Besties

I've never had a best friend. All growing up I was part of a group. Not lonely or anything just not some one's other half of the heart necklace. It used to bug me. I always was searching for someone that would be my perfect pal. It took me a long time to realize I had a couple totally rocken pals. It has really hit me the last two weeks as I've been making the rounds of saying good-bye. I am so blessed with friendship. Some people never have a good friend. I have been blessed with great friends. This last year has been a really testament to friendship. It is amazing how people really step up when you need them. And boy have I needed friends this year! I may not have one bestest bud...but if you'd add all the qualities of my good buds together, we'd have a super woman that no one would really like anyway. ;-)

Anywho...I have the perfect friend for a variety of situations. For example: I have the perfect friend for talking 80's trivia, eating Hot Tamales, discussing life's tragedies with a sense of humor and joy. I have the perfect pal for holding me accountable, not letting me believe the junk of old me, challenging me to trust God, parenting together, slowing down to run with pokey me, and having joy in knowing and loving me. I have the perfect friend who feels like I've known her forever, but really it has been too short, who walked with me as I wept, who honored me by sharing with me, who willing takes care of my kids even if our girls love each other most of the time, but don't sometimes ;-) I have the perfect friend who's little texts, to let me know she felt God was telling her to pray for me, always come at the right time. I have the perfect friend whom even when she is so sick and feeling terrible, asks how I am. I have the perfect friend who isn't that much older than me, but her biblical wisdom and daily love of God,  aspires me to want to be her "when I grow up."
I fear starting all over again in one week. In one week I'll have to seek out buddies again. It can be tiring to make new friends. Often I'll say "I'll do that project when we move. I won't have any friends so I won't be busy." My husband asked if we should pack the sewing machine, that I've never used, and I said, "sure, I'll learn to sew there. I won't have any friends so I'll have time." I'm always totally kidding...well...mostly kidding ;-)
So to my fear of not having any friends, when we move, I say, "Ehh..." and revel in the fact that some of the women I trust the most, in this world, didn't even know me two years ago! I've been praying this verse from Genesis 31:49 "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other." It brings tears to my eyes as I think of not being face to face with these besties and others that have been so meaningful to me. But sisters in Christ that pray for each other are never far away cause the Lord is in the middle between where you are and where I am.