A shout out to my girls...

As Ethan's sing-song folly about me having girlfriends comes to an end I can't help but smile. He of course thinks it's oh so funny that mommy would have a girlfriend, considering he can't think of anything quite so disgusting. I laugh and say yes, I do. Not just one girlfriend but many. That is not an easy task mind you. I've spent the better part of the past 10 years with out anyone I felt I could really confide in other than my husband and even he doesn't want to hear everything! I've had the bad habit of picking friends that I've had things in common with, things meaning hobbies/kids/outside interests. Now I'm finally graduating to friends with the same core values. Amazingly, it no longer matters if we have one hobby in common. We don't have to all love to cook, we don't all have to want to go jogging at 4am, scrapbook, gardening or go antiquing. We do want to raise our kids as best we can, we do want to give our burdens over to an amazing Lord that we know will take care of it. Often times this happens once we have thoroughly vented to each other and possibly consumed copious amounts of a good cab but it happens none-the-less!!! I remember in high school, how my parents would always talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with people that had your same values. I of course thought I was impervious to any others views. I was a strong "woman" at 16 and could certainly keep my beliefs in check amongst the heathens. I think I'll be a bit more adamant about it with my kids knowing how impossible it truly is. Surround yourself with turkeys and you'll soon start to gobble. HA! like that? Sorry, I still hold out some hope that one day my kids will read this and get some sort of gleaming words of wisdom from mom. I don't want them to be shaking hands with 40 when they finally start listening to that voice that says it's OK to be themselves. I finally am being my real self and God has surrounded me with a group of women that actually think that's just fine. Funny how that happens. I raise my glass of port ('97 Warres, mmmmmm) to all my girlfriends. "May neighbours respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you, And heaven accept you." Salut!!!