Fancy That!

Lord, thank you for the friends you've put in my life, new and old. Girls who giggled with me thru high school, and were there when I bought my first car. Ladies who saw me thru pain and heartache, and listened to the stories of new flavors of the month, College buddies as we floated on air in our new found freedom - my friends were fun and gutsy! They believed in happily ever after and let me see that there are some men out there who really do live out their promises. Thank you for my 6 bridesmaids walking down the aisle before me on my wedding day, two of whom reminded me recently that they gave me their umbrellas to save my hair from the pouring rain when we pulled into the church that morning with "Goin' to the Chapel of Love" playing on the radio. New friends I made as a new wife to John were ready to go with us skiing and to Six Flags and more skiing. We were unstoppable! Sunday School sweethearts sharing Pampered Chef parties galore. Who's house would it be this month? Choir friends and work friends from jobs that I've had over the years. Women and confidants to me who helped me through the good times and bad- counseling me and praying for me - how could I have made it without them? They were there when I needed a shoulder, a kind word, a dose of reality, and an invitation to call you in the morning. My friends who offered to come to the hospital with me when I had my new baby. Visitors and ladies preparing me meals and throwing showers. We celebrated. My girls at the gym at M Power saw me there for weeks of getting back to the treadmill and the stepper, lifting weights to keep our sanity was all we needed. We supported each other as we got back into shape. They'd ask, "Will you be here tomorrow?" Lord, thanks for my girlfriends at Mt. Olive. They are there for me each week for these 11yrs. They call, and come over, and we party, and we laugh, we scrapbook. We tell each other the miracles of God praying all the while our homes will be protected and lavished with love. We are strong and sensible, full of faith, and striving for beauty. Help us to speak the truth in love, and give each other space if it's needed. I live in a day to day world where I come against indifference and spite, jealousy and jabs of unkind words. I can let it all roll off my back when I know I have God on my side, and the security and encouraging smile of my friends.