religion, friends, family FUN!

I had a great 4th of July weekend! I caught a little cold, and I think i'm on the back end of that now thank God!

Today I caught up with a friend of mine from 1999, WOW 11 years ago was when we first met. We were both staff at Camp Prairie Schooner in KC MO. We worked together for about 4 years, every summer. We always had a good time, we learned a lot, we played hard, and grew close. She is Muslim. I am Christian. I never thought about that large difference too much. I respected her for the great job she did as a Girl Scout Camp Leader. I respected and still respect her for who she is as a Muslim.

I remember asking her a lot of questions as we worked together about her religion, but I never thought any differently about her. I enjoyed her friendship and I have enjoyed being mothers together, although we rarely see each other we catch up on Facebook!

September 11th 2001 changed all of that, not for me, but for what seems like everyone else!

As I enjoyed catching up with her, meeting her two beautiful daughters, and just enjoying playing with all the kids today, (we went to Paradise Park in Lees Summit) I realized that people looked at her differently for who she was, she was just being a mom. Although I didn't notice it, I bet, people looked at me a bit differently today too because we were together, she obviously Muslim from her dress, me, obviously not because of my dress, but we were chatting, and laughing and playing with our kids together, just like everyone else there, I did not, and do not discriminate against anybody who is different than myself, and I enjoy every opportunity I get to learn about others and their religion and life styles. I can only imagine how she gets looked at and talked about today and any day. I think its horrible how we can do that to people. People, who have hearts, and feelings, and families just like ours.

I love my friend, and I love that my Son had the opportunity to experience with someone from a different religion. I love that I got to meet two beautiful little girls who have a beautiful strong mom. When it all comes down to it, we are all God's beloved creation, and we should treat each other that way, all the time!

Here is a pic of all of us together! All of our kiddos including my niece are so little that they may not remember this, but, I hope we can continue to play together as Gods creation!!