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Unexpected Friends.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Katie


Two of my closest friends are about twice as old as I am.

Despite the age difference, I love these two people. I met her first, when Katie was two months old, almost ten years ago. I knew almost instantly that she was someone I wanted to pattern my life after: ambitious and energetic, creative and feisty; street-smart and crafty and slightly devious, but Godly and walks more closely with the Lord than almost anyone I know.

At almost twice my age, she can work circles around me… and does. And THE MOST generous person… there is NO ONE who has come to her needing help who has left empty handed. I love that about her.

One of our first conversations we had was about the Bible Study we both attended ~ Bible Study Fellowship ~ which has been woven into the fabric of me since I first met Jesus at age 14 and began being a part of a discipleship group with five of my closest friends where we were taught Bible lessons based on BSF. I went to BSF myself for seven years ~ its amazing ~ so the fact that my friend attended BSF too was huge. I admired that about her, because BSF is no easy thing to do.

And then, I found out about her cancer story, and it gave me chills: diagnosed with cancer and given five months to live, she prayed, turned to God, and trusted Him to heal her… and HE DID. Everyone diagnosed at the same time died quickly, but God healed and saved her. Her life is a testimony to the power of God.

When Annie was diagnosed, I went straight to her for her wisdom and advice and she prayed and cried with me every time I needed her. She’s always been a source of wisdom and strength for me.

She’s attended my kids’ birthday parties, Katie’s baptism, and came to see Annie in the hospital the day she was born. She was the first friend I called when my world began to unravel two years ago. I knew she would know what to do. She is one of my ONLY friends who has known every sordid detail from the beginning, because I trust her: there is no question she’s a loyal friend.

It wasn’t long after I met her that I met her husband. He is in my top ten… no, top five… funniest people I know. We go to dinner often, the three of us, and he keeps us laughing the entire night. We’ll spend three hours at dinner listening to his stories and laughing until we cry. The same stories we’ve heard for the past ten years never get old because of the masterfully dry way he tells a story.

The last time we went to dinner at Mario’s I decided I needed to write down the funny one-liners that cracked me up so so that I could remember them and laugh later.
~~~~~
Very down to earth with ZERO pretense, he talked about meeting a doctor that day who introduced himself as “Dr. Larry Smith,” to which he replied, “Well, not around here you’re not; around here you’re just Larry.”

About my dating life he advised me to hold out for the best, saying, “Let the bad ones go. They’re just like buses; there’ll be another one in thirty minutes.”

When the musician stepped onto the stage, he said, “Oh Lord. Its time to go. He’s greasing up the horns and greasing up his lips. I still have my hearing and don’t want to lose it because of some d*mned old horns.”

We talked about what he would do if his wife died first, and he informed us he’d find a much younger woman. “I’d have a real show dog,” he said.

And there were others — lots and lots of others — but you really probably had to be there to get the humor.
~~~~~
I’m so grateful to have these two friends. I’m grateful that I get to hear about and learn from their unbelievable life experiences. They’re almost like a second set of parents for me… but not really. They’re much too fun to be compared to parents (no offense, mom and dad). They’re loyal friends like no other, and I’m unbelievably grateful that God put them in my life.

I want to be just like them when I grow up.

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  1. The Tiny Team says

    June 28, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    That&#39;s so awesome. I think the friends of mine who poured the most wisdom into me, and who&#39;s fringerprints I see in my life daily are those who are older than me, and much wiser! I remember that I used to be pray to be more like them!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Amy

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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