Laiken Marie
I got off the plane, expectant, nervous, and ready to meet my squad for a week of training camp for the World Race. I sat for a few hours in the terminal, found my friend Jessie who is on K Squad and after a while, our stomachs began to growl! We had such great conversation that we forgot to eat lunch. A group of us walked to T.G.I. Fridays in the Atlanta Airport for a quick bite. My phone buzzed: one of my squadmates landed! I kept my eyes peeled for my squadmate, I could hardly contain my excitement. A few minutes later, I saw a huge red backpack walk around the corner.
We had some options of what to do night five of Training Camp. Our options were to hang out with our squad on the upper or lower deck of a building by our campsite OR go to bed. Knowing myself, I chose to go to bed. It started to rain as I quickly walked back to my tent. It’s funny how my tent, a shelter made from tarp and standing with two poles, was one of my favorite places for a sense of ‘home’ during training camp. I heard footsteps approaching. Moved with curiosity, I unzipped my tent to see who it was. I shouted, “Laiken!” She jumped, and we talked through our tent walls for the rest of the evening. Most of our conversations sounded like, “Laiken, are you sleeping?” Her reply was always, “No.” It was a very memorable night.
Spending the last four months living with Laiken has taught me so much about the Lord’s gentle strength. Her actions speak volumes and her words, carefully constructed and thought out, are intentional and wise.
We sing Relient K, have entire conversations through facial expressions, watch tons of movies, and laugh so hard that we cry. There are some people you meet in life who are simply easy to be around. Their presence in itself is comforting and that is one of my favorite characteristics of Laiken. She is a gentle comforter.
The Lord has blessed me with a friend who is just a weird as I am to do this crazy journey with.
#CLAIKEN
What I’ve been reading lately :
Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
