Tuesday, September 29, 2009

You gotta have friends

Friendships have always been important to me. Once I make a friend, I try sincerely to keep in touch and continue to develop our friendship even if we move away. I love calling old friends when I am in town and having lunch with them to catch up. Paul has never really understood this...he thinks it's kind of strange that I still keep in touch with friends from High School, or that I recently had a roommate reunion with my friends from BYU. I guess he's never been blessed with the kind of friendships that I have.

Since being married, though, I have made very few new friends. The first four months of our marriage we were in a student ward with about a zillion other newlywed couples. We knew we'd be leaving soon, so we didn't really befriend anyone. Then we lived at my parents for the summer, so I didn't make any new friendships. We lived in American Fork for a year while I was working and pregnant with Hattie. But that ward was unique in that there weren't many young couples, and no other married students in the ward. And since I was working full-time, I didn't have as much time to spend at ward functions. I did make one wonderful friend at my less-than-stellar job. We still keep in touch.

Then we moved to Spanish Fork. I had a new baby and lived at storage units. I made another great friend who also worked the storage units with me and lived upstairs. But again, there were no other students in our very old and established ward...we were the odd ones because we were transient.

But then I moved to Lubbock. After 3 years of marriage and only two new major friendships, I was really feeling the need for female friendship. And I have certainly found it! I have been overwhelmed by how wonderful our ward is...how willing people are to be your friend. When I moved here, all I had to do was attend playgroup or book club a few times and I felt like I was home. When I was home in Oregon for the summer, some of my sisters said, "Wow, you have a lot of friends in Lubbock...I can tell from all the comments from them on your blog!" There is always someone willing to have lunch, watch Hattie, have a playgroup, or go to the park. Being a stay-at-home mom has been wonderful since I have so many friends in the same situation. It has made moving to a new place so much easier. I find that I really miss Lubbock when I am away.

Thank you Chelsea, Kristina, Debbie, Kristy, Kristi, Cynthia, Jenni, Brittney, Lindsay, Kimber, Julie, Kat, and SO many others who have helped make Lubbock a wonderful home for us.

8 comments:

Kurt and Kristy said...

Aww thanks Melanie! You are a great friend! I feel the same way about friends and have loved making so many here! I just hope we don't have to leave! :(

Iverson Family said...

That is sooo funny you post about this. I was feeling the same way and wanted to post this exact same thing. Thanks to you and your phone call a few weeks ago...I too have friends who I really enjoy seeing a few times a week! GREAT post!

Laura Bernard said...

I'm so happy for you. I've just been reflecting lately how when we left West Des Moines, I was truly leaving the best point in my life. And it was because I had such great friends. And now here I am in no-man's-land. Phases, phases, phases. That's what life's made of, I guess. Enjoy this good one while you've got it!

LadyCarma said...

I loved your post and can only say "amen." I form friendships that bind. Last night I went over to my best friend's to pick up the key to her house and we sat and talked for almost two hours. I think it is a woman thing, because most guys I know don't have those kinds of relationships with friends but they do have close feelings toward their brothers and sisters. At least, that is true for my husband. Thanks for the post.

Cox Family said...

Thank you, you've made our transition here easier too. It's nice to have a kindred spirit who likes to bake bread, knit, and watch some good old Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell movies!

Shannon said...

I'm jealous of all the people in Lubbock who get to have you in their midst! Thanks for being such a wonderful friend!

Kristina said...

You know you have so many friends because YOU are a great friend! Thanks for always including us and helping us get around!

DebbieD said...

Oh this is so tender! I've felt the same way. We do have such great friends here. I'm so glad you have moved here & will be here the next few years too!
BTW we need to go back to that swimming class! :)