Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Thank You For Being A Friend

I'm just one blubbering mess today.  My daughter-in-love posted a video of Cora Joy's birth.  My heart is full to over flowing.  While I celebrate my family and my children, another mother is grieving the loss of her child. Our county has been mourning the loss of a 20 year old girl who was killed in a car accident last weekend.  I got to thinking about how fragile life is and like the flower, how quickly is blows away. Too much thinking today for sure.

I thought of friendships.  God gives us all friends for a season. Sometimes because of circumstances beyond our control there is distance. Sometimes it's just that life gets in the way. Sometimes we back away. Sometimes the other person backs away. Sometimes new people come in and older friends leave. Sometimes there is misunderstanding and trying to explain it would only make things worse. Sometimes we are at different places, raising children, no children, or children who are involved in other things than our own. Maybe children who were friends are no longer as close and different activities take each in different directions. It's important to treasure the times that we have shared and know that God will bring us back together at just the right time. Hold your friends with open hands and give them to God. Let him put in and take out what is best for you and the other person. Treasure what was and appreciate what now is.

This was my best friend growing up.  She was and is beautiful.  She grew up in a house of 11. She is from a family of 8 children, 7 girls and 1 boy, mama and daddy and grandmother.  The table was massive with food from one end to the other including two cooking sheets of biscuits, and two cakes at every meal.

This was my second home.  I could do things there that I couldn't do at home, like wear make-up and dress in shorts and halters,mini skirts, and tight jeans and go swimming with the boys.  Her mom and dad owned a grocery store and we always got free candy, chips and cokes after school.  Coca Cola was a luxury at my house, but there was always Coke at Michelle's.  Our mamas bought material at the local home owned and operated department store.  We had several outfits made out of the same material.  We rode to school together from the time we were little bitty and took turns driving when we got our first cars. In high school, she was popular and had boyfriends and we lost each other for awhile.

After high school school, she got married and moved away. Michelle is one of those friends who even though you don't see in 20 years and you just pick up where you left off.


This is my baby girl with her best friend.  Best friends for life even when life takes you in different directions.  They sang together from the time they were 4 and 6, in high school musicals, talent competitions, traveled in the college PR group, and again in a couple of other groups.  Lindsay has a very successful solo career in Southern Gospel music.  She is also a mother of a 2 year old little boy and my baby girl will welcome Harper Elizabeth in January.

Life has taken them in different places and still their friendship remains.


These girls traveled the southeast singing together in college and they will always be forever-friends. 


For these young men I prayed.  When Chad started high school, I told him, "At this time in your life you will have to make some choices.  One road will lead you in the right direction and the other road will lead you in the wrong direction."  I began praying that God would give him good Christian friends.  These guys were saved the same summer he was before high school.  Don't tell me prayer doesn't work.

Many of you are friends who came my way at just the right time.

A Gathering Place
I found Rebecca at A Gathering Place http://rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com when I was dealing with the grief of losing my parents and regrets and misunderstandings about the past.  We found out that we shared the same heritage as a PK and knew some of the same people who had shaped our lives.
All Things Home
Amy at All Things Home http://kinserhome.blogspot.com/ encouraged me during one of the darkest moments of my life.  She sent me a message one day that said, "I was washing eggs in the sink and God brought you to mind.  When I thought of you, I heard the word, "Light."  She had no idea the darkness that I was in.  God wanted me to know that He was going to bring light into my darkness.

 Blackberry Lane
Meet Mildred at http://maplelanehouse.blogspot.com/.  I was about to give up blogging when I got an email from Mildred at Blackberry Lane.  She had written a post and encouraged her friends to drop by.  She is a constant source of encouragement to us all.  I found out that she went to school with a family friend of ours.  She's a wonderful Christian role model.

Simply Linda
Linda at http://justsimplylinda.blogspot.com/ Simply Linda is the biggest hoot you will meet.  She and I connected through Mildred.  Like me, she is real, honest, authentic.  She always makes me smile, makes me giggle, makes me laugh, encourages me and even thinks I'm funny. She and I share private jokes and family matters and always walk away with a smile.

Got a Minute or Two
Wanda, http://gotaminuteortwo.blogspot.com/, is the spunkiest, most attractive 70+ lady I have ever known.  She enjoys life to the fullest.  She is a preacher's wife and is still helping others.  Love this lady.

My Favorite Things
Debby has become a dear friend.  We found out through blogging that our children graduated from the same Christian college, the same year and share mutual friends.  Debby expresses herself beautifully through her photos and the written word.  She sees God's beauty in all creation.  Her stories paint a picture.  http://debbysfavoritethings.blogspot.com/


My Little Corner of the World
Mari http://marislittlecorner.blogspot.com/ paints a beautiful picture through the lens of a camera. She is a nurse at a nursing home.  I was an activity director for 12 years. We share a love for the elderly.  She has a heart for God and is a source of encouragement.  

My Mountain Blessings
Patty is the wife of a preacher man.  I have fallen in love with her world of beauty.  She is an artist in word and in designing her home with simple touches of beauty.  She smiles big and loves with a big heart.  She encourages me in my Christian walk. http://mymountainblessings.blogspot.com/

Olive Out
Olive at Olive Out knows no introduction.  She has the little yellow house with the pumpkin door. She is a vendor and wakes up before dark every Saturday morning to hit the estate sales and yard sales.  She consigned with me when I managed the shop.  I bought almost everything she brought in.  I miss her. http://oliveout.blogspot.com/

These are a few of my friends.  This is getting lengthy so I'll feature a few more next time, like Sparky, Debbie, Kris, Donna, Doris, Beth, Diana, and Theresa to name a few.  Oh shucks!  I've never had so many friends before. 

Thank you for being a friend, 

Bonnie:)



24 comments:

  1. Good Morning. I believe in the power of prayer and I am sure that the Lord has used blogging as a way to connect us, to pray for and share the joy and sorrow of life. I have no doubt that the prayers of my parents led me to the group of "girls" I met in college, who have been life-long prayer warriors and friends. I will never forget the day I ran across your blog and saw where you live and realized we "share" a friend. So thankful for your friendship, Bonnie.

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  2. Yes, prayer does work! I'm so glad I "met" you here in the blogging world and that we can pray for each other and our families. I also appreciate our shared love of old stuff! So often when I find something, I think "Bonnie would love this!" I'm thankful for you!

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  3. Such a great post honoring awesome friendships!! I met my first blog friend ( aol journal's they were call back then) about 10 years ago. We constantly talk on the phone and I swear, it's like we are the same family. : ) Although she doesn't live to far, she's in Long Island and I am in Baltimore, we've never met in person. Some day our family will hang out!
    Have a great day!!!

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  4. Yes, the power of prayer. Lovely post, Blessings Francine.

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  5. Hi Bonnie! Your post brought tears to my eyes! Such wonderful thoughts here today. And the ladies you mentioned are simply precious! Wanda, Linda, and Mildred are lovely gems and a blessing in the blogging community :)

    Hugs to you!

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  6. Oh Bonnie, what a precious post this is...I totally agree with Mildred! When I found out that our kids knew each other I was so excited and it only reinforced that this blogging stuff was just pretty cool...what a blessing it is! It seems God is using all of our blogs to encourage each other and I just want to meet each and every new friend I have made, face to face one day...before we get to heaven...lol! And yes, I see Ms. Kat in that photo! Bless you, sweet friend.

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  7. What a wonderful post, Bonnie. Yes- I have a couple of those "forever" friends, too. Those that can pick up where we left off at the drop of a hat. I also have friends that are lost to me now-through time, distance or indifference. Even though they are no longer a part of my life I was enriched and blessed because of them.

    Great list of bloggers! Some of the best people I know are friends of yours! xo Diana

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  8. A wonderful post about friendship, I am pleased that you have such great friends as you are such a nice person, you deserve to have many friends and I am delighted to be getting to know you a little through your posts. xx

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  9. I am forever grateful for our friend Mildred.... she pointed the way to you. You, my friend, have a way with words...you inspire me and make me laugh 😊 You point the way to beauty in the way you gather and arrange your treasures...love that! And you love the Lord so much it just bubbles out all over your posts...I especially love that. So thankful we have met...hopefully some day in person!

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  10. You have touched my heart and with tears over flowing thank you for the reminder of friends and to all of the new friends that have touched me from blogging. I may never see their face in person but I know I am loved by them. There is always room for more. Thank you for sharing. ((HUGS)) Jo

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  11. Bonnie, this was a lovely, lovely post. You wrote of friendships so beautifully.
    I have found so quickly that this blogging community is very real and there are ladies out there who care deeply for one another. I stand in awe of the greatness of our God, here in cyber space. :-)
    May your heart be blessed.
    Joy! Debbie

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  12. That is a heartwarming post.
    Friends should be treasured they are just like family.

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  13. This is a wonderful post, Bonnie! I enjoyed reading this and about your friends (and your kids' best friends). Blogging opens up a whole other world of friendship.

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  14. Friends are truly one of life's greatest blessings! Sending HUGS your way this morning and prayers for the family of the young life lost:(

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  15. It's great to have so many friends, both old and new. You're right about treasuring those that come into your life. I believe that everyone that comes into your life is there for a reason too.

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  16. I love this post; you are so truthful and raw in your love. Friends make life beautiful.
    So sorry about the loss of the young lady in your community….that is heartbreaking.
    XO

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  17. {smiles} You just want to make me cry, don't you? What a lovely post dear friend..I had one of my advisors tell me yesterday (I was brutely honest with her--she didn't look or seem well.) and she said, "Linda, don't ever stop being real and honest, that is your best quality!" ANYWAYS--(sorry got off track)--what a lovely post..thanks for the smiles and the tears. Blessings to you my dear friend..

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  18. Blessings...
    May peace be the cornerstone for that grieving mother/father/family. Its never easy saying goodbye especially when it ends so tragically and unexpectedly.

    Life is not promised and we much cherish each moment even the not so great ones.

    stay blessed.
    peace.
    Rhapsody
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  19. Life is like a vapor, the Bible says, here one minute, gone the next. I guess that's why we should hold all things loosely, and especially our loved ones. That's a hard thing to do.

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  20. Sharing friends is a good thing :)

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  21. Bonnie, It's okay I am not on the list.LOL.... I tell you the things you said in this post have rang true for me also. I have met the nicest people thru blogging. Some have touched my heart at the right times. I love that we are one big family willing to offer up prayers and give loving advise and kind words. May God bless us all, xoxo,Susie

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  22. Bonnie, this is a beautiful post on friendships. It is all so true. Thank you for sharing!

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  23. I've always heard that if you can count your true friends on one hand, then you are a very fortunate person. I truly believe that. My very best friends are very far away. My childhood family moved so many times that I did not meet my BFF until high school. We haven't always been in close contact (actually never since college), but she and her hubby are close, but long-distant friends. It's one of those friendships where you know what the other one is going to say before she says it, and we can pick right up on a conversation that we started two years prior. I only have a couple of those kind of friends, but truly, truly cherish them! They are in my thoughts and prayers every day!

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  24. I love this post! How nice of you to share your friends...both in real life and in blog land. I agree that fellow bloggers can become dear friends! Your kids are beautiful & handsome. Their accomplishments are a direct result of your parenting.

    A dear friend of mine just moved to FL last week and wow, the loss is huge! I know we'll remain friends but it will definitely be different. God places people in our lives for a reason...sometimes we don't know if we are to learn from them or vice-versa. :)

    So happy to have "met" you!

    xo
    Pat
    P.S. I will pray for the family of the young lady lost. My almost 16 yr old granddaughter was fatally injured in a freak auto accident 6/21/13. There is no pain like it.

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I love the friendships I have developed through blogging. Visit and comment and I'll be sure to drop by and talk to you.