The bonds of Friendship

Littlefoot "Have you ever seen the Great Valley?" ~"No." Said Littlefoot's Mother ~ Littlefoot "Well, how do you know it's really there?" ~ "Some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart." said Littlefoot's Mother ~ Littlefoot "I don't understand, Mother" ~"You will, my son. You will." --The Land Before Time ♥ Talking with my girlfriends on the phone is such a wonderful thing. Though many of us are miles apart, it feels as if I can just pop over to their house for coffee after each time we talk. Recently, while talking and laughing about our pictures of our last beach vacation I realized that none of us are the same place we were a year ago. Yes, I know everything and everyone changes. But to fully understand you'd have to know what brought us all together. We all were going through one thing or another, we all were struggling with something, and we bonded over how much our lives were alike ~ taste in music, love of photography, being a mom, gardening, our children ~ we were comfortable and real with each other in a way many often shy away from. We shared our inner most secrets, our dreams, our hopes, our fears....All but one of us were celebrating our fabulous 40's, coming into a self discovery that only comes with age and experience ~ looking back on our 20's and 30's with fondness and looking forward to our 40's with a deeper appreciation of what really matters. We had all been on different paths that had crossed many times over the years but one night in December during the blizzard of all blizzards we met at Carlos O'Kelleys and had a Margarita Monday that none of us will soon forget. After that night we couldn't wait to plan our next girls night out. We planned our summer vacations with our kids, who were all the same age and upon meeting each other seemed as if they were lifelong friends too. After the most amazing week at the beach of good old fashioned girl time, it was hard to determine who had more fun the our kids or the "big kids". We were all at turning points in our lives, though some of us more aware, and some of us had unforeseen events that changed our lives completely, mostly for the better. Again, everyone goes through changes in their lives but what was so great about ours is that we went through them together. I can't imagine anything in life that we cannot get through. Which brings me to the Land Before Time quote for the day. We are all on a life journey filled with changes and what is really important is when you see a person's heart. To not have to explain or defend what has happened because those that see your heart need no explanation at all. People see what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear...but a true friend sees your heart. And it is an awesome feeling when one sees a persons heart ~ I am so blessed to have the best friends that see mine and will be by my side as we set out on our adventure to the Great Valley ~ to discover our strengths, to explore our uniquenessess, to love and be "real" with, to celebrate our success, to encourage each other when times are tough, to grow and recognize that together we are greater than the sum of our parts. Oh we will get to the Great Valley one day...and I am going to get there with some of the best hearts I know....of that I am certain!