I love my friends :)

Today I want to talk about my friends. I have such a variety of friends, from ones I see regularly (M, who is also baby E's babysitter - I see her every morning when I drop him off and we usually have a quick chat, which is a great way to start my morning!), to those who have never met and only "talk" to via FB every once in a while. I have friends whom I've known since I was in elementary school, to those whom I've met within the last year. Friends who live in my neighborhood, friends who live in different countries. Probably you have friends who fit under all of these categories, too, and are wondering why I'm stating the obvious (I have friends, yay me!). 

Here's why...I think I have awesome friends and I so appreciate them. And so I just wanted to thank them.  Here are a few of the awesome things our friends have done for us lately - JE baked, decorated, and brought us beautiful cookies knowing we would probably need a little pick-me-up when we were supposed to have a a visit with birthdad and she also is making an awesome tractor cake for the kid's birthday party Sunday; M wasn't looking for any more kiddos to babysit, but offered to keep baby E for us because she could tell I was freaking out not being able to find anyone who was right; so many of you sending birthday wishes to the kid and letting us know that you, too, love him; Silly Bob remembering (without us mentioning it first) why the Superbowl is so meaningful to us; and K, whom I have never met in person, asking  for prayers for us from everyone she knows when R was considering changing her mind about us parenting baby E.

Each of you has played a significant role in our lives. I just want you to know we see the love to shower upon us and we are sending it back to you, even if it isn't obvious.

Today's lesson - we all sometimes fail those we care about. Sometimes all we can think about is how others' have failed us. Sometimes all we can think about when we're offered love and friendship is what will now be required of us. I would suggest that by focusing on those failings of others' and what we in turn may "owe" them, we are really failing ourselves. We are preventing ourselves from being able to experience the love others are offering to share with us. We are preventing others from loving us. So, accept the cookies without guilt. Accept the kind words of support when offered from the friend whom you haven't heard from in 10 years. Allow the friend to decide what she can handle, what is in her own best interest when she offers to care for your child.  Send prayers of thanksgiving for the friend who offered up prayers for you. Be open to love in all it's forms. Each of those moments and expressions is a gift. Accept it with grace.