What I'm learning through my feeble attempts at adult relationship

Last year my granddaughter’s best friend was three-year-old Braden, because he lived next door and had a trampoline. Braden liked Caroline because, at four, she was someone other than his baby brother.

Except for the occasional meltdown when one or both of them were tired, their friendship worked well. Then Braden moved away, Connor moved in, and Caroline has a new best friend.

Why can’t adult friendships be that easy?

Nancy Kennedy is the religion editor/feature writer for the Citrus County Chronicle, a daily newspaper in Crystal River, Florida. She also writes Grace Notes, a weekly faith column that runs in about a dozen newspapers. A retreat speaker and book author (whose credits include Girl on a Swing, Lipstick Grace, and When He Doesn’t Believe), Nancy’s also a member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association and has appeared on radio programs such as Family Life Today and Renewing the Heart. Nancy’s been married to Barry since 1975, and they have two daughters, Alison and Laura, and a granddaughter, Caroline. A lifetime member of Weight Watchers, Nancy loves watching lizards play on her front walk, eating sushi, flying to different cities, and eating cake with buttercream icing. Visit her website: www.nancykennedybooks.net.

Patty Kirk is Writer in Residence and adjunct associate professor of English, specializing in writing, at John Brown University. She has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arkansas and an MA in English from Tulane University. She’s taught English at universities in Germany and China as well as Northeastern University (Tahlequah), M.I.T., and Tulane’s University College. Patty has led numerous writers conferences and workshops and judges many writing contests. Besides having approximately 50 articles, seminar presentations, and collaborations to her name, Patty is also the author of Confessions of an Amateur Believer. Visit her website: www.amateurbeliever.com.

Carla Barnhill is the author of numerous articles and two books, The Myth of the Perfect Mother and Blessings Every Day, which has sold more than half a million copies and was awarded the 2002 Gold Medallion Award. Carla has been an editor in the Christian publishing market for more than ten years, working in both magazine and book publishing. The former editor of Christian Parenting Today magazine, Carla also has edited many books, including Preaching Re-Imagined by Doug Pagitt, Postmodern Children's Ministry by Ivy Beckwith, The Sacred Way by Tony Jones, and The Importance of Being Foolish by Brennan Manning. She serves on the editorial board of emersion books, a publishing partnership between Baker Book House and Emergent Village. Carla's the mother of three and the wife of one. She and her family live in Minnesota.

Holly Vicente Robaina has worked as a writer, editor, and graphic designer for newspapers, magazines, books, and websites over the past dozen years. She's been writing for Christian publications since 2002 and served on the staffs of Campus Life and Today's Christian Woman magazines. Currently she freelances for several Christian publications and is a TCW regular contributor. Holly has received numerous writing awards from publications and organizations including the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Evangelical Press Association.Married for seven years, Holly and her husband, Ricardo, live on the Southern California coast. Holly enjoys painting, cooking, taking Jazzercise and hip-hop classes, collecting state quarters and ethnic folk art, and serving as a youth leader at her church. On her personal blog, h-n-t.blogspot.com, Holly enjoys discussing politics and social issues that affect the church.