God gave me friends

Back: Sabrina, Shelli, Rachel and Sarah

Front: Danielle and me

God is so good. Back in 2003 when we moved to NWAR, I was excited but sad to leave so many wonderful friends behind in Dallas. I was afraid I wouldn't find any close friends again. I didn't have any friends in Bentonville and that scared me.

Well, God provided! In the spring of 2003, I decided to join the Junior League of NWAR where, in the line for potential new members, I met Rachel. We just hit it off immediately. She is one of the funniest people I know. If I am having a bad day, she can always make it better. Not to mention she is a very talented seamstress. I love our unplanned coffee talks at Panera :)

We both ended up joining the league where at our New member retreat, we met Sabrina. Again, we three just clicked. Sabrina is super classy and sophisticated. For example, last night she showed up in a lovely outfit. I figured she had just come from work, but no - this was her dress down outfit. She had gone home to change. She is always so put together not only on the outside, but on the inside. I love how grounded she it.

Cool Note #1: Sabrina and her husband now work at my former place of employment and her husband Brad, has my old job. Neither worked there while I was there. Pretty cool I think.

I know the three of us must have been put together by God because it was just so natural. The three of us still get together each year for birthdays and I cannot think Rachel and Sabrina enough for giving me my first Baby Shower for Clay. We have been through a lot together, and I love them dearly.

At the end of 2004, I had the privilege of meeting Shelli. We were both participating in a leadership program. We met riding the elevator up to our first meeting. We ended up sitting together at dinner and pretty much at every meeting after that. We joined the program in August and by the Fall, we were both expecting babies. The program lasted nine months, so we got to waddle through the classes together. It was so fun. Shelli is so professional, kind, and caring. She is also very wise and a good listener. I love having her as a friend.

Cool Note #2: Shelli moved to a new house a couple of years ago, and ironically, her next door neighbor is: my good friend Rachel (from above). How cool is that? Small world!

In 2005, I started a small group bible study with the four girls above. That is where I met Danielle. Shelli works with Danielle and invited her to join our small group. This was the beginning of something very special. When Danielle joined our group, she had never prayed out loud or filled out a prayer request card. She did not grow up in church and it had been years since she stepped into a church.

Cool Note #3: After my small group stopped meeting, Danielle and I continued, doing one study after the next. I had the honor of watching her pray to receive Christ in December 2007. It will always be one of the most special moments in my life. We are still meeting together.

God is so good. I just had to say that again!

Finally, I had the privilege of meeting Sarah a little over two years ago. One of her children had to go to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, and because Richard's parents live in Little Rock, we asked them, although we had only just met them, if they needed a place to stay. They said yes, and we have been great family friends since. Her boys teach mine how to play calmly and orderly, and my boys teach hers how to wrestle. Poor Sarah. I have already prearranged the marriage of her daughter Faith to one of my boys. I don't care which one, although Caleb adores her most :) However, I am not sure Sarah is as excited!

Seriously, Sarah has blessed me so much and has been there for me during the happiest and the most difficult times. I am not sure what I would have done without her over this past year. She is a gift and I cannot thank God enough for her.

Aren't we blessed that God understands how we need people in our lives to hold our hands, wipe our tears, rejoice with us, teach us, and guide us. True friends show us more about who God is everyday. These five special women do that for me all the time. I would do anything for them.

John 15:13 (NIV)
Greater love has no one than this:

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

I love you sweet friends!

Berkli