There is something so pure and innocent about watching a budding friendship between little girls. They are so honest,they truly love each other, and they interact in such a way that is so reminiscent of a grown up friendship. I loved hearing their conversation as I was driving....with each new activity their valley girl accent got a little thicker "Oh, my gawsh Ashlyn...that is so cah-ute!" I could hear them comparing their hair do's and what was tucked in their sparkly goodie bag purses. Whose bag had more pink stuff, and whose hair had more glitter. It gave me a little taste of what is to come. All the little girls I will adopt as bff daughters as they grow up, and friendships that will grow stronger and stronger each year.
Girlfriends have special places in your heart. I talk about mine often, and the one thing I learned most in my "coming of age" is you need them. There was a time in my life when I said "I don't need more friends....I have a hard enough time keeping up with the ones I have.", but i've realized that is entirely false. Friendships are like marriages, they take work. They take commitment, and time. You give a little, and you get a little, but they make your life so much richer when you pay attention to them.
I recently made the commitment to myself to really cultivate the friendships that I have, and to become more efficient at making new ones. God has blessed me with the most amazing women to fill all the nooks and crannies of my heart. He has entrusted me with these fabulous relationships that I didn't realize were so valuable to my life until now...I've been in my own little bubble for so long that I had forgotten that there were other people to truly love and spend time with outside your own family circle, but i'm loving it, and I'm loving that I'm teaching my girls how to be good friends too.
I'm trying to teach them now that gossip tears people down. That true friends don't make you feel bad about yourself, and you should feel happy when you are around them. That true friends don't just take...they give too. That it's ok to think someone is pretty, or good at something that you aren't, and that it shouldn't make you feel ugly or jealous inside, and most importantly that it isn't about how many friends you have, but about how the ones you have run deep, and you are there for each other...no matter what.
To all my new friends...I'm kinda falling in love with you guys, and I feel like I've known you forever. You've added a new level of richness to my life that I feel so grateful for, and I know I've found forever friends in you.
and, to all my forever friends I'm so sorry for taking your friendships for granted. You've been there for me through the craziest times in my life, and I love you gals more than a blog post could ever express. I'm making my rounds...realizing I need to let you know how special you are to me with more than a facebook shout out, or happy birthday. I miss you girls! Everyday!
