My first day of new teachers' in service a few years ago, we were grouped according to subject area and high, middle or elementary school. There were all kinds of people in our training, some polite, some quiet and some know-it-alls. One girl in particular stood out. She was the super perky, way TOO excited new teacher. She was also a very exuberant personality who could never be considered a shrinking violet. I wanted to switch her to decaf myself. A few minutes into our introductions, I realized she was going to be teaching at my school. I groaned inwardly. This girl made me tired just watching her.
Little did I know that day, that she would gradually become one of my closest friends. We grew closer and closer as we shared the struggles of deployments and teaching and life. Now, no matter where she is or how this army life separates us, she and I will always be the best of friends. She is one of those rare friends who I can always cry to. When I can't bear the thought of bearing my soul to anyone else, I can call her. When I can't be weak in front of anyone else, I can tell her how I feel.
In fact, we turned out to be much more alike than I ever would have imagined. Even if I am nearly a decade older than she, we found common strength during our first deployments as military wives. She and I were married only months apart, grew up ten minutes away from each other in Illinois and ended up attending the same church and working together for an all too short year. In a lot of ways she is a more energetic version of me 13 years earlier.
Last night, 7 months pregnant, she drove up from her parents' home where she is visiting from Ft. Benning to visit me and my Lil Bit. She was one of the few people I confided my fears about never being a mother, or that God was trying to tell me I would be a rotten mother by making it so difficult to be one. She was the person I could call when all the baby hype of a friend or heaven forbid, student, drove me to tears. She was the one who prayed with me for patience as we waited to see if God had planned a baby for us.
And when we finally got the phone call that we were paper pregnant, I think her scream could have been heard from Georgia. She has been excited for me, scared with me, supportive and loving. She lets me mother her from time to time and still calls for advice.
We have a friendship like a fantastic novel you never want to put down. Even when you have to put it away for a little while, each time you pick it back up you're drawn right back into the story. It had been nearly two years since we had seen each other and it felt like months instead. The visit was wonderful.
Hard to believe how deep our friendship has grown, and in a few short weeks, we will be sharing the joys of motherhood as well. She taught me to be a better person, encourages me when I am weak and tired, and constantly tells me how wonderful I am just when I need to hear it.
I struggled not to cry when she drove away this morning, but consoled myself with the fact that we can't physically visit, but every phone call feels like no time has passed and we're still just down the road from each other. We may never live in the same state again or even cross paths as our husbands' military careers are going to be dragging us in opposite directions for the next few years, but I am glad I gave myself a chance to like this crazy girl, Kaitlin, and let her be a part of my life. I don't let a lot of people into the real, total me. The I didn't clean the house for you kind of friendship we have is rare and so treasured.
Little did I know that day, that she would gradually become one of my closest friends. We grew closer and closer as we shared the struggles of deployments and teaching and life. Now, no matter where she is or how this army life separates us, she and I will always be the best of friends. She is one of those rare friends who I can always cry to. When I can't bear the thought of bearing my soul to anyone else, I can call her. When I can't be weak in front of anyone else, I can tell her how I feel.
In fact, we turned out to be much more alike than I ever would have imagined. Even if I am nearly a decade older than she, we found common strength during our first deployments as military wives. She and I were married only months apart, grew up ten minutes away from each other in Illinois and ended up attending the same church and working together for an all too short year. In a lot of ways she is a more energetic version of me 13 years earlier.
Last night, 7 months pregnant, she drove up from her parents' home where she is visiting from Ft. Benning to visit me and my Lil Bit. She was one of the few people I confided my fears about never being a mother, or that God was trying to tell me I would be a rotten mother by making it so difficult to be one. She was the person I could call when all the baby hype of a friend or heaven forbid, student, drove me to tears. She was the one who prayed with me for patience as we waited to see if God had planned a baby for us.
And when we finally got the phone call that we were paper pregnant, I think her scream could have been heard from Georgia. She has been excited for me, scared with me, supportive and loving. She lets me mother her from time to time and still calls for advice.
We have a friendship like a fantastic novel you never want to put down. Even when you have to put it away for a little while, each time you pick it back up you're drawn right back into the story. It had been nearly two years since we had seen each other and it felt like months instead. The visit was wonderful.
Hard to believe how deep our friendship has grown, and in a few short weeks, we will be sharing the joys of motherhood as well. She taught me to be a better person, encourages me when I am weak and tired, and constantly tells me how wonderful I am just when I need to hear it.
I struggled not to cry when she drove away this morning, but consoled myself with the fact that we can't physically visit, but every phone call feels like no time has passed and we're still just down the road from each other. We may never live in the same state again or even cross paths as our husbands' military careers are going to be dragging us in opposite directions for the next few years, but I am glad I gave myself a chance to like this crazy girl, Kaitlin, and let her be a part of my life. I don't let a lot of people into the real, total me. The I didn't clean the house for you kind of friendship we have is rare and so treasured.
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