Recently, Blue reminded me of this funny little poem by Shel Silverstein call Friendship:
I’ve discovered a way to stay friends forever —
There’s really nothing to it.
I simply tell you what to do
And you do it!
For a “bossy northerner” like me (a loving title bestowed upon my by my southern friends), this poem made me LAUGH!! I can’t count how many times I’ve said to my husband and kids “Well, we wouldn’t argue so much if you’d just do what I tell you too!” Yes, I realize how absurd that sounds. If the people around us would just follow our directions, life would be soooo much easier wouldn’t it?
I for one, am glad I have a husband and friends who will stand up to me. I’m glad that I have friends that will tell me what they really think about some of the crazy plans I cook up. I’m glad that I have friends that are strong, opinionated and don’t let me walk all over them. And this is why – if you let me, I will.
I learned several year ago, something shocking about my “kind and loving” nature. Don’t get me wrong, I can be kind and loving. I can also walk all over you on the way to where I’m going. The bad thing is, I don’t always realize it. What I do realize, however, is that I need strong personalities around me to balance out my strong personality. Yes, that means interesting discussions and “arguments,” but it also means that we have an understanding that it’s not personal and there is no love lost. As hard as I can push, I need people to push back so that I don’t fall.
So, to my “girls” who love my strength, my personality and the heart of who I am and who I hope to be – THANK YOU! You have made me kinder, more loving and more beautiful. My life will never be the same since you have been a part of it. And while miles will soon separate our homes, know that our hearts are forever bound together in Christ.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
1 Samuel 20:42
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ “
Rev. Kris Mares 
My beautiful, fierce, fun, kind, loving friend…you have an incredible gift with words!
This is exactly the reason why I need people like you in my life!
You say what you mean, and mean it!
And when you’re unsure, you say it anyway and wait for the Lord to lead or someone to say, “What did you mean by that?”
lol…kwim? I guess what I mean is, thank you for speaking from your heart every.single.time.
So, should we warn, I mean, send out a message to your future friends about how blessed they will be but please don’t “get your nickers in a knot when Kris tells it like it is” ????
Love you buddie!
i’m so honored to have been included in your list of closest friends. you are an inspiration to me, and i love you! darn it, i so regret not spending more time with you while you were here. i mean, our lives being what they are, i’m not exactly sure what that “time-spent” would have looked like. perhaps we could have cleaned spit-up, changed diapers, dressed kids, re-dressed kids, folded laundry, cooked supper, bossed our husbands, all while holding down our jobs–a little more often together (lest i forget the two and a half pregnancies and 2 c-sections plus recovery that we both have experienced since meeting one another)! that’s a lot of quality time we missed out on! seriously, though, i am feeling deep regret for not being a better steward of a God-given friendship with you. i hope you know that you are precious to me. and, as you said, despite the miles you will remain so. may facebook keep us ever-connected! your family, including baby , will remain in our family’s prayers.
love, prayers, and blessings to you!
carrie
p.s. your handling of this transition time for your family has been a total inspiration to me–you are THE WOMAN!