Friendships.. I cherish you all!

Stacie & I today: 35 years old.... friends for 23 years!

   8th Grade Graduation 1987
1996 Me graduating from college!

Friends are great! I love my friends, 

all of them, new & old; young & old too. 

Whether its a Women's retreat, 

business dinners & trips or wine tasting,  Disneyland,

spa days,  trips to Target, the mall or the Spectrum... just about anywhere.

 Friends play a huge role in my everyday life even if they are not in my everyday life! 

Without them Jeff would have more words to hear after work than he already does.

I have been blessed to have many best friends in my 35 years of life. 

I would love to name each one here, 

but if I forgot one I would feel horrible and plus you all know who you are!

You are the ones who were there when I was growing up, playing tennis, dating dating & more dating, going to college, living on my own, first jobs, when i met jeff, when we got married and delivered each child, through surgery... child rearing, business transitions... 

and so many other things.... you were there!

Some are still in my life and others are not. 

From each friend I have learned and grown so much and without each of their friendships I would not be who I am today. 

God has used each one to teach & train me to be a good friend too!

I've had said this before, but I will say it a million times, I was ecstatic when I found out my youngest was a girl! I was so happy Camryn would have a sister to be best friends with, share clothes and shoes, exercise with, cry and laugh with & even fight with....

And the best part I love doing it all (not the fighting) with them too and I look forward to each year doing more and more.

Last night I went to see Bruce Springsteen in concert with my longtime childhood best friend I have known since junior high (12 years old)... it was a last minute thing and even though I was soooo tired from the retreat all weekend & working monday than having CPR training monday night, Jeff and I decided it would be good for me to go. 

Stac and I  never get a chance to hang out. 

We have totally different lives today as we once did. 

We met in 7th grade science class, I think passing notes and we just clicked.. you know how it happens. You can have a huge group of friends, but really click and TRUST a few. Well that was it we were the inseparable duo in our group of friends. We went through it ALL! 

First dates, first kisses, first boyfriends and breakups too.. dances, endless slumber parties, all the fun in school you can have we had. College came...  I went to Saddleback and then SCC... she went to OCC than UCSB... 

waitressing jobs separately and new friends for each came and went. 

Then I met Jeff and I took the marriage & family route much earlier than she dreamed of. 

10 years later, We still talk as often as we can and inform each other of all BIG news! (Like her Big sister Lisa just had a precious baby girl, Ava... I would not have missed meeting her and celebrating with the family! I am so happy that after all these years I am still the honorary 4th Meyer's daughter.)

She was there when my first daughter was born along with her sister Trisha and my friend, Erin and of course my mom.. 2nd time it was just Jeff & I in the room.. a lot less flash bulbs!

I am thankful for the years that I had a friend who cared and liked me no matter what. We were in it for the long haul, thick & thin. Last night during the concert we talked non stop through the entire concert, old times,  old jokes, present times, boyfriends prospects (for her of course.. there were some cute guys there last night... age appropriate too.. too bad we could not stop talking!) I wish she would find that special person that she can spend her life with, not because she isn't complete, but because I love being married soo much and being a mother is the BEST... I want to share one more wonderful thing with my friend! 

I think I take it for granted how fortunate I am to have had a BEST friend at every stage of my life. Recently I was talking to a girlfriend (no names!) who was having surgery and it was possibly going to be in OC and I told her I would help take care of her. She was so surprised and happy I would do that. Then she decided to have the surgery closer to home, and I asked her if one of her friends was going to help out. She said no I don't really have a best friend. I was floored.. her mom was helping her and don't get me wrong mom's are amazing friends too! But i could not believe she was telling me she did not have a best friend she could ask! 

I almost told her I had a couple I could loan out! (heehee)

I want you to know, all of you friends I never take you for granted, I love having you around for girl time, family time and couple time. Even if a phone call when we get a minute... I love it all! Every friend doesn't have to be your soul mate, they can't be! But all friends can play many different roles in your life in all your stages! 

Isn't it great to be a woman and have friends?! Guys don't need their friends like we do, we know the things on their minds they are simple and amazing!

Thank you to all my friends who are more like sisters and my two wonderful sister-n-laws and of course, my mom who influenced me the most on who I am as a wife & mom! 

A BIG THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU ALL!