Old Friends

This past weekend we had the blessing of traveling to northern California (all four of us!) for the wedding of a dear friend from college. The trip was fantastic and really made me thankful for the way God sovereignly places people in our lives, and for the unique fellowship that exists between brothers ans sisters in Christ! We were able to spend time with people who have shared some different seasons of life with us; partnered with us and impacted us in one way or another.



Jacob Schwarze and his beautiful bride Olya!! Jake and Todd and I sang in Majesty together in college and made our first trips to Russia with one another. He was in our wedding, and it was exciting to be a part of his! Jake and Olya are a perfect match and I am so thankful for the way God brought them together. They will make their new home in Moscow.



Sergei Omelcheenko is a man Todd and I spent only a month with, but he had quite an impact on us and became a real friend. As our translator when we traveled to Ukraine and Russia in 2001, he was our lifeline! More than that, He demonstrated consistent Christlikeness and was a constant servant, showing preference for others and considering others as more important than himself. Sergei translated at Jake and Olya's wedding & reception, and Todd and I were thrilled to be able to catch up with him and introduce him to our children!



The wedding was a little bit of a reunion with several friends from college, like Marshall and Bekah Walters. It was neat to catch up and hear what God is doing in the lives of others!



We spent the day Sunday with some very special people, Kevin and Rebecca Boesler and their kids. Kevin and Todd were on staff together at our former church in California, and the Boeslers shared in our days of dating, engagement, and newlywed-ness! Their oldest son Caleb was my first piano student in Tehachapi...it was so fun to hear him play for me again! Eleanor enjoyed playing with 2-year-old Anna, as you can see. We had a day of sweet fellowship!