Category: Friends

Girl Tribe

I have this group of girlfriends that I’ve come to know and love over the past year. The Lord brought them into my life when I needed life-giving friendships and encouragement more than ever before. These women represent the true heart of God. They are transparent, they are open, they are love, and they are full of joy. We laugh, we cry, and we have fun. And what is most unique about this group…every single woman WANTS to be there for the rest. When someone’s child is getting baptized, we’re there, yelling and clapping the loudest, taking video or taking pictures. When someone is going through a hard time, we’re there, praying and comforting and texting to check on them. When I’m struggling or having a hard time with something, they’re all there, not with judgment and condemnation, but with love and support and encouragement. These are the women that I want to walk beside and share life with.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing these women into my life with their beautiful souls, love, laughter and hearts of gold.

I didn’t want this Christmas season to pass or this year to end without expressing my deepest gratitude for the gift they are to me.

To Shana, thank you for welcoming me to your group, for leading our group with your insightfulness into God’s Word, and allowing me to be me (even the crazy note-taking part of me!).

To Kristel, thank you for opening your home each week to all of us and not only allowing us to be open and transparent, but also by checking on us throughout the week or even weeks later to see how things are going.

To Tanya, thank you for the amazing prayer warrior that you are. Your prayers are so full of the Spirit, it’s as if angels sing every time you pray!

To Stacia, thank you for your strength. I don’t even know your full story yet, but to hear how you encourage everyone in the group, despite what you may be going through yourself, your strength in the Lord amazes me all the time.

To Maddie, thank you for bringing youthfulness to our group. I love that our group spans many ages and seasons of life. You have wisdom beyond your years and I’m so happy to have you as a dear friend.

To Lacy, thank you for inviting me to the group. I know that meeting you when I was a youth leader was God-appointed and I’ll forever be thankful for you and the friendship we’ve developed over this past year.

To Mary Ann, thank you for your smile. I love being around you; you are always so happy and full of joy. There’s always laughter when you’re around and I love that about you so much!

To Natali, thank you for being genuine. You don’t ever hesitate to share the good or the bad, the struggles and the victories. I learn so much by listening to you, and I also love hearing what you’re reading about in the Bible. You help me to see being transparent is a good thing when you’re with the right group of women.

To Kristina, thank you for all you’ve done for me inside and outside of the group. I love watching you with your girls and your family. You have a beautiful spirit about you. Not only am I blessed to know you, but I know your family is as well.

To Jennifer, thank you for your words of encouragement. You have a way of offering just the right words when someone is struggling. You’re not ashamed to draw from your past to share God’s love with everyone around you.

To Patricia, thank you for sharing God’s Light to every person you meet. You have a unique business and gift and I love hearing about the women you encounter and how you help them and heal them.

I think God for each one of you. Thank you for your beautiful friendship!

Proverbs 27:9 (NLT), “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.”

1 John 4:7 (NLT), “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.”

Friendship Memories

Awhile back I wrote a blog about this being the year all my friends and I turn the wonderful age of 40 (see The year of 40). I talked about how despite the negative connotation that comes with turning 40, I would refrain from using any of it on my friends, because as we have all learned, we’re only as old as we feel!!

I frequently get lost in thought and sometimes my mind wanders back to the days of simpler times…times when I wasn’t concerned about what day is payday and when my bills are due and other fun stressors that come with being an adult. On those days when I get lost in thought, sometimes my mind wanders back to the days of being a kid and a teenager and all the fun I had with my friends growing up. So, as this 40th year of life comes blasting forward, I thought I’d share some of my childhood memories with you and my 40 year-old friends!

To Tosha, I remember the countless hours we spent on that lemon twist jump rope toy you had. We would jump around on that thing for hours trying to see which of us could get the most jumps in a row.

To Tammy, I remember having fun being neighbors and playing jokes on your little sister, Sherry and how we NEVER got away with anything because she ALWAYS told on us!!!

To Mandy, I remember riding our bikes up and down the street and then me going across the street & you climbing through your back fence to play in the park that was just for our neighborhood. We’d play for hours & have the best time with everyone else in our neighborhood.

To Leah, I remember playing with Barbie’s at your house. I was always so jealous because you had the coolest Barbie accessories, like the Barbie dream house, the Ken doll and Ken’s cool car!! We’d also swim and lay around your pool for hours.

To Melody, I remember when you first moved to Lampasas in 1st grade and we did that Easter skit in our class. I think I played the Momma hen and you were the baby chick that broke out of the shell (the trash can) at the end and went, “Peep, peep!”

To Barbara, I remember the play we did in the 4th grade, although for the life of me I can’t remember the name of it. But, you played the main character (the damsel in distress) and you were hilarious in that role!!

To Delana, I remember when we were in Kindergarten and I tried to help you put toys away so we could start class and you got mad at me and punched me in the mouth!! Hmmm, maybe that was the start of my dental problems…hahaha, just kidding!!

To Marci, I remember the playhouse in your backyard. That was the coolest playhouse. We would spend hours playing in there with our tea parties & whatever else we made up while we were in there.

To Janna, I remember sitting in your room, listening to music and playing board games. I think we played the Game of Life more than any other, dreaming about how we wanted our lives to turn out…our husbands, the number of kids we’d have and our dream jobs.

To Carrie Jo, I remember all the band trips, parades and practices in the wonderful (ha!) and humid August summers.

To Kellie, I remember sitting next to you in band in junior high when I thought it was a great idea to switch from the trumpet to the French horn. Not only am I glad I came to my senses on the instrument, but also that we became fast & lifelong friends with too many memories to name!

To Cristy, I remember walking around your neighborhood and playing at your house. I also remember the nice Mustang you had when we were old enough to drive…it sure was fun cruising Key in that car!!

To Dana, I remember all the times we used to drive around in your little gray car during lunch and listen to “Black Velvet”. Every time I hear that song, I always think of you!!

There are just too many memories to name! Cruising Key on Friday and Saturday night, walking to Storms after school when we were in junior high & also going to Gattis and ordering cinnamon breadsticks. I thought of those and so many others while reminiscing over these memories!! We’ve been friends for so long, I just pray our kids are taking the time to make memories with their friends that they’ll remember for a lifetime.

Thanks for indulging me on my trip down memory lane! And to my 40 year-old friends I mentioned, what memories do you remember!?!

The year of 40

As 2013 is quickly reaching its end, it’s the year that my friends and I all turn 40! When your birthday comes this particular year, everything is black instead of bright party colors. Balloons are black, cake icing is black, and guests wear black to your party; plus, all the cards you receive talk about you being “over the hill.”

Since we’re turning 40 and not 100, what’s with all the black!?!?!!

What is 40, really? It’s a number. When referred to almost anything, it’s just like any other number, representing whatever it’s paired with…minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc. When referred to a person, it becomes an age.

Now that I’m quickly approaching 40, it’s not near as old as I once thought it was. I’m still young! I’m still vibrant! And the hill…well, it just gives me a better vantage point to see all of God’s beautiful creation!!

So, to all my friends that are turning 40 before me, thanks for paving the way! In return, I won’t send you any black balloons, I won’t make any references to your age on Facebook and I won’t send you cards referring to you as “over the hill.” But, I will note that if I do wear black to your party, it’s only because I’m trying to look skinnier, not because I think you’re old!!

P.S. Can someone please remind me of my good humor on turning 40 on June 4, 2014? That will be 24 hours before the BIG 40!!!