My weekend is almost here! Tomorrow starts my four day weekend and road trip to Arkansas. One of my close friends (from my Dillard’s days) is getting married this weekend to her boyfriend of four years. We were all waiting for this day to come and I couldn’t be happier for her!
It is always a fun and exciting time when I have the opportunity to visit Hot Springs, AR and see my friends and family there. I attended college in Hot Springs for two years and then spent an additional summer living there with a wonderful family that I now claim as my own. I honestly do not know what I would have done without the Brown family. They took me in when I needed a place to stay and have always treated me like one of their own. Every time I go back to Hot Springs, I stay with my “family” the Browns.
Lagena, (mom) is one of the most outgoing, friendly, and sweetest people you will ever meet. I met her my second week of work at Dillard’s and she invited me to go have lunch with her, and then she paid for it! Who does that?! She didn’t even know me! I truly believe she is one of those people who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, regardless of whether she knew you or not. She was also the one who made me breakfast in bed for the first time ever 🙂 Can you say “spoiled much”? haha.
Gary, (dad) agreed to let me move in that summer without even knowing me. Lagena offered me a place to stay and assured me that Gary would be fine with it. I guess she was right! He had already agreed to let me move in and then met me just a week before the move actually happened. He made me feel like I was one of their children and was always kind, thoughtful, and caring. There were many times when he would make me breakfast, buy me lunch, and bring me dinner while I was watching TV! I felt completely spoiled rotten! I realized that he loved taking care of people and was just as giving as his amazing wife.
I’ll never forget Gary saying a prayer one Sunday morning and thanking God for allowing me to stay with them, and for the blessing I was to them. I was literally shocked speechless and moved to tears! Here I was, living in their house, eating their food, using their electricity, etc; yet I was a blessing?
This family literally always makes me feel so loved, appreciated, special, and very spoiled when I visit them. 🙂 They realize that I have faults and failures, but they love me anyway. Trust me, I have my fair share of issues and character flaws, but they love me for who I am. The faith they have in me and the love they show me encourages me and makes me strive to be a better person. They make me WANT to be a blessing to others and demonstrate the same love and care that I have been so graciously shown. I am a better person because of the values and love they have shown me and I will continue to live my life in a way that will honor God first of all, but also to make them proud.
I am so excited to see them tomorrow and I will definitely write about my trip when I return. Have a great weekend everyone!