Photo Friday + Friendship Musings

Happy Friday!!  Here are a few photos from Mom's b-day dinner at The Ranch... starting with our group pic! ❤

Not at all sure what caused this effect on my phone camera, but it's kinda fun!

Take 2! lol  I'm so thankful for how well Mom is doing!!

The Miss K and her Mom!

Yessss to this!

Truth...

Getting what you want is more fun, but we spend a lot more time in the waiting and learning and growing seasons, so might as well trust God and make the best of wherever we are right now!

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Final thought for today... as I listened to Prince Har-Bear narrating his audiobook in his delightful British accent this morning, this line stood out to me:  "Weddings were joyous occasions, sure.  But they were also low-key funerals because after saying their vows, people tended to disappear." (-Prince Harry, Spare)

(I'll post my thoughts on the book later.  For today, I'm focused on that quote.)  And I'm imagining how very different my life would look if my married friends had gradually disappeared and chosen to write me off when they got married and/or had children.  We've all experienced that at one time or another.  Getting married, having kids, and moving further from each other - these are major life changes that create a ripple effect of change.  BUT we get a choice in what that change looks like!  We can allow our friendships to quietly fade out, or we can be intentional in making space for them and maintaining meaningful connections!!  We can live with a scarcity mindset that there is only so much love to go around, narrowing our focus to our immediate family and work life... or we can believe that love expands our hearts and friendships enrich our lives, and we can widen our circle and cultivate a variety of fun, supportive friends and family connections!

I'm grateful that my married friends with kids have been intentional about prioritizing friendships, hosting fun events, and including me in their lives!  My circle of support and strength has grown because of them, and my life is better for knowing them - and I'm choosing to believe that is mutual!  I will continue to be intentional about traveling to Tulsa for every event I am invited to and able to attend... including a fun dinner with friends tonight, an adoption finalization next week, and two out of the three kids' birthday parties I'm attending the following weekend - YAY! ❤