Remember when I said that I would be sharing what I learned from Tiffany's posts about marriage? Well,I am still working on it. It was a lot to digest and I don't want to right up a post that I haven't really thought about. So I thought I would share something things about Tiffany and her family. {I see you rolling your eyes Tiffany...]
They have been a huge part of my life for the past 6 years. I met Tiffany and her husband Jim atCamp BaYouCa. At the time, Jim was working on the executive staff and I was an errand girl. To be perfectly honest, I was terrified of Jim. Now that I know him, I am not sure what the problem was. I remember Tiffany with her pregnant belly and thinking how adorable she looked. It wasn't until after their daughter, Cadi, was born that I really got to know them.
Some people can remember the exact day that it happened that an ordinary person became their friend for life. I cannot remember that time for this family. I don't remember sitting down and having one talk or one event that really brought us closer together. I think it was just time that sealed our friendship. After Cadi was born, that first summer, I would take her on walks so Tiffany could work in the office and I would visit whenever I could, but it wasn't like I was calling them family...yet.
The summers run together in my mind and it is hard to separate them. There was the one summer that Cadi and I spent every day in the pool together. Little did we know that that would be a frequent habit of ours. I would show her some swimming stuff but mostly we would just play.
I believe it was those hours that Cadi and I spent in the pool that I really fell in love with Tiffany and her family. We would just sit and chat about the most random things but it always made encouraged me. Shorter conversations turned to longer conversations and before you know it we had a connection. Summer after summer, we would all return to camp and each year we would strengthen our friendship.
There are so many memories that I could share with you but it would take forever. I will highlight a few for you. I vividly remember when Cadi finally learned how to swim. She could jump in and swim to the ladder without any help. I remember teaching the hours we all spent at the BYC Cafe trying to figure out how to make the perfect iced coffee. There was the time I was down stairs reading Cadi a book when Tiffany's water broke for Scotty. There was the 15 mile hike Jim took the staff on and Tiffany's sweet, encouraging words about how it "wouldn't be much longer..." {lies..} I remember countless hours making hundreds of cinnamon rolls with the them. I can remember the day that I told Jim that my mom was getting her second divorce and not understanding why Jim hugged me and walked away until a few years later when he explained in a sermon that my story broke his heart. There was that trip to Virginia for Jim's sister's wedding. I remember the day Tiffany called me to tell me that they were going to adopt. {Friday morning at 9AM, I remember the chair I was in} Still very fresh in my mind, is the day they brought Jamesy home. I was 15 minutes early to the airport and just stared at the gate waiting for them to walk through. I remember the emotion that I felt as I saw Jamesy for the first time in their arms. There are countless babysitting and sleep over stories that could be shared but will save for myself.
This family is my family. At some point in time, they went from the Darling's that I knew from camp to the Darling's that I love and cherish. They are my second family. Cadi is my sister. Scotty and Jamesy are my brothers. Even as I write this, I am looking forward to tomorrow when I get to spend the day with them. I look forward to Cadi being my flower girl in my wedding in two weeks. I look forward to hearing Jim's charge to the couple at the wedding. Honestly, I just look forward to a lifetime friendship with them.
This is Cadi and I. I have no idea when this picture was taken or what we were doing. I think she wanted to match me by wearing a headband and wearing pink!
This is Scotty and I. He was so little in this picture but so adorable!
I do not have a picture of Jamesy and I. Maybe that will change tomorrow!
I pray that everyone is able to find that special family that means the world to them. It really is a gift from God!
Enjoy your weekend!
