On Friends.

We're similar, the two of us.  When I met her a little over two years ago, I had no idea what that woman surrounded by 8 children would end up meaning to me.  Weeks passed and we talked a little bit, and then a little bit more each time we met in the toddler room at our homeschool co op.  The more I got to know her, the more I looked forward to seeing her.

I had four at the time - always a little one on my back as I ushered the older ones to their weekly classes.  She was constantly surrounded by her little ones and was expecting another, soon.  She was tired, but excited.  To hear her talk, you'd think this 9th baby was her very first. 10 years between us, yet I didn't see it; I still don't.  I was impressed by how well behaved her children were, and how quiet she was with them.

When you're a stay at home mom, it can be hard to make new friends.  You find them sometimes, at the sidelines of a child's soccer game; in the waiting room at ballet.  Sometimes you strike up somewhat of a connection, maybe even get together once or twice outside of the event where you originally met.  For me, those relationships rarely last long - once soccer season is over, or children's interests demand a change of scenery, slowly friendships fade and make room for new ones of a similar caliber.  Casual friends.  Its a good thing.

I'm not sure what I was expecting.  My best friends are girls I've known my whole life.  Not new moms I met as recently as two years ago at my kids' homeschool group.

Yet there it is.  She invited me to her home to meet her friends, our kids playing together happily in various corners.  I was hooked.  I wasn't expecting to find someone with whom I share so many thoughts and ideas.  I wasn't expecting to confide in her the way I now do, rely on her insights and advice to this extent.

I wasn't expecting to fall in love with her family.  To look forward to seeing her kids, ask them how they are doing and what is going on in their lives.

These days, I've got five kids to unload on co op day and she's got my number doubled.  I sit at her dining room table sipping coffee while she folds laundry and we talk it all out: marriage, faith, family, homeschooling.  She teaches me how to bake bread and brings my family meals when I'm at the hospital with a sick baby.  I bring her flowers and cuddle her babies and can't get over just how lucky I am to know someone like her.  We laugh and joke and poke fun at ourselves and each other.

Its easy how we get on.  Natural.  But when our talks get serious, I realize why it is I look forward to seeing her each and every time -

I leave her house encouraged and challenged.  I leave our conversations inspired.  She makes me want to be a better Mom, Wife, person.  She makes me want to cuddle right up to Jesus.

For this Mama, God brought one of my best friends into my life when I had four kids and no time for friendship.  And I'm so very glad He did.

Proverbs 18:24
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT)