F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that when people have tried to describe me or could think of one word to describe me, that word would be "Random"... so, it will come as no surprise when I say that I had a random thought... and I'll explain why...

While driving the other day, an old friends face popped into my head... and I remember thinking how much I had missed her. Trailing thoughts of great discussions and laughs came flooding back... and that was pretty much it... a day or so later, while on Facebook, she and I got to instant messaging... it wasn't a long discussion, but I came away with thinking that there must have been a reason she had popped into my head because if that wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have dared I.M her... (I hate to bother people on that part of F.B)... almost everything that came out of our talk was something I needed to hear or read and made my outlook on some things a whole lot better.
That same day, I was vacuuming and got to thinking about friendship and how lucky I have been in my life to have such great friends. It's been the past month that I've gotten reacquainted with a friend that I love(d) DEARLY and from that I've had memories of lost moments with her and how there were so many laughs and tears, heartbreak, and long hours of boy talk... it made me smile but it also made me sad that I had missed out on the past 5 years of her life, but it also made me SO THANKFUL that our paths had crossed again...
Then I thought about how, when I needed advice on a life altering decision, an old friend... again popped into my thoughts and without hesitation, I emailed her and basically unloaded every thought and worry about the situation and she so graciously wrote me back a detailed, honest, and open response and said she was happy to help and that she was willing to answer any question any time. (if you're reading this, be prepared for a few more...SOON) What she doesn't know is that almost all she said was an answer to my prayer.
One of my most favorite people in this world moved away from me a while back and we still talk almost every day... even if it's just for a second to ask a Mommy question, she always brightens my days... she has a special light that I think touches all who meet her... that same light is what helps me when my light is a little dimmer than it should be... she is the Sister I never had and I know she was brought into my life for a purpose because she made me a better person and still keeps me striving. It's a friendship that has never been jealous or ugly... to me she's the definition of what a friend should be.
I've had friends offer to help me at church, send texts telling me they felt they needed to tell me something, bring me dinner because they thought about me that day... call me because they hadn't spoke to me in a while... I've had amazing friends who help me to see both sides of a situation... or political view ;) however Liberal she is... she is one of the best people I've ever met... who would have ever thought me and a liberal could be such close friends?
One friend just barely helped me stay calm when I was a little worried about a medicine dosage(you don't want to know)... She was SO good to me... loving and kind and most importantly... understanding...what a friend is.
I've had friends who I have gone months without seeing and we can sit in my driveway for hours after a girls night and laugh and cry all in the same breath... she too, has taught me so much about life and love.
I had a friend stop by one day with a loaf of bread... just because she saw me on my porch earlier and thought she should bring me some. THAT was greatly appreciated... I was very pregnant and hungry :)
One of my friends has lost her Dad... not long after he died her brother left on a mission... there were a lot of changes all at one time for her and her family and I will honestly say I have never met a more positive, more loving person in my life! I remember seeing her at one of my brother's flag football games the same day her brother left... she gave me the biggest and literally BEST hug ever... she is SUCH an example to me... I miss seeing her as often as I did... but when I do get to see her... it makes me cherish that friendship even more.

ALL of that brings me to the point and quote, that all of the sudden doesn't seem so random anymore... as I said, I was vacuuming when this quote came into mind... it says " God does notice us, and He watches over us, but it is usually through another person that he meets our needs." (President Kimball)

I have been SO blessed in my life to have met such wonderful people... people that I am lucky enough to get to call friend.... I'm lucky to have brothers and parents that aren't just related to me but are sincerely loved by me... and people who again, I get to call friend.
I've married into a family full of friends... just this past week my father in law came to put up Christmas lights... just to do it... my boys love it... I just hope he knows how much I appreciate it too... we have an awesome family of friends... we are SO lucky that way...

I've been touched by all of you in one way or another... and I just want to say Thank You!... Thank you for being you because without you... I wouldn't be me... and I mean that in a good way ;)
Love to you all!