Friendship - such a foreign concept to me just a few short years ago. As an Air Force brat, we moved around every 3 years. I don't have that true 'home town' thing that most do. Some regrets there, yes. But there is also the fact that I could speak fluent French at the age of 8. Don't ask me to try now, you'll just get the average hello, how are you, goodbye, a few vulgar phrases maybe :) So the folks 'retire' (and I use this phrase loosely) outside of Smithville, Texas. Needless to say, culture shock! Going from a 6th story flat on a main drag in Brussels, Belgium to Rosanky, Texas rocked my 10 year old world. I gained a few friends quickly, those like me - the ones on the outskirts, the ones not born & bred there, I want to use the term 'the untouchables', but that seems a bit harsh.
Fast forward...I high-tailed it out of Smithville as fast as I could after high school, thinking it was the source of problems, my heartbreaks. I ran around like a gypsy for 12 years - Austin, Annapolis, Houston. After moving to the Houston area in May of 1990, I moved 11 times within 8 years. Seeing a pattern here?
So I move to Houston, I focus my life around 'the guy of the moment' and never acquire any true friends. Then in early August 2001, I found a body of believers that changed everything. I started going to a women's bible study and discovered that there are women out there that are different. These women want to make the world a better place - for themselves, for their husbands and for their children. One month later, that world was turned upside down, and I truly had God to turn to for comfort. I had been baptized at the age of 12, but don't think I had a clue what it was all about. Fast forward 3 years, a little upheaval due to ex-husband issues, and a brand new baby. My sweet friend, Beth Moore, coerced me into trying MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). My first question to her was, "If I hate it, can I get a refund?". I quickly discovered that MOPS was my life saver. I found true girlfriends and mentors that have been there for me through the best and worst of times. I quickly jumped in with both feet and joined the steering team. MOPS was my passion - a place for moms who are lost, scared, feel all alone. My goal was to let every mom know that we all make these same huge mistakes. I craved transparency from other women and strived to be transparent for others. We are not all the 'Betty Crocker', the 'June Cleaver'. We all lose are patience, we all want to run away, we all get fed up with the man in our life.
MOPS led me to a play group, which I also fought...of course. My very first trial outing brought my sweet Baby Mama, Jody Kay, into my life. I realized that there are women out there that actually discipline their children, so I don't feel like I need to pull my hair out in their presence.
I don't even know where to begin with my mentors. Mama/Miss/Grandma Betty - where would I be without her? In her sweet beautiful way, she lifted me up, held me accountable (or tried to), supported me, loved on me, loved on my babies, hooked me up with her uber-wise lawyer daughter, Marilyn. Miss Beverly, who I pray for, love, cry over. My Women's Pastor, Brenda, who I am so like - compassion is not our forte, but we can attack a problem like a school of pirhanas.
Then there are the neighbors, Titi (aka Kristi), Elise, Becky, Jackie and Jenny. The women that hang with me in 'The Low Spot' (my front yard), the women that see the day in/day out, the women that I cry or rejoice with.
There are the few 20 year plus friends, Dana (poot), Stephanie, the girls from work (the ones you love one day and hate the next), some beautiful down to earth Smithville area ladies.
I have my regrets over friendships. A friend moves a few miles away - we lose touch. A friend moves an hour away - we lose touch. My Baby Mama moves a million miles away....I fear we lose touch. A new season of life comes along unexpectedly, suddenly my world again revolves around 'the new man' rather than the people that have lifted me up for so long. At 11:00 p.m., I think, "I need to call so and so". A little late, don't you think? I crave the time during the day to accomplish this. I crave the brain function to remind me at a normal hour. I pray that these precious women know how much they mean to me. I pray that they know how many jewels they have added to their crown by lifting up this poor, lost soul in good times and bad. I pray that I can be there for them in the best and worst of times. I pray they know how much I love them.
