Up from the ashes

I have a these two friends.  They don't know each other.  But one I've known since kindergarten and the other is one of my mom friends I met when Grace was tiny.  Both of them are super sweet, super talented, super smart, and just great people to know and have in your life.  Both of them have a couple kids about the age of my kids.  I also lost touch with them over the last few moves.  Not on purpose and not because I don't like them.  Both of them are also the kind of people that you just pick up where you left off.  I love them.

The last couple years have been tough on them both.  Both of them had their marriage end in divorce.  That in and of itself is a lot to deal with, especially with a couple kids in the mix. 

Lisa, my mom friend, kind of fell off the planet.  It's what she does when she's dealing with hard stuff.  I missed her and tried to touch bases with her every once in a while.  I rarely heard back, but that didn't really matter.  I just needed her to know I was still thinking of her and still loved her.  I knew enough to figure that her marriage wasn't going well and was probably ending.  And that was okay.  I also knew enough to know that she wasn't going to let it just happen without trying nearly everything in her power to make it work. 

My friend Stacey and I go way back.  Back to kindergarten.  We have a lot of great history.  She lives in the town we grew up in and teaches school there.  I was in her wedding and our oldest daughters were born just days apart.  She cheated, though, because she was induced.  Two years ago I learned that she and her husband were separated and headed for divorce.  I'll be honest, I really have no idea what happened other than bits and pieces I've picked up from mutual friends.  And I have never really asked.

It always makes me sad when I see marriages end.  Especially if I've been personally rooting for them.  But I guess divorce is a fact of this fallen world.  It just sucks. 

But the last few months have been great for my two friends and it's brought me so much joy to watch them both raise from the ashes.  First, Lisa emerges from her cave and takes her flamingo by the ankles and shows it who's boss.  She started writing, something she is really quite good at, declared to the world that she wanted a big tricycle, and landed her dream job.  She emailed me when she got word that she was hired telling me she was so excited she might just pee her pants.  I was that excited FOR her.  But I was even more excited that I got to hear her voice and she actually calls me back!  Funny how you don't realize how much you miss someone until they are back in your life. 
Then I catch wind that Stacey is getting married.  Apparently she met this guy at church and after a whirlwind courtship, they decided to get married.  After contemplating it for roughly five minutes, I told Brent that I needed to go to the wedding.  I need to be there to support my sweet friend in her new life.  I need her to know that I love her and want her to be happy.  I hadn't met this guy, but he has a nice smile.  I called our other friend-since-kindergarten to tell her that I'm going.  Bonus that I get to see her, too!  Without kids.  Double bonus that her husband bought a Porsche just days before the wedding--after I told her I'd be her date!  The wedding was really nice.  Her new husband seems like a nice guy and I look forward to getting to know him.  I got to hug Stacey and tell her that I really do love her and want her to be happy.  I may have even shed a few tears.  I also got to hug her mom and share a few tears. 

And I got a ride in a Porsche.  But that wasn't the point of this post.  That was just a bonus.  Thanks Sara!  One more thing I didn't know was on a bucket list I don't have.  But I'll be sure to check it off.

The point of this post is to tell my two Phoenix friends that I love them, unconditionally.  I want them to be happy.  I want them to know that I have really loved watching them raise from the ashes that they found themselves in.  I have loved watching them take their lives back and I am praying for them both.  You two have made my life richer.  And I smile when I think of you both.  Keep on keepin' on.  And come see me!  We have some catchin' up to do!!!!