Thankfulness

The Christian Cocktail Connection

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Philippians 1:3

 

I will never forget my grandparents’ first answering machine.  They simply couldn’t figure out how to get that fancy thing programed…

Pillars in the church and two of the greatest examples of faithful devotion to the Father I’ve ever had, my Pop and Grandma Louise have been an incredible gift to many.  But my grandfather’s easy chair was like an island.  Due to the circles of papers stacked around his feet, you nearly needed a life flight to reach him for a hug.  Articles he loved, missions he wanted to support, who knows what all was there, but this was his sacred (ever-expanding) ground.  And if anything went “missing”, poor grandma inevitably got the blame.

So when my uncle came to the answering-machine-rescue, he saw an opportunity.  And in a perfect imitation of Pop’s raspy voice, he recorded the following:

GEEZ, LOUISE!  What’d you do with the phone!?  You probably threw it away!  UGH, please leave a message.

For ages, that recording remained — they had no idea how to get rid of it!  It still makes me chuckle.  But, to be fair, this should be MY outgoing message.  While grandma was innocent, I actually DO throw things away all the time.  It’s part of my organizing, de-cluttering, family gene.  And as I’m preparing for this big move, my purging is at an all-time high.

But pitching a plastic garden slide isn’t the same as saying “auf Wiedersehen” to the wealth of friends I’ve come to love in Europe…

Let’s be honest, as a mom responsible for 2 small boys, plus a frequent traveler husband – I don’t get “out” much.  Yet it hasn’t mattered one bit, as I have the “CCC’s”…

(Yes, I’m an adult who formed a club – and then named it – with her girlfriends.)

We do lots of things together, but it’s the countless sleepovers we’ve had that are our true claim to fame.  From all over the city, they graciously come to my doorstep (even the one in Spain).  Then, with my little guys happily running around, we laugh, we cry, we dance, we feast — we take careful care of one another.

We are aptly named the “Christian Cocktail Connection” because we each love God with our whole heart, and also rather enjoy a good bottle of champagne.

I can be fully me with these ladies:

  • Liz  is in the midst of adopting 2 adorable kids from Tanzania.  She’s the crazy glue of the group.
  • G-Erin, not to be confused with Boy Aaron (Liz’s husband), is truly awesome and she’ll tell you that herself within a few moments of meeting her.
  • Julia, who we affectionately call “Hulio”, always brings clarity to our lives with a “50 possible approaches” perspective to any topic.
  • Sumaya is the tiniest (most fashionable) human I’ve ever known.  My 6 year old, Brenner, believes that Sumaya is his best friend and literally calls her “Sumayamybestfriend”.
  • Eva is our German, X-policeman, now teacher, award winning belly dancer.  Enough said.
  • Anna’s the youngest (sweetest and most gentle) in our crew, brings a breath of fresh air AND dates an awesome German 6′ 8″ guy who is somehow proudly more “American” than I am.

These girls have rescued me from certain painful isolation.  We are a motley crew of friends who, against all expectation, complement one another.

And this list just scratches the surface of the unlikely relationships I’ve formed here.  Friendships that have been forged through the commonality and intensity of living outside our comfort zone.

Munich has gifted us with two incredible god children, Paul and Clara.  And these precious kids have parents that I genuinely love like my own family.

There’s also my Women’s Bible Study group, which has been with me weekly for 4 years.  Those Thursday mornings have kept me on-track and in-check when I needed it most.  Seasons in my life are clearly marked by the faces of those women who prayed with me.

In the interest of staying “hip”, I have my YoungLife middle school girls, along with the insane sleepovers I’ve hosted for them over the past 10 years.  Nights where I pretended I’m not old and can be up till dawn, eat sugar like it’s air, paint wacky french manicures and play rounds of truth or dare that have us (literally) dancing in the street.  Toni and Frany (aka “the twins”) were just sweet 12 yr olds when I first met them.  Now they’re 22 and making movies with the likes of Kristen Stewart.  They’ve become my little sisters.

In the decade plus of living in Europe, I’ve carefully purchased many treasures…  I drink my latte every morning from the coffee mugs I’ve bought each year at Oktoberfest.  We have wine in crystal from Prague.  My walls are adorned with treasured photos taken in far corners of world.  Things I love.  But these aren’t what hold weighted value in my home.  My greatest collection is the people whose lives have purposefully and perfectly touched my own.

They are the papers that surround MY chair.  Stacks of cherished moments, placed as a collection of prized possessions all around my feet.  And I will carefully pull from them on the days I need a little help, inspiration, a belly laugh, or a reminder that our God is still in control.

I’ll take you with me.  Because pretty crystal is nice, but you, my friends, are the heirlooms I will proudly share with my children, future friends, and my ministry.  You are my inheritance.  You became my family.

And I just want to say, “Vielen Dank für alles.  Ich liebe euch so sehr”.

(Cue sappy music and roll the credits – America, I’m coming soon.)

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  • bobm943 March 16, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Your heart is lovely to behold! Thank you for sharing it with us…

  • Rachel March 16, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    What a beautiful tribute, love this. <3

  • sharlacrm March 16, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    “And how blessed all those in whom You live, whose lives become roads You travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn–ZION! God in full view!”

    Welcome home Heather! Godspeed!

  • Andrea March 16, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    You summed these ladies up quite nicely! I feel so lucky to have gotten to know you and the other CCC ladies!! Can’t wait for a USA sleep-over! 😉