Friends...

The bracelet has my dad's initials on it and the necklace matches it...my dad never went anywhere without his gun so this fits perfectly!


A very sweet dear friend got these for me.  She gave me the bracelet for my birthday in July and just today gave me the necklace.  Timing is everything and she's been a rock.  The kind of rock that is there just when you need.  I love our friendship because it's the kind that we can not see or talk to each other for days or even weeks and then just pick right back up where we left off!  That's a rare thing and I'm very appreciative of it.  So the bracelet has a gun on it and my dad's initials, so very fitting because my dad NEVER went anywhere without his gun or maybe two!  It was an awesome birthday present because 3 years ago on my birthday is when my dad went to the hospital.  So my birthday is a little hard and this year especially.  So I'm thankful she thought of me during that time.  Now I'm not sure why she got me the necklace, except that it matches the bracelet, or why she gave it to me today.  Today is not that different than other days but it's a hard one!  Well it is a little different, my mom is visiting family in California, and for the first time I feel completely alone!  By alone I mean all grown up and on my own and I don't like it!  I don't like it one bit!  Growing up is hard to do and I don't want to do it now!  Now I'm not really alone, remember I have 4 boys and a husband, but for some reason it feels as if I am.  Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by males and their sensitivity is lacking at best sometimes.  Also my older two boys are going with my in-laws on a little road trip tomorrow and I'm going to miss them terribly!  It's crazy, I know.  But they seem to be growing up entirely too fast and I can't stop time!  So I will embrace every moment I have with my kiddos!  Therefore, instead of being upset that my big boys are gone, I'm going to focus on the little guys and we are going to have a great time.  It reminds me of when my big boys were little and how much fun I had with them.  I still can't believe how fast time goes by and I really want a pause button!  Oh well, I'll just have to enjoy each day that comes and what it brings because that's all we really have.

Back to friendship, I'm so thankful for all the friends I have that have helped me over these last few months!  I'm especially thankful for my dad's buddy, Alan!

Alan feeding Gentry something like cool whip or ice-cream!

I'm not really sure how long my dad and Alan have been friends but I've known Alan since I was in high school.  And yes I've almost been out of high school 20 years! yikes!  He's done anything and everything that I've needed help with since I went to stay with mom and dad in April.  I know that this type of friendship doesn't come along everyday and I'm thankful for him!  He's taken the boys to shoot almost every week since my dad died and has checked on them and helped keep them and taken them where ever they needed to go and even helped do some farm chores.  What a guy!  He really understood my dad and I'm glad he's a part of our family!  I know that good friends only come along ever so often and I've been blessed with many over the years.

The thing I think is most important about friendships is that you can be who you are without having to put up a front.  Because why have friends that you can't really be yourself around???  Life is way too short for that kind of nonsense!  I want friends in my life that I can be who I am, craziness included, and I've got that and I'm so thankful and feel incredibly blessed.  I think this has hit me hard lately because I realize that my dad was not only my dad but my best friend, next to Gary!  He's been my best friend probably my whole life.  Now I'm realizing how important friendships are.  I also realize how broken hearted my mom is, she's not only lost her husband (if I haven't told you already how very much in love they are) but also her best friend.  That's so much to take all at once but she's showing me how to live and keep going, afterall that's exactly what dad told us to do!  She's an amazing woman and I'm so thankful to call her my mom and my friend.  There's always a positive in every situation and I'm finding them everyday!  Just KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON!

Trinity