Shar

I have this friend who I have had my entire life. Funny thing is I met her in this very living room where I sit now. Back then my parents were just renting this house for a while and her mom brought her over to introduce her to my mom (her sister) and to me ~ she was my first girl cousin on my mom's side. This house is a weird one by the way. I also met my daughter in this house and it was the house she was brought home to from the hospital. Now we live here ~ where she lived as a baby and where I lived as a baby. Full circle of life this house is. 
A couple nights ago this friend (my cousin) was over and she was sitting on the couch and I was too and we had our babies with us.Our husbands were in the back yard with all the other children. My mom walked in and had a flash back of herself and her sister sitting on couches in this very living room with their babies. As a mother you have no idea how life is going to go and you have no clue how your children will be when they are older. You have hopes and dreams and wishes. You have love and faith. I think if our mom's sat together and looked at us now they would see two girls who are such deep friends. Two girls with eight children between the two of them and a ninth on the way (for my cousin). They would see girls who were committed to their children deeply, who wanted to be really connected, loving wives and mothers, who wanted to make a difference and an impact. I hope our mom's would feel glad they brought us together and faithfully nurtured our friendship.I think it was one of the most wonderful things they did for us (among the many). There are so many parts of who I am now because my cousin has been such a faithful, loving and truth filled friend.
There is so much value in friends who have lived your whole life with you. Who have stood the test of adolescence and young adulthood. Who have been along side you for those high school crushes and heart breaks, who have stood by you through the engagement and wedding showers and been in your wedding. Who have been with you through the grief of loss and the harshness of sickness that you didn't know if you'd live through. There is something to be said for a friend you know will tell you the truth, ask you the hard questions, encourage you to keep on, tell you what you need to hear when you dont want to hear it...because they know you so well and they love you so much they have to say it.
We have gone through such interesting stages together...I mean all the stages. We are at a really great one now. Every stage has been spangular but this one...where we get to see our children playing together and living life together while we try to keep everyone alive and in one piece at the park, or where we go for a walk late after children are in bed each with a baby strapped to us, or where we walk along as best we can with big pregnant bellies hashing out all our problems. I am so thankful that I have had my cousin with me through life. I cant even say how thankful I am. I mean I can't describe how much she has impacted me and changed me. She has shown such confidence and grace and maturity through so many hard times and it has challenged me. She has been so strong and practical when I was falling apart. She has reminded me of beauty and thankfulness and joy and has been such a wonderful and kind friend. Since its your birthday today I have been thinking a lot about you and all you are to me. Sometimes a person needs to be reminded of the impact they have on the people in their lives....you have been a shining star to me all through. So Thanks ~ Happy birthday ~I  Love you so xo