I don’t know that I have the words for what transpired Friday night to Saturday morning. I’m still processing the beauty of it all. I know we’ll be seeing fruit for weeks, months, years to come. All because of one gal’s huge heart for God and people.

Mary Kate is our pastor’s assistant at church and one of my good friends. She’s sweet and beautiful and funny and huggy, and I just love her to death.

On Friday night, she had a slumber party. (By the way, MK is 27 and married.) Her wonderful, darling friend (and mine), Jen (25), acted as her partner-in-crime/co-host. Three high school girls from our church (Julia, Kate, Kelly) came along to help.

The other nine guests? 7-10 year-old girls. Allison, Ava, Carson, Chloe, Elisabeth, Kynley, Livi, Makenna, and Shantel.

The e-vite MK sent out said to bring your favorite stuffed animal, pillow and blanket, your Bible, a movie, girly stuff (make-up, hair things), and a picture of yourself. Livi and Ava were talking about it for weeks, and praise the Lord that they were feeling better a week before the party.

We dropped them off at 7pm, and at 8pm, I got a text from MK saying that the girls were having a blast and that they absolutely loved the high school girls.

They had pizza, made a craft, learned a song, talked about the Bible, watched A Little Princess, giggled and giggled and giggled, and who knows what else.

When we picked them up at 10am, they were beside themselves with excitement. They dragged me into the living room where all 13 girls (ages 7-27) performed an adorable song (with motions) about the Fruit of the Spirit.

Then my girls hugged the high school girls good-bye and MK and Jen and all their friends, and they just couldn’t stop grinning. As we were leaving, I heard one of the high-schoolers say to another, “And we’ll get to see them at church tomorrow! And we’ll get to say hi to them!” And sure enough, Ava ran across the foyer today to one of the girls, who lifted her up in her arms and swung her around. Livi was a little more hesitant, but I could tell she wanted to hug her too, so I nudged her over and she came back grinning all shy-like.

I can’t tell you what this means to me to have such amazing, godly female role models for my daughters. I could just bawl over it. It’s one thing to have your mom love you and love Jesus, but to have COOL people like MK and Jen loving you and loving Jesus? Wow. And HIGH-SCHOOLERS?? Do you know how UNBELIEVABLY COOL high-schoolers are when you’re 7 and 9? Don’t get me started.

And Kelly, Kate and Julia were thrilled to be able to play the role of role model. What a privilege. What an honor. What a responsibility. Think of how this changes your decision-making process when you realize that you have 9 young girls looking up to you, watching your every move?

I’m just flabbergasted. Still. Thank you, God, for this precious gift you gave me (us) this weekend.

Mary Kate, Jen, Kate, Kelly, Julia–thank you from the bottom of my heart! May God bless you for your unbelievable kindness! Love you all!