Friends

Around ten years ago when I left home to go to college a few weeks before some of the most memorable years of my life were to begin I was with my new team mates in the Pisgah National Forest taking a dip into the French Broad River.  Our coach would take us up into the moutains to go swimming and hiking.  He felt strongly about us being close and having fun together off the field.  I remember wearing my favorite burgundy chaco sandals and noticing a girl on the team had an exact pair like them.  Seemed elementary of me to think this, but I thought she must be cool to have the same shoes as me. (lol).  As we swam in the chilled clean and clear water I pulled myself up on the rocks to take in all that was happening around me.  I felt alone and was homesick, but excited about the times to come.  Some of my new team mates were even farther away from home than me.  It made me feel grateful to live only 4.5 hours from home and if I had too I could drive down the mountain back home before season started.  As I'm sitting there a new transfer from VT on the team came up to me and starting talking with me.  She was full of life and energy.  From the small bit of observation you could tell she loved life and was a happy and fun gal.   I always gravitated to people like this in hopes that I could be more like them I guess.  She picks up a medium sized rock and says, "listen to this".  She throws the rock up into the air and then it falls heavily down into the river making a loud and funny sound.  She says, "thats an elephant fart".  We both laughed.  I was in need of some good laughter over something childish and silly like this.  I knew from right then on that we would be friends.  I know its silly, but sometimes you just know when you have a certain connection to someone.  Chacos and elephant farts were only the beginning.   The season turned into seasons that we got to play soccer together.  We went on our ways trying to follow the path that God had paved for us.  Meg accepted Christ into her heart during these precious years and her faith and love for Christ grew so much.  We both married our college sweethearts and in my heart deep down hoped and prayed that we would one day get to laugh like that again together.  Meg and Jeff lived in Kentucky for a while before they moved to Arcadia, FL.  John and I lived in Rockford, IL until I finished school.  We then moved to Bradenton, FL for me to attend an internship to receive my licensure and registration as a dietitian.  We were a hour from each other now.  We were very thankful and excited to be so close.  Busy lives with work and such made it challenging for our families to get together.  We were thankful to only be a hour from each other, but it was more than a tease than anything.  Then about seven months ago my husband told me that Meg and Jeff were moving to Sarasota.  I couldn't believe it.  Jeff had not yet told Meg in hopes to help her maintain composure while he figured out the details.  I couldn't believe it.  I was so excited and couldn't even talk to my best friend about it.  Once Meg knew they were moving we then talked about how great it would be and were counting down the days till the move.  I couldn't be more blessed to have one of my best friends from college back in my life.  She has not only motivated me to make time for myself and get back into the gym, but she has made being away from family (once again) a little easier by being such a genuine friend. Our friendship makes me stronger when that feeling of homesickness that is so familiar sets in.  She is a friend that I can pray with and study God's word with.  I am so blessed to have her back in my life.  Our children are laughing and playing together and it is a joy to our hearts to see this.  We sometimes doubted that our paths may never cross again, but thankfully my prayer was answered.  Thank you Lord for my friend Meg.   I'm so glad that I get to share these special moments with her.  I pray that I can be what she needs from me as a friend.  I pray that I will never take our friendship for granted.  Here are a few pictures of Sommer and Oakley playing together today.