Sisters

One of my all time favorite Christmas movies is "White Christmas" and one of my favorite songs in it is "Sisters."  I have always wanted a sister.  When my youngest brother was born and he wasn't a girl, I was devastated.  I had to resort to dressing my brothers up as girls to help me cope with the pain :0)  

I love the below shot because of the expressions on their faces.  They aren't perfect and they're a bit silly, which is what the true moments of life are made up of.

While my friend was visiting from AZ, we decided that we needed the obligatory photo documenting our time together.  I hate taking posed pictures.  I feel like such a dork, but it had to be done.  As you can see, it took us awhile to settle into a pose.  I have no idea what the "barking seal" pose was all about, but whatever it was, it was ridiculous.  

 I've known Jo since we met in a church foyer.  We were both out there with our little boys.  Jared and Josh were around 2 years old.  When we first moved to Abq in 1999 we were living in an apartment complex for the first 18 months we were here.  When we moved into our rental house and a new ward, I met Jo.  We were only in the same ward for a couple of months before it split.  When she went back to work as a NICU tech, she remembered me and thought I was the kind of person who would know who babysat, so she called me up.  

Nate was doing his residency program and making almost zero dollars a year.  To say we had no money was an understatement.  I used to cry in walmart over the fact that I couldn't afford a sippy cup for my 2 kids.  

When she called I said "yes I know who, me"  and that's how it all began.  I wish I could find the picture I have of the boys sitting on my piece of crap futon in my so called "family room" (that was seriously the weirdest room ever).  The collage below has pictures from when we had Ethan and Sydney within 2 weeks of each other and there are 2 with the boys probably around 3.  I look at those pictures and can hardly believe how much time has gone by.  It seems like another life.  That bottom right picture also has another girl I used to babysit, Lauren.  This was back when I was an awesome Mom and took my kids to the zoo and stuff.  (I saved up babysitting money to get a zoo pass instead of sippy cups)  I also had to save up money for all those birthday parties at fancy places - like burger king - HA!  We must have won the lottery for that party at chuckie cheez :)

One of our favorite things to do when we were pregnant with Ethan and Sydney was to play Dr Mario.  This was back before the days when you could link up over the internet and play together.  We would sit on the phone and play single player until someone cleared all their pills.  We just had to trust each other that we were playing the same level and that you actually won when you said you did.  We usually did this while the kids napped. 

While she was here over the 4th we had to see if we still had it.  The kids were getting annoyed with us that we were hogging the video games.  I'd like to say that I kicked her butt all the time like I was doing in the below photo, but it was about half and half.  Her famous line was "you only won because I lost." Nice try!

We've known each other for 13-14 years now and we always joke about being sister wives.  She loves to clean and I love to cook so we work together quite nicely.  We can also spend time together without actually spending time together.  It's like little kids in a sandbox that are playing next to each other.  She can be at my house doing one thing while I'm doing another.  She knows I'm a recluse that needs alone time and she's ok with that.  Good friends can also call you out for being crazy.  For instance 1 night around 10 pm she was downstairs perusing my pantry and came across what she considered a massive bag of garbanzo beans.  This led to a txt including the below pic asking me what the heck was up with that.  

I told her they were garbanzo beans and that I needed to can them and then make some hummus.  Now, her knowing me as well as she does questioned if I had ever had hummus... to which I replied "no, but people seem to like it."  

"What if you don't like it?"

"I've got my dooms day beans to trade or get desperate enough to eat."

She teased me for the rest of her stay about that bag of beans.  

 She also insisted that I try hummus.  So I did.  I got a little snack pack in case it was gross.  Guess what?  My beans won't go to waste, so there! :0)

We've been through a lot together over the years.  We both were living through personal struggles that brought us close together.  Little by little our friendship grew to the point where I consider her my sister.  We are completely comfortable with each other and don't feel the need to be anything other than ourselves.  We also know that we will be there for each other and we aren't keeping score.  I would do anything for her and she would do anything for me.  "Caring, sharing...."

So, those little ones are growing up.  My friend Christen's 4 kids are also in the picture as well as Emma's best friend. We had a friendship packed holiday and we loved every moment of it. The hardest part about getting together is the leaving part.

Again with the questioning what kind of pose to do until finally landing on the lower right pose.  

 All this talk about sisters and friendship and caring and sharing reminds me of a song that I have been singing a lot lately.  It's a song that you would normally think of as a funeral song, but I like it as an everyday song.    It's called "Each life that touches ours for good."  (Departing can mean not living geographically close to our friends).

1. Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessings from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

2. What greater gift dost thou bestow,

What greater goodness can we know

Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

3. When such a friend from us departs,

We hold forever in our hearts

A sweet and hallowed memory,

Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

4. For worthy friends whose lives proclaim

Devotion to the Savior's name,

Who bless our days with peace and love,

We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

Text: Karen Lynn Davidson, b. 1943. © 1985 IRI

Music: A. Laurence Lyon, b. 1934. © 1985 IRI

Verses 2 and 4 are my favorite.  Great friends - sisters should strengthen our faith and enrich our days.  We should be testifying to each other by our actions.  We should thank our Father in Heaven when we are blessed to have such people in our lives.  We show our gratitude towards Him by how we care for those friendships (that help us make it thru this life and that help us become better people) that have been sent to us out of love.