It's a Small, Small World

Friday Flashback
Having friends is a wonderful thing!

One of the perks of growing up in California was the opportunity to visit Disneyland a few times. I loved the "It's a Small World" ride. This past week I've been remembering some of the neat experiences we've had that prove that's true. We really are all brothers and sisters.

Wayne's parents spent a couple of weeks in Israel this month. As Wayne was talking with them about their trip, they said, "Oh, by the way, the Firmages say hi." That was a surprise. It was amazing that these friends from California recognized his parents - who they briefly met once or twice 10-15 years ago. (It may help that Wayne and his dad look alike.) And it was even more amazing that they were half-way around the world on vacation at the same time!Wayne is working in Prague this week. Tonight he gets to meet up with good friends who are there serving a mission. (Here's a picture from their visit a year ago.) These friends are amazing people, and their daughter wrote a wonderful tribute to them that describes just how I remember them. You can read it here. We've missed having them around, so it'll be nice when they return.

There have been several times when we've recognized someone we hadn't seen in a while and that's always so much fun - Gary and Sally in the Orlando Temple, Bishop Cook stopping David in the hallway at BYU, our little miracle with President Packard a year ago, even Corey & Kelly, and Mark & Lauren showing up at church last Sunday. This is one of the reasons I love blogging. You never know when you're going to meet someone you haven't seen in a while (Hi Julie and Shayla and Andrea and Sarah and everyone else!). And you also get to make new friends.

To all our wonderful friends, here are some thoughts just for you. Have a terrific day!

Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.
- Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

A real friend is someone who knows all your faults, but likes you anyway.
- Charles M. Schulz

A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job.
- Anonymous

Memory builds a pathway that goes winding through the heart and keeps friends close together even though they are far apart.
- Anonymous