Dear Jonathan...

I am running behind (again), but here is my week-late post to celebrate Jonathan's graduation and the friendship we share.

Dear Jonathan...

YOU DID IT!!!! (Even though you wondered if the day would ever come.) I knew it would.
We've had a crazy ride of friendship. And even though it began before this day...it kind of began in earnest right around this time. You were there to celebrate my 10 years of work as a financial aid counselor. I like to think you showed up because I'm such a rockin' counselor. It was really because I offered you food. But let me live in my delusion.

You and I have had a LOT of fun...remember the night I helped you with your school project and we did a tour-de-Marion to take pictures of churches? You should be glad THIS is the picture I chose to post. Not the zoom-in of the sign. :)

Not gonna lie. Still a little jealous that you got to sing with David Phelps.

But you didn't get to sing Nessun Dorrrrrrrrma with him. Just sayin'.

Thank you for dragging me out of my house for McGee's launch last year. You have no idea how much I did NOT want to do anything but sit at home and cry that night. But God had a word for me on that lake. I'm glad you made me go hear it.

Yeah...just another day in the life of Jonathan...sittin' behind Bill and Gloria. Show off.

1. Thank you for being such a safe boat driver. 2. I remember this day. Your heart was breaking. I'm so proud of you for how you pushed through that time with a smile and faced what God asked of you. Seriously. Proud.

What was this? Your ninth lemon-shake up of the week? 1) How do you stay skinny? Those things are 50% sugar! 2.) How do you still have a stomach? Those things are 50% citric acid!

I remember this night too. I got sick from improper nutrition and overheating. (Imagine that...on both counts!) Thanks for being understanding. You're very good at that.

You have your very own Jesus stick. Welcome to the club. :)

I've never met anyone who loves the fair more than you do. Thanks for going with Rachel and me...another time you helped make a sad week better. You're pretty good at that, you know?

My first and only game of corn hole. Remember how we were halfway through the game before I knew I was on your team instead of Katy's? I'm sorry I made us lose.

You know, I'm not bitter or anything, but seriously? A gravel road? I know, I know. Your GPS got us there and that's all that matters. But seriously. GRAVEL??

From the day of shopping at the flea market. You know what I remember about this day? (And I won't ever forget it.) I remember walking to the car with you (before you got me not-quite-lost on that gravel road, not that I would bring that up again so soon) and telling you that I wasn't worth anything because Isaac left me. And if I'd been worth something, he would have stayed. And I remember you stopped me right there in the parking lot and very sternly told me that wasn't true...and that you knew I didn't believe it...couldn't believe it right then. But you were going to believe it for me until I could do so for myself. Thank you.

A true appreciator of dessert. :)

You were the first person to buy my book. I love that!

Another thing I'm not bitter about is this blessed jet ski you threw me off of, ruining my hair day and causing me to inhale things I don't even want to think about. And then you believed me when I said I was fine. I WAS NOT FINE!!!!!

In the desert, I never wanted to leave home. But you made me leave, and that was the best thing for me. Thanks for inviting me to the lake, understanding when I needed large quantities of journaling time, making coffee for me, and even coming to find me to make sure I was okay when I'd disappear to cry.

Don't ever take me through the tunnel of spiders again. Unless you're trying to kill me. And then this is a surefire method.

I'm sure you're still very proud of the day you coerced me out of the boat and into the lake. For the record, I do prefer this method to being thrown in off a jet ski.

Ahh memories....each of us exercising our gifts. You behind the boat...me behind the camera.

And of course, topping the list of many things you've taught me...the art of grilling. You're still way better, but I'm learning!

Jonathan, I never could have survived 2010 without you. Thank you for hurting with me (sometimes because you were just hurting for you and we could hurt simultaneously, but sometimes you hurt FOR me and I appreciated that too), for dragging me out of my house, for giving me occasions to put in a scrapbook when all I would have done was sit at home and cry, for encouraging me, for telling me I mattered, and for making me laugh. (Even when it was at my own expense.)

Don't forget what I told you that God revealed to me that day on the prayer path. He's raising you up for extraordinary things. You go out and be a mighty man for Him!! I'm so proud of you.