Friends...

"A real friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." Walter Winchell.

So...friends. Although my meager entries have truly been reflected on my crazy family and, more specifically my kids, the blog really is about me. If I ever get even remotely regular at this blogging thing, it will be about the events that surround me, and, by default, my perspective and feelings towards any event as they are my words doing the telling. It's reflecting my world as it revolves around this amazing life I lead. Now, don't get me wrong! By 'amazing' I don't always mean 'good', although there is TONS of 'good'! But amazing can have some fairly negative elements in the right situation (reference blender entry below!) Lately, my amazing has evoked quite a bit of introspection, inspection, and reflection which have enlightened me on my feelings on friends. So, as this is about me, I wanted to write about these thoughts in a way that I hope I will be able to reflect should the gumption arise.

Over my life, friends have appeared, disappeared and evolved. I have rarely been able to accurately predict any outcome, and have yet to be disappointed. I now also watch my kids with their friends and have watched how their friendships with various kids develop...or stagnate. Friends come in so many different packages and it seems they often also have a variety of functions. I am pretty sure everyone knows what I mean about that. I mean, I feel like for so long I thought that a true friendship had it's strength based on similarities. I found, instead, that the deepest friendships have immense differences! Those differences are tempered with respect and are non-judgmental. We can talk about two different sides of the same coin, question, explain, listen, and grow from each other. I am so grateful for the differences of the people around me and even more-so for their loving me despite our differences. You guys are simply divine!

With the crazy life we have had the last couple of years and the way my family is growing and changing, I have been able to gain real appreciation for my true friends. Surprisingly, to me anyways, some of my friends that have been the most supportive, inspirational, comforting, and reliable were not always the ones I predicted. They aren't necessarily the ones nearby or the ones I am able to talk to often...they may be ones I haven't talked to in months! Yet they have always been there and would drop anything to help me or be there for me if I ask. I have to express gratitude to all my friends and I am so grateful for not only what I learned from them, but what I was able to take from those friendships as well. I am fortunate enough to know some awesome women...women that have been such an example to me in SO MANY different ways. Friendship is definitely a journey of sorts...and the journey has been fantastic!

And to take me full circle to the quote above, it is so true. The friends that have been true friends to me have stayed with me, let me cry, let me laugh, listened to my garbage, rejoiced with me in my good times, and have always 'walked in' and stayed with me when the rest walked out. And, honestly, not all friends we have are meant to walk in when the rest walk out...some are there the rest of the time and are gratefully appreciated. And yet, there are the ones that stick by you! You can't knock a true friend!