Keeping Up With the Joneses

"One secret of life is that the reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day. Another secret is that laughter is carbonated holiness." Anne Lammott

"The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are." C.S. Lewis

This is Holly, or Mama Holly as my family lovingly refers to her.

Holly and I met in 1994. We were acquainted through Young Life (she was on the committee, Michael and I were leaders), and through the preschool her children (Nicole and Taylor) attended, which I taught at. And that was it, we were just acquaintances.

In the summer of 95' I had been living with a friend who I love, but some people just shouldn't live together :-). I prayed one summer Sunday that God would provide me with another home. The next Tuesday Holly approached me and said, "I have been praying for someone to come live with us, and you came to mind. I want you to come live with us." The following Sunday I moved in. After moving in I met her hubby Dan and their almost 16yr old daughter Erika (I mention this because I think it is kinda crazy that I had never met Dan or Erika before this- I should also mention that God provided another roommate for my friend).


In hindsight I see that God was meeting a need for me. I was a 21 year old girl, almost engaged, and desperately in need of a mother. I needed a mom to hear and see my hurts, then walk me through them. I needed someone to show me what loving your children first looked like, what staying looked like, what making a house a home looked like. I needed a mom to tell me I was more, and could be more, and would be more. Holly did this everyday. She does this everyday. She adopted me as her daughter, made her family my family, makes my family her family, and even after 12 years, she is committed to me, as if I am her very own... (tears), I feel as if I am. She is my God- Mommy.

Holly is always smiling, even when knocked down, she is smiling. She laughs at herself, and doesn't take herself too seriously. She is always hoping. She is always learning. She is passionate, she is compassionate, generous, considerate, and tender. She lovingly wants people to know the Way, Truth, and Life. She takes Jesus and people seriously.