My Friend, Amy

Those of you who know me from Cincinnati probably don't know my friend Amy Riep. I want you to meet her. Because I want everyone to meet her. Amy is my oldest and dearest friend. She and I grew up 2 doors apart and spent our childhood running across the Trimble's front yard to ring each other's doorbell. Our families moved onto the street about 6 months apart when we were 6 years old. That makes this a 25 year friendship. Wow. I like to imagine that our friendship might be the biggest reason that God steered both our families into the homes (where both sets of parents still live). Who knows but it's a nice thought. Here's a few reasons why I love her:

• Amy brought me to Jesus with her friendship. She wasn't there the moment I made that decision to receive Him but if not for her I would never have come to know Him so early in my life (16 yrs old).


• Amy gave me "The Alli Simpkins Bible" (as it is affectionately called for my maiden name embossed on the front cover). The spot I learned that I loved God's words.


• Amy is hilarious: witty, self-deprecating, with the most infectious laugh.


• Amy is honest and completely authentic - no pretense.


• Amy continues to feel familiar to me even after sometimes a year or longer of not seeing each other (when she decides to move to South Africa every now and then). This familiarity is GOD in her...she is always pursuing God and so am I. That keeps our friendship in Him and not completely dependent upon time/space/location.


• Amy is wise.


• Amy has huge faith.


• Amy has encouraged me at the most important times: I remember the phone call when I told her I was leaving P&G to go to work at Crossroads. She later told me it was a moment she knew I had given up pursuing the path of the world. I've never forgotten these words.

For Christmas I wish you all could receive the gift of Amy. But, alas, her blog will have to do: Expectant & Beyond (on my list to the left)...check it out sometime.

(And yes - that picture was taken almost 3 years ago...)