Each phase of life seems to bring new friends. Especially when we have moved. That’s when our ability to make friends is really put to the test. I once read an article that said that if you have a friendship that lasts for 7 years, then it will last a lifetime. It popped in my mind this week, as I got an awesome early birthday gift from my BFF in Naples. We have been friends since the early 2000’s. We met in a class where we learned to play golf. We played weekly together for many years and did yearly or twice yearly shopping trips to the Miami area. We lived in Naples, and genuinely enjoyed spending time with one another. We were once referred to as “The Stepford Wives”. Heck, I will take that as a compliment!
Now that I live in Texas and she is still in Naples we don’t get to see each other as often. However, we have continued our tradition of exchanging nice gifts for Birthday/Christmas. We both have December birthdays, so we typically just give each other one large gift. She was so sweet to send my gift early this year! It was such nice surpise!! This year she sent me a beauitufl Michael Kors white leather purse. I love this purse! But more importantly, I love it because I know the love and care that came with her picking it out for me specifically, wrapping it up, and sending it to me. We have been friends for over 10 years and have done the gift exchange for that many years as well. It is a bond that keeps us connected each year. We do text, chat occassionaly, and I send photos in the mail a couple of times a year. Now I need to be on the lookout for a super amazing gift for her as well!
Those friendships that last more than 7 years are precious. I have a number of them in my life. Some of these that have popped into my mind that are longer, lasting friendships in my life are my friend Molly from Junior High and the Jantzens from my days as a Miracles in Action board member. I am grateful for those frienships that I have in my life. These are the people who have truly been there for me and my family during our roughest times. God is so good to connect us with such caring people.
I hope and pray that the friendships I am making here in Texas are long lasting friendships as well. We will be raising our kids here in Southlake, so it is a blessing to already have so many wonderful friend connections that we have made these past two years. Only time will tell, but it helpful that most of my friends are on the same path in life raising kids the same age. Southlake is part of the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex, but it has a sweet, small town feel. It is a blessing to live here, raise our kids here, and develop lasting friendships here. God is so good!
