For the Love of Friends

I jokingly say of my 7 year old that he's never met a stranger! He'd make friends with a wall if it would talk back. I shouldn't joke because, as it turns out, he's JUST like his mother!! Yep, that's me! Many people think that I am little miss Social Butterfly! But I do have a shy side... believe it or not! 

In my life, I have had many "best friends!" There are several women that have been in my life since way back when. People come and go in our world... some we call best friends then years later have nothing to do with them! BUT, this blog is about those besties who have been there from the beginning and we're still besties after all these years!

For instance, my longest lasting friendship is with Shannon. We've been "besties" since we were in the preschool nursery. Now, even though we live across the country from each other, we are still close and talk often! 

 The next best friend who is still in my life is Brandi. We met when I was in the 8th grade. Our parents were almost instantly best friends as well! In fact. When I was in the 10th grade, our families moved TOGETHER from Florida to Colorado. Who does that?? LOL!  Now, she's back in FL, and I'm in OK (obviously), yet we talk at least weekly... and THANK GOD for Facebook to help us keep up with each other!

In my junior year of high school, I became friends with Stephanie. We hated each other at first... our parents kinda "forced" us to hang out one day, and we've been best friends ever since! My mom and her mom are best friends too... they even call each other sisters! Her grandmother took me and my brother in as her "adopted" grandkids! We've been through so much together... and while she's in Colorado with her family and I'm in OK with mine, we still talk 2 or 3 times a month!

How do I not have a pic of us together? Weird!

In college, I met a girl named Laurisa. I went to this little college in Middle of Nowhere, Kansas for ONE semester. She went there for that same semester. I left in December; she left in February. We tell people that God brought us to that college for that semester JUST so we could meet. Because ever since that semester in 1997, we've been the best of friends!

After I left that Middle of Nowhere college, I moved to Oklahoma for Bible college. There, I met two more people who would become my very best friends.  First, I met Tim- my AMAZING husband! He has changed my life ... he is my world! I love him dearly; and in 6 weeks, we'll celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary! We have four awesome kids together, and I wouldn't have it any other way :) 

AND, I met Elizabeth. She's currently a missionary with her hubby & kids in China. Again, thank the Lord for Facebook that allows us to keep in touch! She tells people that we're "Forever friends" ... and I know she's right!

In all of my years of life, these people have remained, and always will remain, my very best friends! I can't imagine life without them!

When I had my twins, I joined local support group- Tulsa Mothers of Multiples. In this group, I have found some amazing friends! I "click" better with some more than others, but all in all, I love these ladies like my sisters! We share a common bond- having multiples- and we just "get" each other! 

 

Also, about the time I had the twins, I started blogging. In the Wonderful World of Blog, I have made several new friends, but one in specific means so much to me. Though we've never met in person- she lives in California- she is one woman I know I can contact if I just wanna chat, or if I have a prayer need. She's an awesome woman of God ... her posts over at Not My Own always inspire me and uplift me! If I hadn't started blogging, I never would have met her... so, if for no other reason but my friendship with Raeanne, I LOVE BLOGGING!!  (there are, of course, other reasons, but our friendship is an awesome benefit!!) OH... and she has twins too!! How cool is that??

I am honored to have such amazing people in my life. These people have made such an impact in my life that I can't imagine life without them. God has brought many people in & out of my world... I am glad that all of these remain! I am so blessed!

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For other "For the Love of" posts, click below:
Day 1: For the love of Music
Day 2: For the love of Knick-Knacks