I had never been to Alabama before, that is, until my dad moved to Birmingham after my parents divorce. I was in high school at the time, and Alabama was a world apart from my small Ohio hometown. I got to see a lot of the world through visiting my dad when I was young. He lived in Florida, California, New York, Rhode Island and Alabama. And that was just during my teenage years. As a project engineer and he went where the work was.
As his daughter, my heart went where he was.
My experience visiting Alabama involved falling in love with the southern accent and the kindness of strangers that seemed to abound at every turn. I remember going to the grocery store and asking someone where something was, and the sweet lady walked me right to the item, making sure I found my dad when I was done as well.
I know no state is perfect, and though my home is in Ohio, I have a sweet, precious place in my heart for Alabama. You see, Alabama gave me wonderful memories of precious time spent with my dad, and Alabama gave my some of our dearest friends this side of Heaven - the Spears family.
It all began when we met Allie.
We met Allie the year our oldest daughter, Hannah, was going from fifth grade into sixth grade. She was going to be a new student at Dalton Intermediate having only been in Ohio for a couple of years, coming from Kidron Elementary to Dalton Intermediate. Hannah was looking for friends to share in the new adventure of junior high, and that is when she met Allie. A mutual friend introduced the two girls, and they hit it off immediately.
As in most cases, our adult friendships piggy-back a lot on the friendships of our children. Maybe thats because we simply dont have enough time to make friends on our own. Maybe thats because we have so much in common to begin with. Either way, we met Allies family soon after the girls became friends, and so began a new journey in our lives.
Allies parents, Jim and Ann, welcomed us into their lives with open arms. Their sweet, southern accent made me feel right at home and reminded me of the time I spent in Alabama many years ago. Being able to make the best sweet tea in the world has propelled Ann to be one of my favorite people to hang out with. Allies older sister, Autumn, has become a wonderful mentor for my girls, teaching them about how to be a young lady living for Christ. Autumn has even become the girls personal hair dresser when they get ready for homecoming dances.
We have all grown to adore the Spears family. They are kind, honest, hard-working and giving. Ann is the first person to bring my family a meal when I am under the weather. Jim jumps in and mentors Mike as a brother in Christ.
We have only known them for five years, but it seems like we have known them for a lifetime and I cant imagine our lives without them.
I guess I owe it all to Alabama.
I may never see the entire world, nor have a banjo on my knee, but my heart gets to travel south every time I hang out with the Spears family.
And the sweet tea makes it even sweeter.
