Friendly Answers to Prayers

Since moving to our new home, Olivia and Maia have been blessed with the sweetest new friends. I am telling you these girls are all so kind, they play well together and they are so polite. Before we moved, I told the girls a story from my life about my praying for an angel or a friend to come into my life after my very best friend moved away to college. I got my answer in the form of Kelly--a girl who moved into our ward. She is one of the dearest people in the world to me and a very tangible reminder that the Lord does answer our prayers--many times in the form of other people.

So, as we prepared to move and tearfully leave our friends 45 minutes away, I told the girls to pray for angels--their new friends. Olivia's very first angel came in the form of Ameillia. Right from the first day, she told Olivia that she would be her friend and she has stuck close to O ever since. Imagine our delight to realize that Ameillia not only lived right around the corner but that she also goes to church with us too. She has been the most darling, genuine friend to Olivia and a huge blessing. After time, more angel friends walked their way into our lives making it richer.

However, Olivia began to forget how much she had been given and so we decided to have a
"We are thankful for our new friends!" Valentine's Party. I did this so Olivia could see with her own eyes all of her recent and tangible blessings in the form of her friends. I am so glad we had that party! Olivia and Maia made out their lists of friends and we sent out our invitations telling them that we wanted to celebrate them and how grateful we are for them.

The girls arrived at 11am on Valentine's Day. Being up to my hips in party prep, no pictures of the decorations, gorgeous pink/red food or festive table were taken. But here is a random shot of some leftover decorations.

We had ham and cheese sandwiches made in my trusty heart shaped bread tin--the bread had red ribbons of food coloring swirled throughout. We had also strawberries, carrots (not quite red but close enough), pink lemonade, pretzels twists with heart shaped chocolate melted on it topped with red M&M's and red velvet cupcakes with crushed peppermint sprinkled atop cream cheese frosting.

Here are remnants of those cupcakes on Michaela's face. She liked them.

Then the girls played for a bit, then we did a foam heart valentine craft and did a gift exchange. The girls really enjoyed themself--we did get a picture of that.

They smiled.

They made silly faces.

And some of us cried to see them go.

Thanks for being an answer to our prayers, girls. We love you dearly.