g i r l f r i e n d s.

I am trying to squeeze all my thoughts on this topic into a blog post and it’s IMPOSSIBLE. Oh for the splendor of having someone in your life that gets you! That knows you. That knows you and hey…loves you anyway. The one who remembers things about you that you’ve long since forgotten, but speaks into you to remind you who you are…Whose you are…how FAR you’ve come and exactly why you are still standing.

We need our girlfriends.

Okay. Now. Stop. Before I continue I want you to write down the names of your tried and true gal pals.  Your chums. Your squad. Got it?  Now finish this sentence for each name:

I knew we were friends for life when…………………………………………………….

What happened after you met that told you this is my person. That’s MY friend. What qualities did this person possess that you knew you wanted in your own life?

I put this question out last night on Facebook and Instagram and within a few minutes I’m crying as precious friends (that I wish I could see more often!) answered my post. I knew how much these girls meant to me, but to hear they feel the same, melted me for a minute. If we don’t ask…we don’t know. I’m so glad I asked.

Years ago my daughters and I were on a long road trip and I asked them:

If you had $1000 and you had to spend it on a dinner party and invite 5 people…who would you invite, what would you serve and where would it be?

We went on lots of road trips but this one is buried in my memory because of their answers…as well as mine.

I remember laughing when Hannah, my youngest, said her dinner party would be on an island with Lizzie Mcguire (Hilary Duff) and four of her classmates from school. She was going to stretch that $1000 real good like…we love our Hannah.

After they all three finished they asked me my answer…

I thought about it and chose five friends that I’d gathered over the span of my life…we were on a back porch with a long wooden table eating woodfired pizzas. Then Paige, my oldest asked…“Why them?”

“Because these are the women that I want in YOUR life. Not just mine…but yours.”

When I think about my close friends they truly are representative of the nature I want my daughters to emulate. They are kind and funny and compassionate. They live to build others up instead of tearing them down. They are encouragers and not discouragers. If they have children, they love them well…and the ones who don’t…they love mine like they are their own.

In Search of Friendship

If you feel friendless get out there and find someone to love! You have to be a friend first. You are not the only one wishing you had a buddy! Pray about it and tell God what you need in a friend. Ask Him to allow your path to cross with someone that would enrich your life and grow you as a person! Pray for ways you can be a friend to someone and pour into their life with the wisdom you’ve gained from your own life lessons.  You will be amazed at how quickly this works…

Built in Friends.

I was over and above blessed to have sisters and daughters…built in friendships that God chose for me. I adore my sisters and they love me like no tomorrow. They are listeners and teachers and paved a sweet path of motherhood for me to watch and follow. I adore my children. I am at my best when I’m with my daughters. They encourage me to raise my standards in excellence and bow my head in prayer. They are witty and wise and the four of us together is a force to be reckoned with. These are relationships I will NEVER have to question…but I didn’t stop at this. I wanted to be friends with YOU. You know who you are…and if you don’t…ask me. Send me a message and ask me how I knew we were friends for life. I’ll tell you. I know exactly why.

 

Speaking of Friendship. Do we all not want to hang with Mrs. Gaines?…

Dear Joanna Gaines,

I love you. I think we should be friends. I like your tv show and my husband and I watch you religiously. We like Chip, too…in case he wonders. Perhaps I’ve caught you off guard and you’re thinking…what a freak. Let me stop you. I’m no freak. I’m just a girl…standing in front of a girl…asking her to love me. But really…Jo….you are in the throes of motherhood and I’ve raised 3 amazing daughters!  I know things. I can help you. I love Jesus. We can make a mad pot of coffee and sit underneath an oak and talk all about His Love for us! I’m married…and honey, I know it’s not all peaches and pancakes…if you need to vent a minute I’m all ears…this is my second round. I’ve got experience in this department, too! Anyways…I stopped by your place in Waco last year but it was closing. The kind gentleman you hired to guard shop allowed us to take a quick selfie just before the gate closed. I really appreciated that. We will be back…and I’m going to wear this clever shirt I designed.

How cute is that?!..and let me just say…I’ve NEVER before lumped ANYONE into the same category as chips and queso…I mean, c’mon. Let me know when you want to meet in person. I’ll see what my calendar can handle and squeeze you in. #winkyface Oh…I would LOVE to borrow some of your clothes and jewelry when we start hanging out together. I’ll take good care of it and return everything. No worries.