What my friend saw in Senator Hoeven’s office

My friend Lori had a chance to travel to D.C. this week with her daughter, who recently won a prestigious national award for her volunteer work. Lori has been a friend since college. We’ve been through a lot together, and I am grateful to God each day that we have remained connected through these years.

I was privileged to write a newspaper article about Lori’s kids and the amazing work they’ve done through donating their time and talents to feed the poor. Even now, I get goosebumps thinking of how they are carrying out Jesus’ work on earth, being his hands and feet. Even though Lori’s daughter, Lauren, deserves the accolades, as a fellow mother, I know that without Lori behind the scenes, making all this happen, they wouldn’t be in D.C. this week, receiving more honors, having a chance to volunteer in our nation’s capitol, and meeting prominent politicians.

I’d forgotten the dates of their visit, though, until receiving a text from Lori Tuesday morning: “Just sitting in Senator John Hoeven’s office and saw your book!!!” Above the text, this photo:

At first, I thought, oh, she must be in Bismarck. But then I realized, no, she’s in Washington! And wow, there’s my book!

A while later, another text: “You’re on Capitol Hill baby and didn’t even know it!” Ah, so fun and sweet. And it all gave me more chills, for several reasons.

One, I realized Lori and her family had reached their destination and the incredible journey they’ve been on the past months since learning about Lauren’s award. Find my article about this here. What a moment to celebrate! This is a life-changing kind of trip, I have no doubt, for Lauren and her whole family.

Two, what a thrill to see my book there in D.C. and know that Senator Hoeven chose it, above the many items he could have packed up and brought along to be displayed in his office at the captiol to remind him of home. I also love imagining the moment Lori looked over in that far-away place, hundreds of miles away, and saw the book I wrote. (Cue the “It’s a Small World After All” theme song…)

And three, next to it, what looks to be an eagle feather, a symbol of my growing-up years on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, where the eagle feather was and is still held sacred.

It’s been a decade since this little book was published, and all these years later, it is still making me smile.

Sadly, I learned just this week that the peace towers on the cover of that book are going to be taken down. There are stability issues causing consternation. Which means this book is going to be even more valuable in years to come. I do hope something else suitable to represent the International Peace Gardens straddling the line between the U.S. and Canada can be built in time.

Regardless, there are lots of reasons to be happy, to celebrate, to be grateful.

UPDATE: An article appeared today online here telling of Lauren’s activity in D.C., including her brush with Good Morning America host Robin Roberts.

Q4U: When have you found something that is a part of you that turns out to bless others?