Good Friends are Family!

We had a wonderful evening with friends last night...friends that are really more like family.  Marty and I have known Len and Gloria for close to 30 years I think. They've been with us through good times and bad. There have been years when we relate more and others when we relate less, but always our friendship remains strong. I know that I can count on either of them if I need help in some way or just need to talk. I probably don't rely on them as much as I should. When you share your struggles with people you trust, those same burdens can feel lighter.

Last night Gloria made her homemade pizza. As usual, it was delicious. For dessert, we had her famous rum cake (famous in a wonderful way to all who have had it! :-) Gloria makes it most every New Year. Since this is the one time of year that she bakes this tasty cake, I'm truly thankful that we get to participate in the event. She really should bake this yummy dessert more often though. That way I could remind her on multiple occasions how good it is and build up her self-esteem. Of course, Gloria doesn't really need her self-esteem built. All of her cooking is good and she knows it. How could she not, she gets to eat it everyday! I'm just looking for an excuse to make this tradition happen more often. :-) Whether that happens or not though, Gloria did send us home with leftovers of her pizza and rum cake, so we had one more day to enjoy it! Mmmh!

After dinner with Len and Gloria, we each had questions to share. I love the questions. It's a way to get to know each other, and ourselves, better. The questions force you to think because they're usually not ones you've pondered before. One question Len asked was, "Who in your life are you most like?" What we learned through that question is that we make a sum total of All of those we care about. I am like each person that was in that room. Besides our personalities being alike in some way from the start, each has given and/or taught  me something that I grabbed onto to make me who I am today. We are ever-changing because of the people around us, and because of God in us, while still remaining unique. I like that.

A question Gloria asked was something like, "Name a Wow! God moment we had in the last year." Marty, Len and Gloria all had something to share. I couldn't think of a response. I don't think that's because there wasn't any Wow! God Moment in my life. I either didn't remember; or more likely than not, didn't notice it. I think God makes big moments in our life throughout the year...maybe even daily...but we're often too distracted to recognize them. I could blame my fibro fog or monkey mind, but I believe God is bigger than all I deal with. I think if we, if I, made a better effort, I could notice and remember these special moments. So one more thing I learned from my friends, is that I need to make a more concentrated effort so that I too can feel the joy of a Wow! moment in God. I just realized while writing this that last night was a Wow! God moment. Through everyone else sharing their own God experiences, I felt God's presence while also learning I needed to do more to recognize my own God moments. Wow! :-)

A third question asked was, "Where would you go if you only had $500 for a trip." Marty, Len and Gloria said they'd go see a parent. My parents are with the Lord, so I'm proud that my friends and husband recognize how valuable their own parents are while they're still alive. Since I don't have a mom or dad to visit, I'd go see my friend Karen in Oregon. She's a part of who I am too; and like Len and Gloria, more like family. 

I want to thank all of my close friends, Julee too, for being my extended family. My life wouldn't be as good without you. I thank the Lord too, for placing each of them in my life. No matter what I deal with in regard to my health, or emotionally, life is good because of God, my family, and my extended family of friends. I love you all!

Smile

Yesterday wasn't the greatest day. I had to be at the airport by 4am and say goodbye to a good friend. Because of the early flight, the night before I didn't take the meds that would help me sleep. I was afraid I'd be in a haze and not wake up in time. Because I didn't get much sleep though, the fibro fog set in anyway. It had enveloped my brain as I rode to the airport, making it difficult to focus. The pain throughout my body was worse too.

To make matters worse, it was the first day of United and Continental Airlines merging. Their new computer system had glitches, so it took longer to check in. I felt relief when making it to security and it was my turn for a body scan. You know my head is messed up when I find joy in that! :-) My inward smile faded when I was told they'd need to pat me down; though as any good Christian would, I smiled and said, OK. Whoo hoo, more fun! I did request a private room though. I wasn't inclined to show by belly to everyone going through the security line. A girl needs some privacy! Before the pat down, security asked if I had any pain. YES...EVERYWHERE! I have Fibromyalgia! Of course I didn't say it in that tone outwardly. I'm not sure why the question though, they pat you down all over anyway. Thankfully though, the patting didn't aggrivate the pain, and no bombs or chemical residue were found on me. I was released to go to my gate...only to wait an extra 40 minutes before the plane flew out because of the ongoing computer problems.

I was late into San Francisco, but thankfully I had a long layover so didn't need to rush. I had plenty of time to get a simple (not so good) breakfast of eggs, sausage and toast for a mere $13. You really do need to be rich to travel! After sitting, walking, standing, walking and sitting again so as to avoid any additional fibro pain, it was time to line up to the gate to fly out...only to find the United computer problem still unresolved. The new system didn't accept boarding passes printed before the merge...anyone who'd checked in early had to check in again. I didn't let that get to me, though there was quite a bit of grumbling in the crowd. After another 45 minute delay, I was seated on the plane. In less than 2 minutes I discovered I was sitting next to grumpy pants; and within another 5 minutes, my airline attendant showed her foul mood as well. It was a  long 4 1/2 hour flight before I finally arrived in Chicago; but thankfully, we arrived safely and I'd not been snippy with anyone. Fighting through the emotions and dealing with fatigue and pain all day had taken a toll on me though.

This trip reminded me that there are so many instances in life which can affect us negatively if we allow it. Whether we are aware of it or not, our brain and heart are constantly making choices on how to deal with situations and people. We can make our day worse or better by how we respond to them. I believe that each time we make a decision to smile in the face of adversity...or at least, not outwardly scream...we are choosing a better way. It's our choice to be happy...or not. I didn't necessarily spill out with joy during my day of traveling, but I didn't bite anyone's head off either. That makes me happy. :-)

What stands out the most on my trip home was a young girl's smile. As I walked down the airplane aisle, I felt this tug on my sleeve and turned to see this small girl looking up at me. Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she showed me her sweet smile, and that one moment made me forget about the pain and fatigue, and had more impact than all the negatives put together. I believe when we allow the good feelings, however few, to outweigh the bad, God smiles too. Makes me think I should smile a little more too, so that maybe I might make it a better day for someone else...just like that little girl did for me.

Friends

It's my last day in Oregon. I've had a great time with Karen...lots of fun memories. There's no one in my life that can make me laugh more, and I trust Karen implicitly. I am so thankful for her friendship.

When looking back at my life, I never really had any true friends throughout most of it. I moved a lot growing up, and it became easy to walk away from people. In school, and as a young adult, the friends I had never really knew me. They might share themselves with me, but I never gave any part of myself to them. In the end, I knew they weren't really friends, because they were OK with just knowing who I was on the surface. In most cases that was just a face I put on to hide myself. It wasn't even really me.

It wasn't till I was near 30 years old when I became friends with Karen. I didn't go into it expecting much. She was a girl that grew up in the church...her dad was a pastor. I was a girl who more or less grew up in a bar. Many in my family were alcoholics. What could Karen and I have in common? Nothing that I could see. I'm sure Karen felt the same. God saw something different though. He used our differences to help each other grow. Through time our friendship blossomed and now 25+ years later, she has become one of the best friends I will ever have, and I am a better person because of her. I will forever be thankful to the Lord for bringing Karen into my life.

Thank you, Karen, for being someone with whom I can laugh, cry or be outright goofy. I never worry about what you'll think of me no matter what my mood. Thanks too for the free room and board the last 10 days. I'm leaving rested and more able to take on the world, because of having a friend like you in it!