A Happy Heart.....Life is Better With Friends

IT REALLY IS!!

I have always been blessed with wonderful friends! I'm not sure why, but I won't complain!

The funny thing about my friends is that they have never fallen into one category. I remember being very young and being taught by my very wise mom to be a friend to everyone. Every time I would complain to her about someone who hurt my feelings, or when I felt like I didn't have any friends, she would challenge me to find someone who might need ME to be a friend to THEM. Although I considered myself shy, (I know...I know...hard to believe), I tried so hard to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to people. 

I believe that when we reach out to someone and make a decision to be kind, we really are the ones who take home the greatest prize! 

As I was thinking about all my friends today, my mind went through so many happy memories. So many people have had a part in my life. And I am so thankful for each and every one.

That perfectly describes my friends. 

They really are the greatest people. 

And they have been the greatest friends.

I grew up very spoiled by having such a large, close family. They were my best friends. My sisters were the ones I always confided in. They were the first ones I shared things with. They were the ones I turned to if I was struggling. So, to be so far away from my family at this point in life, is a strange thing.  I have felt like a child again, and over the past 6 years, I have heard my mother's voice in the back of my head telling me to reach out to others. And it has been a great blessing.

As a mom, a wife, a juggler of many things, I believe it's so important to have good friends.
I don't care who you are, we all need them.

Being away from home is tough. It has been a really difficult transition. But, it has been SO GOOD for me. There are no parents or siblings who live 5 minutes away who will watch my kids. I can't just pop into my parents home in the middle of the day and eat lunch with my mom. I can't run errands with my sisters. I have had to literally open my life up to those around me. I have had to establish friends who have become my "go to" people, instead of my family. I have had to trust them enough to rely on them when I have struggled. All those things that were so natural with my family, I have had to transition over to my friends.

And my friends have been wonderful.

I feel like I have a large extended family.

These thoughts have also made me think about other friendships in my life. I have friends from many different parts of my life. And each one of them are unique to me. 

I'm really not sure why I have been blessed with such great friends. It makes me wonder how one person can be so very lucky. I have needed.....and loved every single one.

So, to all my friends.....

Thank You.

Thank you for loving me.

Thank you for seeing the good in me, and for helping me to see it too.

Thank you for always offering a listening ear.

Thank you for cheering me on.

Thank you for the sacrifices that have been made to help me when needed.

Thank you for the laughter.....and the tears.

Thank you for the most precious memories a person could want.

Thank you for being the kind of people who make me want to be better.

Thank you for being patient with me.

Thank you for overlooking my flaws.

In a nutshell.....

Thank you for being my friends.

Today, you all make my heart very happy.