5 ways to honor and grow friendship

4/21/2017

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El Rancho Grande Bend Oregon

An invitation to spend the day in Bend, Oregon
Sometimes, in our busy lives, we can lose sight of the honor received by being invited to spend the day in company with a dear friend. No purpose except to share a long drive so they can return, 22 months granddaughter to her parents which are flying in from a much-needed vacation in Kaui Hawaii. All that is required is my company. What a privilege it is. Yesterday was such a day. Spring time in Oregon, especially crossing over the mountain pass you are guaranteed to experience a vast collection of weather manifestations. We started overcast, went to fresh snow on the trees and slush on the roads, to bright Eastern Oregon sunshine, back across, snow in the mountains, roads clear, over the top, hard rain into the Willamette Valley.
It has been awhile since I spent any particular time in the company of small children. As a mom of four adult boys, I forget how busy and even happy noise is loud and distracting. Currently, my married kids aren't making any plans for me becoming a Grandmother.

El Rancho Grande
My second time to fill our craving for Mexican food. My first visit was during the Redmond fair with my son who was a vendor. I enjoyed it then so when my friend and I were choosing our lunch location and asked her Bend kids. I realized I had been there before. Yes, an excellent place. Careful the salsa is well seasoned. They serve white meat chicken which many Mexican restaurants do not. Service was almost, to prompt, then we wanted to lollygag and enjoy each others company. I will return again.

As Reviewed on Trip Advisor

How fortunate I am to spend several hours sharing, listening, meeting her adult kids and then spending a relaxing lunch, @ El Rancho Grande, a few shops and back home to Corvallis.
Bend is transient type town attracting vacationers, extreme sportsman, retirees, and a collection of people who crave the drier climate and the sun.
I have known my friend for almost ten years, with the relationship growing into an intimate one within the last two.

Friendship 5 points to ponder:

Intimacy doesn't come without investment(a calendar with open or maneuverable appointments, express quality instead of quantity)
Heart knowledge is a gift to be kept confidential (Deep things will never be shared, in shallow waters)
Experiencing and learning are two different things (Learning can result in many venues, Experience leaves a witness)
Listening says more than word(Doors of communication are opened by ringing the doorbell and waiting for the answer)
Thankfulness is seed towards a greater harvest (keeping the weeds out of the garden is the responsibility of the gardener)

We all have many things on our Ta-Do list. Tho' I will never remember all the times of; pay bills, mowing the lawn, making beds, doing laundry, writing month end reports, organizing paperwork. I will bear in mind that keeping these things in good order and upkeep gives me freedom to do them on a different day.

Invest in the people God has given to influence your life. And you might be related to some of them.