favorite things friday

I can't believe another week has gone by! Things have been so busy around here...but in a good way! This month the boys and I have been focused on writing down things we are thankful for. It has been a good exercise for all of us and something that we have all enjoyed!

This week for my favorite things Friday I want to count my blessings with friendships that have been formed. Moving to a small town where you don't know anyone can be hard. In fact, I think that I underestimated how difficult it was going to be. People that have a history together, that have known each other since grade school aren't so willing to let the "new girl" into the group.

On top of that, I tend to be shy/reserved with people I don't know that well. I have been praying for God to open doors for me. Well this week I see an open door and I am running through it!!

Favorite Things Friendships:

1. We are having a few of the boys friends over to spend the night tonight. It will be pizza and a movie and video games and staying up way too late! N said the boys are going to take over the world!!

2. I invited a few friends to a cooking class at Big Cedar and they all said yes! This will be the first time that we have done anything socially together although we all volunteer at the school. I'm so excited!

3. I surprised the boys with a tea party after school yesterday. It was fruit and cheese, bread and a really yummy pumpkin spread. We ate on pretty plates and drank out of breakable cups. The boys loved it and so did I!!

4. I got together with a girl that is on a fundraising committee with me at school. We were supposed to brainstorm ideas of businesses that would be willing to donate goods/services to a auction that we put on every year. We spent the morning talking and laughing and connecting! We got very little actual work done but I think that we successfully formed a friendship!

5. The hospital has been extremely stressful and busy lately. I have questioned how I can be a good nurse when so many things are piled on me. I know my co-workers are feeling it too. But when things get really stressful we band together and work as a team. We are also planning to get together outside of work for a girls night out!

I feel so blessed right now and thank God for all my wonderful family and friends!

Girls night in

I'm having a few girlfriends over this friday night. It will be after supper so I don't have to worry about feeding everyone a big meal (although I do like to do that). But I do want some appetizers and drinks and I am trying to come up with a theme: mexican? italian? dessert & coffee? Anyone who knows me knows that I like to have a food planned theme for every event. Sunday brunch with girlfriends/overnight french toast with triple berry medley. Date night in with Spencer/bruschetta with Gorgonzola and honey. UFC fight/hot wings (or in my case veggie hot wings).
But in this case I've got nothing. Any help would be much appreciated. I think part of my mental block about the food is that I don't want anyone to see inside my house. The decor is what I lovingly refer to as old lady chic, and aside from slapping some paint on a few walls we have done nothing to improve it! Now I love to entertain and I love to have pretty things around me. So I guess what is bothering me is that the stained kitchen cabinets and the peeling linoleum is not a reflection of my personality. And I do want to make a good impression because isn't making new girlfriends somewhat like dating? You want to put your best foot forward. Make sure you don't have lipstick on your teeth or toilet paper dangling from your shoe.
But then I think, get over yourself. Nobody is going to care what your house looks like as long as the company is good. Right?!
So back to the important stuff: food. Any ideas? Please leave suggestions.

Friendship

I love the sisterhood that true, authentic friendships with women provide. I love the come on over, I'll be right there. The tears over coffee, the laugh out loud moments. The silly, irreverent and light. And also the life changing, hard, fall to your knees and pray moments. I love it all. Friendship's are wonderful. They are bold and loud and we live courageously in them. They are as soft and soothing as sunshine on our face on a warm summer day.

It's been difficult to pack my bags and move away from all my friends. But I felt and still feel that this is the best move for our family. There have been moments when I have prayed, are you sure God? Did I misunderstand? But then I feel a peace settle down, a calmness that says yes. Yes, this is the place to grow your family. To grow your dreams. To grow in Me.

The stuff I said about friendship. I believe it with all my heart. I'm also going to say it's hard. It's not easy inviting people over, letting people in. We have lived here for a year and a half. And I still haven't found anyone that I can invite over when the house is messy, or when my four year old is in a temper. When we are less than our best.

A few nights ago I was crying. Why don't I have any friends? It seems so easy for some people, why is it so hard for me? My husband's response, have you prayed about it? No. So I did. And I have every night since. And then I found a wonderful blog about entertaining. Invite people over it said. But I'm the new girl. Shouldn't people be inviting me over? Is that what I've been waiting for? Would it really be that easy? So I tried it. Invited people over for supper. And they said yes! Giddy with excitement, my confidence restored I invited a few other women out to a movie that we all wanted to see. Yes. Thank-you God.

Friends

We had friends over yesterday, out of town friends that we haven't seen in ages. So we had plenty of time to prepare the house, dust the dirt off, clean out the corners and pretend that we always live this way. But I was still fretful. Will they see the stains on the carpet, the cracked tiles, the sticky little boy smudges?
But when they arrived it was sweet comfort, hugs all around. Laughter. Catch-up, remember when. New friendships formed for the little ones.
Come as you are.
Oh, what a blessing friendship is!

Happy Birthday Becca!

My sister's kids last summer. Can you believe I don't have a picture of Becca?! We are going to have to take some pictures the next time we see each other!

Becca, it's times like this that I really hate living so far away from you! I would love to take you shopping for a new pair of shoes, or maybe a book:-) Then we could get something to eat at a fancy restaurant and catch up over a good cup of coffee, all my treat of course!

Doesn't that sound like fun?!

Sister Quotes:

Going through life with the family thighs is a lot easier when there's somebody else out there with two more just like them.

Your sister will do anything for you, as proven by the bridesmaid dress she wore at your wedding.

Whoever said "a sister is a sheltering tree" clearly never had to fight for her share of the umbrella.

What Sister's Share by Jennifer Fujita

Happy Birthday Becca! Even though we are so far away, my thoughts have been with you all day. I hope you have a wonderful day!