Friends

I am thoroughly enjoying spring break. It already seems like it is going way to fast! I'm not complaining. I'm just sayin!! :)

I am a spontaneous person. It's just who I am, so when Stephanie suggested we get together today, we jumped at the chance. I don't think I have ever seen my kids get dressed so quickly in my entire life. Needless to say, they were very excited about their "playdate."

Stephanie has been an important person in my life. When we moved to our house, Joe and Steph were our neighbors. We had so much in common that it wasn't a surprise when Stephanie and I became fast friends. We were due I think 2 or 3 days apart from each other. Steph with her 1st and me with my 2nd.


As most of you know, Brother was born 2 weeks early, but was born with severe respiratory failure. We didn't know if he would even make it. This was something that really rocked my world. But Steph was there for me.

I remember when Joe and Steph brought Max home. We went over for a minute to welcome their little one home. It was a very surreal thing to me. Our little baby was laying in the hospital, not knowing if he was going to live or die. But I wanted to share in their joy in bringing their little baby boy home.

By God's grace, Brother did get better. He was in the hospital a little under a month. It was a very hard and trying month. But Steph was there for me. She would call and check on me at the hospital, she would get updates, and she would pray. When we would go home, there was occasionally cookies on the table, or a meal in the fridge. Joe would even mow the lawn for us. They were just there on the sidelines, doing whatever needed to be done.


When we were able to bring him home, they were there. Waiting to welcome our little one home.

Once again, we were together, holding our babies, this time in our arms.

We spent many days after that together. We would go on walks.

We would share our struggles and our joys,

and we would just sit there and wonder over our little boys.



We shared parties,

and playdates.
The boys played with each other, :)


and with their toys.










They even went swimming together.


We welcomed new babies,

and just played, played and played.



When Steph told me that they were moving, it made me very sad. I remember just crying and crying over it. I was just so sad. I felt like I was loosing a friend. Even though they were just moving up the road, it felt like there were miles between us.

I didn't realize what was wrong with me for quite a while. I didn't realize it, but I was suffering from post par tum depression. I just know that I leaned on Steph for everything. I was probably very overbearing and very needy. I probably did a very good job pushing her away.

But now looking back, I think that what happened was that God took that friend away from me. He wanted me to lean on him, the way I was leaning and depending on Steph.

We never fought over it, we never not talked, we just sort of drifted apart. The whole time I struggled with wanting to call her and just talk to her about what was going on in my life. The things that were difficult for me to wrap my mind around. She had a very good way of centering me. But God was always there, wanting me to run to him when times got tough.


We would still get together.

But that closeness wasn't there. I missed that. Like, I said, there was never a fight, there was never anything. I just knew that I needed to back off. And then life happened, we drifted apart, when our lives got busy. But I always missed her.

When we were in the accident, Joe was the officer who was there that night. He was that friendly face in the swirling sea of scariness and uncertainty.

In the past month, we have gotten together.

The kids have enjoyed playing together,

and have played well together.


I say all this to say that I have MISSED my friend.
I am a stronger person now. My comfort comes from God and not others now. The possibility of loosing a good friend has made me a better friend.

Provers 18:24~ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.


I think that God brings certain people into your life to help you at a specific time with a specific purpose. Sometimes you never see those people again, but sometimes, if you are lucky, God allows them to remain in your life. I am lucky.