Friends

She created the sweetest tribute to Daniel over on her page. She has some of the greatest photos of his time in Lexington with "the gang." Daniel has been so fortunate to share the last few months with one of the sweetest groups of "kids/Christians" on the face of the planet.

When he first began to tell me that he wanted to move to Kentucky, I'll admit I was not too keen on the idea. After all, I had heard the horror stories from many other mothers about how their kids left home, moved to some college town, and eventually fell into all kinds of sinful behavior and drifted away from the Lord. At some point, though, you have to hope that you have instilled the right things in them so that they can stand up to temptations on their own, and sometimes, we as moms and dads can not really tell a young man or woman that they can't grow up and move out! After all, they are 18 or 19 or 20.

After much prayer and discussion, and when a mother's tears failed to sway his thinking, Daniel decided that he wanted to cast his lot with three other Christian young men living in a house in Lexington. He went up and visited to make sure that it was really what he wanted, and he came home elated and ready to move on up there! It was a great comfort to me to know that all three young men were Christians, and at least they would all hopefully be helping each other towards a common goal (heaven)!

I was still not sure it was going to work. After all, Dan would have to get a job amd get himself everywhere without the watchful eye of Mom, who always had watched the clock for him and gotten him where he needed to be on time. Then, to top it all off, his driving experience had been limited to Tiny Town, Tennessee. I did not see how he would keep from being instantly killed in Lexington! :)

Somehow, believe it or not, he has managed to stay employed at one place the entire time he has been up there--without his mother! Imagine that! Either he has gotten much better at setting an alarm, or he is paying his roommates to get him up on time!




When we have had chances to visit with the "Old Manse" boys, it does not take long to see how much fun they have together and how much they care for one another. They are quite an animated group, and they manage to pull some pretty funny pranks on each other very often, it seems. Just look at the refrigerator picture in [her|sarahpet] pics for proof of their warped humor.) Late night runs to Taco Bell, Krogers, and to anyplace else that had food in the middle of the night gave occasion for some good old fashioned fun and frolic. I have heard rumors that making Big K cola bombs in the cul-de-sac provided many nights of hilarious science experiments!





(Tony manages to put every blanket in the house on the sleeping Jeremy, like every good roomie would do!)



It's probably hard for all of these young folks to know, but these are most likely some of the best days of their lives. Starving college students probably would not agree, but kids, when you look back on your lives, the friendships you have at this age will be some of the sweetest of your life. Memories you are making now will stay with you until you are very old, and they will bring a smile to your lips when you recall the closeness you have shared.

Daniel knew when he moved in that come August, another friend would arrive to take his place, and he would move somewhere else. For a while, he thought that somewhere would be another place in Lexington. However, God seems to have a use for him back home which we do not fully understand yet. Thankfully, Dan is the type of boy who looks to God for guidance and trys to listen and yield his life in whatever way God wants to use him. When things started coming together in Tennessee, and the "lease" was running out, we began to think that his address might be changing.

We all know that time and distance prevent us from seeing those we love quite often. But time and distance cannot restrict love, and the love Daniel has for all of you Lexingtonians and Louivillians and residents of all the other neighboring KY cities will not be hampered by a little thing like a state line. Trust that his affection for you will transcend all earthly limits, and that your lights will burn brightly in his heart forever.



I can truly say that it has been OUR priviledge to get to meet and know and love all of you. I doubt you have seen the last of the great Chipotle-eating Barista! I hope that in the coming days, when you think of our big, gentle giant, who has probably inadvertantly adjusted all of your spines with one of his "bear hugs," that you will hear the old John Denver song, expressed so beautifully in these words, playing in your hearts:

"What a friend we have in time
Gives us children, makes us wine
Tells us what to take or leave behind

And the gifts of growing old
Are the stories to be told
Of the feelings more precious than gold

Friends I will remember you, think of you
Pray for you
And when another day is through
I'll still be friends with you...."




"Friends"