Oh Columbus!!  Don’t tempt us.  Seriously, don’t.  We love you enough to toy with the notion of relocating. Now hang on though….lest anyone become offended, for the record, we said the same thing as we drove away from each of the cities we’ve been in…yes, St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis.  Seriously, you bloggy friends are all so wonderful!  No flattery involved.  Just truth.

Nathalie hosted the crew at her lovely home.  The gathering was supposed to be at a picnic shelter but the weather threatened and Nat graciously moved it to her home.  What a dear friend!!  She hosted us over night as well.  I told her sweet husband, “The kids are usually pretty well-behaved, however, by the sheer numbers, we land with a thud.”  He said a thud was okay.  We had a wonderful time with Nat and Tom and their three treasures.

There were some extra beautiful treats in Columbus.  Do you guys remember Pink??  We prayed for Pink over two years ago when she was sent home terminal with lung cancer. It was her third bout of cancer and it had wreaked it’s havoc on her.  If I remember right we even had a day of prayer for Pink.

But ya’ know, if you’ve read Rescuing Ruby you know what we think of man saying “there is no hope”…because Almighty God regularly defies man’s words.  And we contended that God could heal Pink!! He was not only able, it turns out He was right on board.  Pink has been declared cancer free and flew from San Antonio to Tina’s home in Michigan where Tina’s hubby drove them over to Ohio to meet Ruby!!

The really cool thing about Tina and Pink’s friendship is that they met because back in 2009, not long after we lost the home to a fire, I decided to give away a Memorial Box.  Only thing is that I just couldn’t give away just one…I ended up searching for a total of 10, while on our pretend “RV” trip….and so Tina won one and Pink won one and they realized that they both lived in San Antonio…and because close friends…

What a delight to meet both of them -and share the joy of spending an evening hanging around together with all of Ruby’s other friends…

Pretty fun to hug another miracle, especially one who didn’t look like she would ever see most of 2013.

I regret I didn’t get a picture of Randi and I together.  That crazy chick drove to Indianapolis and then to Columbus and towing most of her family along (who are absolutely precious, I might add.)  Even her sweet husband.  I think we may have to call Randi a “groupie”.  Next stop Western New York Randi.  Hurry up, we’re waiting.

Another beautiful thrill was to have Amy meet Ruby.  Amy had been in Africa while Ruby was awaiting our arrival.  Amy had fed her a bottle and held her.  How loving of the Lord to allow us to thank her in person…

Ruby was at the top of her game and showed the crowd her magnificent Hide-n-Seek skills.  (Ya’ know – the girl who would never do anything…uh-huh, that one.)   She looked mighty beautiful too and completely loved meeting her peeps!!  Thank you Columbus, Lord willing, we’ll be back!!