Comments on: Mothers and Friendships and Young Children http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:07:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Mary http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7675 Mary Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:23:33 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7675 Thanks, Bethanie! I hear you on the distance separating us. As I said in my last comment, emails and online blogs really help though! And snail mail and care packages are really nice too! ;) Thanks, Bethanie! I hear you on the distance separating us. As I said in my last comment, emails and online blogs really help though! And snail mail and care packages are really nice too! ;)

]]> By: Mary http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7673 Mary Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:06:47 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7673 Husbands are of course the best of friends to have, but I think it takes a lot of pressure off of our men if we can talk our "fears/hopes" out with a kindred-spirit woman friend who is going through the same things as we are. When I met Kim, in the above story, I'd just "lost" my best friend to a cross-country move. In fact, my friend and I only had a year or so together before she moved and the closeness we shared was that similar to sisters. I found out I was pregnant with my first child after she left...and it was almost two years later that God led Kim and I to each other. So I identify with having that period of "mourning" the absence of a good friend. It's hard, especially when it seems as though everyone out there except you has a friend or a "clique" to which they belong. But Holly, you are so right, God can use periods of "friendship drought" to grow us closer to Him, just as He uses any hardships He allows in our lives...thanks for sharing that, Holly. :) Amy, I tend to agree. The only 9 month olds in our church that behave themselves during the service are the ones that sleep through it! But I think we can all identify with the insecurities of new motherhood and squirmy babies in church! That's definitely my biggest memory of my friend's wedding, worrying over the creaking doors as I slipped out of the sanctuary! ;) Hugs to you Juli--I'm so glad to have you here, and to have gotten to know you a bit "behind the scenes". If only the pioneer women could have had the internet for friendships, huh! Those poor things on the wind-rampaged prairies in their dug-outs...we girls can touch hearts on a daily basis at the skitter of a few keys and a mouse, no need to get dressed up and drive to a central meeting place. What a quick and wonderful way to encourage each other! I love it... Colleen, thank you for blessing me with your response to the story. I pray that you'll find that step-support in a special friend. God wants you and SR to succeed, and a huge part of that includes your relationships working with the kids. Family is such a multi-faceted word. Belonging is so important. I know that everything can seem all goodness and light before the ceremony, and then the real struggles begin. If only we could all see the wonderful goodness of the big picture (such as the fact that you are completing SR's family) and not let all the little things (that are sure to hurt as you adjust) erode away at it. Your experience working with young people is sure to come in handy, but even more important is having a "flight plan" spiritually in place before you even need it! Wishing you God's best, and praying for you guys! Husbands are of course the best of friends to have, but I think it takes a lot of pressure off of our men if we can talk our “fears/hopes” out with a kindred-spirit woman friend who is going through the same things as we are. When I met Kim, in the above story, I’d just “lost” my best friend to a cross-country move. In fact, my friend and I only had a year or so together before she moved and the closeness we shared was that similar to sisters. I found out I was pregnant with my first child after she left…and it was almost two years later that God led Kim and I to each other. So I identify with having that period of “mourning” the absence of a good friend. It’s hard, especially when it seems as though everyone out there except you has a friend or a “clique” to which they belong. But Holly, you are so right, God can use periods of “friendship drought” to grow us closer to Him, just as He uses any hardships He allows in our lives…thanks for sharing that, Holly. :)

Amy, I tend to agree. The only 9 month olds in our church that behave themselves during the service are the ones that sleep through it! But I think we can all identify with the insecurities of new motherhood and squirmy babies in church! That’s definitely my biggest memory of my friend’s wedding, worrying over the creaking doors as I slipped out of the sanctuary! ;)

Hugs to you Juli–I’m so glad to have you here, and to have gotten to know you a bit “behind the scenes”. If only the pioneer women could have had the internet for friendships, huh! Those poor things on the wind-rampaged prairies in their dug-outs…we girls can touch hearts on a daily basis at the skitter of a few keys and a mouse, no need to get dressed up and drive to a central meeting place. What a quick and wonderful way to encourage each other! I love it…

Colleen, thank you for blessing me with your response to the story. I pray that you’ll find that step-support in a special friend. God wants you and SR to succeed, and a huge part of that includes your relationships working with the kids. Family is such a multi-faceted word. Belonging is so important. I know that everything can seem all goodness and light before the ceremony, and then the real struggles begin. If only we could all see the wonderful goodness of the big picture (such as the fact that you are completing SR’s family) and not let all the little things (that are sure to hurt as you adjust) erode away at it. Your experience working with young people is sure to come in handy, but even more important is having a “flight plan” spiritually in place before you even need it! Wishing you God’s best, and praying for you guys!

]]> By: Bethanie http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7672 Bethanie Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:48:58 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7672 Great post Mary. I've been thinking about this some lately. I wish you and I weren't 7 hours from each other. I'll be praying that I can make friends with a gentle woman closer to home as well. Great post Mary. I’ve been thinking about this some lately. I wish you and I weren’t 7 hours from each other. I’ll be praying that I can make friends with a gentle woman closer to home as well.

]]> By: Holly http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7671 Holly Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:45:01 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7671 Friends are so important! I've not always had that "close" friend...depending on where we've lived. But I've sure missed having one when I did not! Sometimes I've prayed for years, and God has not provided. It must have been for a reason - a deepening in me. What a refreshment when a good friend was once again provided! I think that women who move a lot have to work harder at making the friendships - military, pastor's wives, etc...if you know you will be moving sometime it is harder to make friends, to put down roots. But we are ALL missing something if we do not have at least ONE good friend close to where we live! Friends are so important! I’ve not always had that “close” friend…depending on where we’ve lived. But I’ve sure missed having one when I did not!

Sometimes I’ve prayed for years, and God has not provided. It must have been for a reason - a deepening in me. What a refreshment when a good friend was once again provided! I think that women who move a lot have to work harder at making the friendships - military, pastor’s wives, etc…if you know you will be moving sometime it is harder to make friends, to put down roots.

But we are ALL missing something if we do not have at least ONE good friend close to where we live!

]]> By: Amy http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7668 Amy Sun, 13 Jan 2008 06:12:40 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7668 yes God IS good - he's amazing. I think the thing to remember about such a young child is that at this age they do tend to squirm and not want to sit still. Anyone who thinks they should "behave themselves" at 9 months is dreaming - unless they're asleep then it just doesn't happen. yes God IS good - he’s amazing. I think the thing to remember about such a young child is that at this age they do tend to squirm and not want to sit still. Anyone who thinks they should “behave themselves” at 9 months is dreaming - unless they’re asleep then it just doesn’t happen.

]]> By: Juli Green-Birdsall http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7665 Juli Green-Birdsall Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:52:59 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7665 I also found this site because of the friendship bread. My sister found it, and said that I would love this, and I have been reading it ever since. God does bring us to one another. This story brought tears to my eyes, and hope to my heart. I also found this site because of the friendship bread. My sister found it, and said that I would love this, and I have been reading it ever since. God does bring us to one another. This story brought tears to my eyes, and hope to my heart.

]]> By: Colleen http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7663 Colleen Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:01:59 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7663 This is such a great story and gives me hope too. I long to find another step-family like ours or at the very least a step-mom who's "been there". The kids are great, but I just want to find another woman who I can confide in that will just understand! Your story touched my heart. Thanks so much for sharing. This is such a great story and gives me hope too. I long to find another step-family like ours or at the very least a step-mom who’s “been there”. The kids are great, but I just want to find another woman who I can confide in that will just understand! Your story touched my heart. Thanks so much for sharing.

]]> By: Mary http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7662 Mary Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:30:26 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7662 You are welcome, you've given back so much in return, Geri! Glad you liked the story. :) You are welcome, you’ve given back so much in return, Geri! Glad you liked the story. :)

]]> By: Geri http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7659 Geri Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:15:55 +0000 http://homesteepedhope.com/2008/01/12/mothers-and-friendships-and-young-children/#comment-7659 This gives me hope! Such a nice, inspiring story to read. Thank you! Funny how God works in such mysterious ways...like how I found this site through searching for an Amish Friendship Bread recipe! This gives me hope! Such a nice, inspiring story to read. Thank you! Funny how God works in such mysterious ways…like how I found this site through searching for an Amish Friendship Bread recipe!

]]>