Girlfriends

It's National Girlfriends Day.  I didn't know this existed until this morning.  How exciting!!

Seems like a good time to say, Thank you, Lord for Girlfriends.  Can I get an Amen?

Let me start by saying that my Mom, my best friend, was top notch.  A close second, my sister Mary Grace.  These two couldn't have made me feel more loved.  Well, except for that time my sister poured a Dixie cup of water on my bed before I got in it.  Oh, and let's not forget the time when they both burst out laughing after seeing me in the first wedding dress I ever tried on.

In their defense, I did kind of look like this:

What would we women do without the friendships of other women?  I know for myself I wouldn't have survived grade school. My girlfriends stayed with me during my bad perm that made me look like this guy from Air Supply:

And also in high school when I thought my coral lace prom dress was da bomb!

Still rocking the perm.

Yet, my girlfriends still showed themselves in public with me.  Unconditional friendship, I tell you.

If I were to say the first word that comes to my mind when I hear the word girlfriends it would be the Sexy Six. (okay, that's two words, but one group, so it counts as one)  You can read our history by clicking Here.

But since then, I have been blessed with friendships that have helped me along this journey.

For some reason the women I have met in this stage of life, whether it be one that became a good friend or remains an acquaintance, hold a special place in my heart. Somehow our children have bonded us together in some inexplicable way.  I may know you from the kids' school, a moms group, a prayer group, or a sports team. I am here to tell you, you all ROCK and you all hold a special place in my heart. (even if you don't read this blog and you will never know it).

How about the girlfriends I didn't choose, but were gifted to me by marriage? Holy cow, did I luck out in this department.  I still remember jumping for joy at 18 years old when my oldest brother and his girlfriend announced their engagement.  And how about my other brother who introduced me to his then-girlfriend for the first time and I felt like we were life-long friends even though we had just met.

Being the youngest in my family meant having no younger sisters.  In marrying Bill I was blessed to receive 3 younger sisters who welcomed me into the family with open arms; one even went so far as to live with me and the kids for 3 months while Bill was away. They, along with 3 more sisters married into the family (and who totally rock by the way) make being with the in-laws one of the best places to be!

Howz about a shout out to blog friends? Sounds weird, I know.  But I do consider them friends and little lights that shine in my life each time they let me into their world.

Girlfriends have a way of showing emotion, feeling what is in your heart, taking the good with the bad, wanting better for you, and giving the best hugs. They see what you can't see, they offer help when you don't know you need it, and most of all they pray for you. (I hope) 

In closing, nothing says it better than this: