Connections
Ah, the challenge of a weekly post. I don't have anything brilliant to say today but it was a day filled with wonderful connections. I am naturally a more introverted person; it is hard for me to chit-chat with people I don't know and talk in a large group of people. But I am quite social and love connecting with people that I care about and love.
My first connection of the day was with my eldest daughter. She got braces put on yesterday and I went grocery shopping late last night to get food for her to take to school today, like Jello and soup and soft cereal bars. When I was showing her everything this morning she just put her arms around me and said, "Thank you, Mom. I appreciate all that you do for me." It was such a sweet moment and my heart just lit up. I gave her a big hug and told her how much I loved her. Kids so rarely say thank you and often are totally oblivious to all of the time and effort we put into their pleasant existence so I will savor that connection, one of expressed appreciation and love, for awhile.
Then I was able to have breakfast with a friend I've known since 8th grade. Luckily she lives close enough that we can meet in the middle of our homes every few months to catch up with each other and reconnect. There is something refreshing about being with a friend who has known you since childhood. We have so many memories and she knows me so well. We talked for two hours and it felt like five minutes. I love that we can still be a part of each other's lives and stay connected because it is valuable to maintain such a special friendship that has blessed my life now for 25 years.
One of my dearest local friends, one of those bonus moms who helps me survive every day life, watched my kids for me while I went to breakfast and when I picked up my kids I got to talk to her too. She is one of the few that I can be totally honest with and she loves me anyway. She doesn't judge me or make me feel badly for how I feel but is supportive, a good listener and understanding. Plus she's silly and fun and I was grateful to connect with her today and express my gratitude for her and her help.
Tonight we had friends over for dinner and our families got to connect. Our kids played and we talked and laughed and played games and shared stories and discussed our favorite movies. It is such a blessing in my life to have people our family can connect with too and we can all enjoy time with friends and family at the same time. I love surrounding my children with adults who are good and kind and their kids who are the same so that they can have important connections too.
I know that on some deep psychological level we need to emotionally connect with other people for survival and while I don't know the science of it, today I lived the truth of it. My husband, my children, my parents and sisters, my mom friends, my childhood friends, those who knew me in college or as a missionary, they help me remember all of the different parts of me and feel loved and supported so I can grow and learn. Those connections matter and make all the difference in life and today I'm grateful for each one.
My first connection of the day was with my eldest daughter. She got braces put on yesterday and I went grocery shopping late last night to get food for her to take to school today, like Jello and soup and soft cereal bars. When I was showing her everything this morning she just put her arms around me and said, "Thank you, Mom. I appreciate all that you do for me." It was such a sweet moment and my heart just lit up. I gave her a big hug and told her how much I loved her. Kids so rarely say thank you and often are totally oblivious to all of the time and effort we put into their pleasant existence so I will savor that connection, one of expressed appreciation and love, for awhile.
Then I was able to have breakfast with a friend I've known since 8th grade. Luckily she lives close enough that we can meet in the middle of our homes every few months to catch up with each other and reconnect. There is something refreshing about being with a friend who has known you since childhood. We have so many memories and she knows me so well. We talked for two hours and it felt like five minutes. I love that we can still be a part of each other's lives and stay connected because it is valuable to maintain such a special friendship that has blessed my life now for 25 years.
One of my dearest local friends, one of those bonus moms who helps me survive every day life, watched my kids for me while I went to breakfast and when I picked up my kids I got to talk to her too. She is one of the few that I can be totally honest with and she loves me anyway. She doesn't judge me or make me feel badly for how I feel but is supportive, a good listener and understanding. Plus she's silly and fun and I was grateful to connect with her today and express my gratitude for her and her help.
Tonight we had friends over for dinner and our families got to connect. Our kids played and we talked and laughed and played games and shared stories and discussed our favorite movies. It is such a blessing in my life to have people our family can connect with too and we can all enjoy time with friends and family at the same time. I love surrounding my children with adults who are good and kind and their kids who are the same so that they can have important connections too.
I know that on some deep psychological level we need to emotionally connect with other people for survival and while I don't know the science of it, today I lived the truth of it. My husband, my children, my parents and sisters, my mom friends, my childhood friends, those who knew me in college or as a missionary, they help me remember all of the different parts of me and feel loved and supported so I can grow and learn. Those connections matter and make all the difference in life and today I'm grateful for each one.
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