FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS FOREVER…..
Posted by Karen on Jul 25 2008
I remember the old Michael W. Smith song word for word. It was our theme song senior year of high school.
Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
’cause the welcome will not end
Though it’s hard to let you go
In the Father’s hands we know
That a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.
Sometimes, when I’m prepping this house to sell or packing things up to move, I’m excited as all get out. Sometimes it hits me hard I’m leaving everything I know.
Now, let me start out by saying, I don’t have many friends. Wow, that sounds so sad, doesn’t it? But it’s a fact. My life, for so many years, has revolved around kids. My “friends” were the mothers of my kids’ friends. There was no time to squeeze in my own socialization. My life revolved around socializing them. And I was ok with that for a long time.
And then we met a family who we clicked with. The kids got along famously. And the mom and I could chat for hours and still not feel like we had covered all the topics. We bounced ideas off of each other, shared horror stories about parenting, and did whatever we could to support one another. As the mother of two herself, she is as busy as I am so we only pulled off a visit 3 or 4 times a year. But they were good visits!!
Just last week we had one of those visits, and I must tell you–it hit me hard we’re moving away. Because Tina did about the nicest thing anyone (outside of family) has done for me in a long time (possibly ever.)
Just before her visit I had several KA-razy days. Mike and I flew to Florida for the job interview. We got home Friday night and then early the next day we had scavengers family descend on us for the weekend. First thing Monday morning we had a realtor at our door to go over the house and list it. So I’m not even sure “KA-razy” covers it adequately.
Tina and I had planned to get together that day. The kids were all anxious to play together, and we were anxious to catch up with all of the happenings going on in both of our lives. I was bound and determined not to cancel this visit. Tina emailed me and asked me if she could bring anything. I was fresh out of bread and I asked her if she had any she could bring.
Tina came with bread–both regular sliced bread and a loaf of french. She also came with ham and cheese. And some snacks. And two rotisserie chickens. She knew I hadn’t had time to grocery shop and she wanted to help me out.
How awesome is that? She sensed a need and filled it. I stretched that food out with a few staples we had in the pantry and we ate well for days! Every time I ate ham, or sliced off a piece of chicken, or buttered a piece of bread, I remembered how wonderful it is to have Tina in my life. And it hit me hard I’m leaving.
Thank you, Tina, for being such a good friend and for showing God’s love in such a real way. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.
(Did I mention Tina was skinny?*)
*Sorry, had to add that. Two deep, philosophical posts in a row might give people the idea I’ve lost my sense of humor!
on 25 Jul 2008 at 10:37 am 1 Mary said …
What a wonderful thing to do. Tina sounds like a great friend and a very thoughtful person.
on 25 Jul 2008 at 10:44 am 2 Awesome Mom said …
It is very hard, I know. I just keep telling myself that I will meet new friends here.
on 25 Jul 2008 at 11:14 am 3 KT (BaggaChips) said …
Tina is awesome! (And her kids are too) It was so nice of her to help us out like that.
on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:07 pm 4 Tina said …
I have no words. Wait, yes I do. Very few people would set aside an entire day in the midst of one of the KA-raziest weeks of their life to play hostess to a friend and her kids. With realtors calling and salespeople knocking on the door, you showed no stress (I would have been crying in the corner) and made us feel so welcome. And prepared a delicious lunch. You were just lovely to us - all of you. And now I can’t get that song out of my head…
on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:41 pm 5 Pinkaholic Mom said …
It’s great to be able to count on one hand how many friends will always get your back. I’d rather have a few good friends than a lot of friends that come and go.
on 25 Jul 2008 at 3:48 pm 6 Sue said …
I don’t have any “friends” either. Moved away or divorced or whatever. It is (or would be) nice to have someone like Tina who sounds like the person who would just give a hug and let you cry when you needed it…or laugh with hysterically about the stupid antics of ones husband…of course, with out the husband there to pick apart everything you do or say…
Thank you Tina for taking care of Karen that day!
From one of the scavengers…
on 25 Jul 2008 at 4:37 pm 7 Christy said …
You make me miss my Kamrin. She is just the type of person to do such a thing. Moving is always hard, but I think it’s extra hard when you have someone awesome to leave behind.
on 25 Jul 2008 at 6:56 pm 8 ValleyGirl said …
I have no doubt that you’ll find friends in your new home with which you click as well. That is not to say that it’s no big deal to leave a dear friend, of course. It’s a huge deal, but thanks to the wonders of the Internet and webcams, it’s so much easier and more fun to stay in touch with loved ones whom we can’t see in person very often.
on 26 Jul 2008 at 9:04 am 9 Kristi said …
Friends definitely make the difference. I am sure she appreciated the shout out.
on 26 Jul 2008 at 6:41 pm 10 Emily ai Mommin It Up said …
Great post, Karen.
Love that song… it was the bridal party dance song at our wedding
on 27 Jul 2008 at 12:19 am 11 Lynn said …
I am so sympathizing with this post. Our house officially goes on the market tomorrow with an open house, and it is just about killing me to get it clean. Knowing that people will be looking in the closets is ruining my usual cleaning method, which is stuff all the cra..treasures in a closet. It is tough moving away from friends, but remember, they will all want to visit you in Orlando!
on 27 Jul 2008 at 2:41 pm 12 jen said …
Some days I think I have few friends, other days I realize I have more than I thought. I don’t think I have any who would bring me rotisserie chicken, though.
I do consider you a friend, though I know you only online. Funny how so many of my friends I’ve met through the computer.
on 27 Jul 2008 at 4:31 pm 13 Tammy and Parker said …
Ah. Friends. They make this world such a better place to be.
on 28 Jul 2008 at 8:32 pm 14 Mamalovelock said …
Friends are an asset to never been taken for granted. Good for you.
on 29 Jul 2008 at 9:42 am 15 Carolynn from Western Australia said …
She is an amazing friend to have that is for sure.
Hey Karen, when you move will your e-mail address change if so please give me your new one.
Did I miss something about no posts for awhile or did you get lost in one of those houses you have been looking through ??? LOL
Take Care looking forward to hearing from you.
Lots of Love Carolynn
on 30 Jul 2008 at 6:40 am 16 Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You said …
How nice to have that kind of friend. I only have friends on the internet - sometimes, I think that’s pathetic, but usually, I find myself very grateful to at least have them
on 31 Jul 2008 at 10:58 pm 17 Deb - Mom of 3 Girls said …
Good friends are definitely hard to come by - and so worth having.
These days it’s so much easier to stay in touch with e-mail (and blogs of course) although it’s still not the same as being able to get together in person. I’m lucky (and thankful) to live near enough my close friends to get together regularly and know it would be very hard to move away (or survive if any of them did!). Tina sounds like a wonderful friend and I hope that the two of you can stay close even after the move. 
on 07 Aug 2008 at 12:59 pm 18 Andre Bressan - Brazil. said …
Karen, as far as I can see, it seems to be a she-list. I considered not posting, but I have something to say. I am also a pediatrician as your husband, but in Brazil. One year ago, I had to move 800km away from my hometown for job purposes (from Rio de Janeiro to Santos/São Paulo). I brought my wife and our 3 kids. All of us had lived most of our lives (and our kids´ entire lives) in a sunny-warm-cultural and fancy capital, which paid me a misery. In order to have some confort and safety, we moved into a portuary small city (1/20 the size of Rio), which is mostly cold and rainy. We left our friends and family behind and we feel mostly alone. I don´t write this to make you feel bad, but I understand the duality in your minds, and we still feel it. We have advantages here, but we miss our friends and family SO MUCH… I am writing into this kind of ‘mom´s-list’ because I think of my wife, and all the loneness she´s baring (for I work most of the time) and the kids, and I felt like crying when you mentioned ‘friend are friends forever’ - one of my wife´s best songs. Well, I pray that God will help you 4 down in Florida as much as I guess he´s helping us here, south the equator line. Say hello to Mike, and your kids as well. Good move.