If you came to visit me

In just 3 weeks I will be leaving for our family vacation, and as you may know, one of the most anticipated parts of the trip will be stopping to meet with Debbie and her family on our way home. I find myself thinking about it more and more as the time gets nearer. I also find myself thinking how neat it would be to one day be able to play hostess for Debbie. Or Sara. Or Beth, or Marilee, or Denise, or...oh heck, any of you!

If you came to visit me, I would really make it worth your while.

I would make up a bed with the softest pillows and the comfy-est blankets for you.

I would make sure that I had your favourite tea or coffee and I would bake some of my best butter oatmeal cookies.

I'd pick up fresh flowers for the occasion.

I would give you the BIGGEST hug when you arrived.

I would let you have the best seat on the couch - at the end that doesn't sag.

I would take you to all the little towns and villages out here in "Mennonite Country" so you can see for yourself how pretty the farms are and how industrious the people are. I would take you to the farmer's market in nearby St. Jacobs and let you pick out some local products to sample. I'd take you up to St. Agatha - not too far away, maybe a 15 minute drive - to Kennedy's for an authentic Waterloo County meal of rolled ribs, sauerkraut, pig tails, hot potato salad and apple strudel for dessert.

I would give you a crash course in the liturgy (though you would be surprised to find how familiar the words are - it is composed of Scripture you know) and take you to church with me where we would join together with all the saints on earth and in heaven to give praise to the Lord Almighty, who saved us and made us Sisters.

I would keep you up late into the night talking to you, getting to know you inside and out and sharing my heart with you because some things just can't be shared online, though I am dying to share them.

I would let you sleep in and when you woke up we'd have a leisurely breakfast out on the porch. (Assuming, you know, it's not snowing *grin*)

I would take all kinds of pictures of you and I would make others (our spouses, our kids, random passers-by) take pictures of us making goofy faces and silly smiles!

I would take you to see the sights: Niagara Falls is barely a two hour drive and the CN Tower is an hour away in Toronto.

I would introduce to you to my mom, who is a lovely, lovely lady. You would like her.

I would play lots of praise and worship music; I would play it loud and we could make a joyful noise together!

I would kneel beside you in prayer.

If you came to visit me I would cherish every single second of our time together and when the time came for you to go I would cry and promise to come visit you.

Because that's what friends do.