forever friends

I had a great surprise yesterday, all three of my teenagers were home for dinner. It seems the simple things like sitting down to dinner as become harder and harder. One's off to college and ones here part time. My youngest is working for the flower shop, refereeing basketball games and pulling A's at school. My non-teenager lives 3000 miles away and got married last July. It was hard for me when summer can to a end, and everyone went their own way. That is why yesterday was so great! We sat around the table and filled each other in on the weeks events.

We have two boxers named Bella and Bubba. They are my usual company. We watch reruns of NCIS, and laugh at Jay Leno's monologue. They compete for my attentions, beg for food, and fight over who is going to sit on my lap. When I think about it, it really isn't that different then when the kids are home! haha There is just something about the laughter....it fills the soul.

Growing older is not for the weak! It seems just when you think you have it all figured out...BOOM!! Something whacks you on the back of your head! I had one of though "BOOMS" this last week. One of my dearest and closest friends( the one's I call forever friends) was told she had breast cancer. The big scary "C" word. That happens to you when you get old, not our age! I found myself overwhelmed with emotion. I went through the stages of it can't happen to us. Then sadness that it hit my safe little circle of forever friends. Finally we will all be fine, she will be just fine. Right God? I find myself waking up in the middle of the night praying, praying for us all. I know that sounds funny, only one of us has cancer. Then I realized when you have been friends for 30-40 years, you stop being a "me" and you become a "us". We will fight this together.

Looking over the words I just wrote, I realize how very blessed we are. Some people go their whole lives and don't have even one good friend. We have us! Being a good friend is not always easy. It takes work. But the rewards are worth the time and energy. Think of the example we are being. Children are the product of their parents. Mine kids are just like I was. I would bring home every stray I could find. Every new kid at school, every kid with out a good family structure....you get my point. My kids do the same! Our home is always filled with kids. We even had senior skip day at our house. (better here than who knows where) I guess what I am trying to say is...having or being a forever friend is one of the most fulfilling relationships a person can have. Be a example, take the blessings of friendship into your families future.