky was 14 and is today a married mom of 2 and is who got me an interview at Verizon Wireless where we both still work.

Linda and I have been blessed to travel together to many, many places. When Dodee was a cheerleader, we chaperoned a cheerleading competition trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. Often we have gone on short trips to celebrate each other's birthdays: we've been to Hershey spa, Nemacolin Woodlands, Berkley Springs spa. The last two years we have travelled to Honduras to do mission work together. We both were thrilled when our daughters Becky and Beth formed a special bond on this trip.

So Saturday, to help Linda celebrate a big birthday, the four of us tried a newly opened nail salon for pedicures. Beverly Hills Nail salon is in Wexford, in the new shopping center near Oxford. I give the place two thumbs up! The pedicure chairs massage your body and recline, and they offer you a bottled water while you are being treated. The treatment itself was very relaxing as well. While your toes are drying, there is a bowl of candy to snack on. Scented lotion is nearby to put on your hands.

After pedicures we went over to Narcissi Winery with a basket of fruit, bread, cheese, and birthday cupcakes. With a bottle of wine to share we enjoyed listening to the live band and chilling with good friends.

Happy Birthday dear friend! You are a gem!