Friends

It's funny to me how much I need friends. I'm not the type that goes out with my friends all the time or even calls them very often on the phone, but lately I've really been longing for friends. My husband is, of course, my absolute best friend who I get to spend lots of time with, but God programmed us women to need other women. I can't say I understand it, but I know it's true. We long for friendships with other women who we can talk to about the ins and outs of life. I talk to my husband a lot, but half of the time, we just talk past each other like we're speaking different languages (very bizarre, yet typical). It's very frustrating, which is perhaps why I enjoy talking to women who, for the most part, understand what I'm saying . :) I also find it very therapeutic to talk about the kids with other moms who are going through or have gone through the same challenges I am. In fact, that's one reason I like blogging and reading people's blogs. I like to see what fun tricks their kids are playing on them or what cute things their kids are doing and I can share the same about my life and give and get advice.

I have 2 very good friends who I know will always be the very best of friends, but I dont see them very often. Amber and I have been friends since the 7th grade (i.e. 14+years!). We dont talk as often as we should considering we live just 30 minutes apart, but we have one of those relationships where we could not see each other for 10 years and we'd just pick right up when we finally got back together. (I hope we NEVER go that long without seeing each other!) Amber is wonderful and I am so thankful that I have her in my life. Joanna was my college roommate for 3 years and I still talk to her quite a bit, but since she lives in New Jersey, we dont see each other much at all. The last time I saw her was when Owen was 2 months old. :( But I'm hoping to go see her some time later this year. I'm very thankful for email!

I had finally started to connect with some ladies from church in the last 2 years, but since we've moved, I dont get to see them very often because it's about a 45 minute drive to their side of town. I still keep in touch with email and an occassional phone call and I see some of them at church from time to time and I try to make it to Bible study every now and then, but I miss them so much. I miss the positive influence that they have on me. They really lift me up and I miss the candid and fun conversations at Starbucks during Bible study (and playgroup when I was able to make it). I look forward to the new Lake Lewisville bridge at it will make my drive down there a lot quicker so I can visit them more often.

All that said, God knows what we need and he's amazing at answering prayers (as long as we remember to listen for the answer!) He has given me a neighbor that I think will become a great friend. She lives a short walk down the street and we have just connected in a way I dont connect with very many people. She has a 3-year-old son and a 3-month-old daughter, so our kids will be able to grow up together. We've only gotten together a couple of times, but we have the easiest time talking and I enjoy her company. I already feel like I've known her for a long time, even though we really hardly know each other at all. I hope we can build a great friendship and help each other through this difficult but very fun life of motherhood.

I know God made us relational creatures and intended for us to live in relationships with each other, but it's interesting to me that sometimes building those friendships is so difficult for me. I consider myself a friendly person, but it's not natural for me to be "social" and go out and meet new people or even pursue relationships with people i've already met. I'm one of those people that is pretty good at talking to someone as long as they are good at asking questions, but I'm not very good at the active end of conversing. Generally I think it's just because I'm too self-centered and therefore, not very good at thinking and caring enough about the other person. That's something I'm working on. :)