As I drive across the country, for the second time in a year, I can't help but reflect on the friendships I have made over the years. The friends that are now spread over this beautiful country; the friends that became family when my own family was far away. Please indulge my nostalgia here for a minute as I go back in time.
It's been almost 9 years since we moved away from our families in Utah to venture out on our own. I still remember living in that first apartment in Rancho Cucamonga, 6 months pregnant, not knowing a soul and thinking we had made a terrible mistake. It was during this struggle that I met Nanda, a beautiful mother of 2, her oldest the same age as Lincoln, who happened to be my next door neighbor. We got to know each other and all hit it off immediately. I'm not sure she will ever know just how much I appreciated her friendship, especially during that difficult time. She helped me realize that I could not only handle living away from family but also enjoy new friendships along the way. From that point on, many other friendships blossomed, especially with members from my San Sevaine Ward (Nichole, Julie, Sarah, Amy). It was there I met my "BFF" Liz. She was one of those women I knew would be a forever friend! I'll never forget our crazy game nights and talking for hours. I know that however much time passes, she will always be there for me and we'll be able to pick up right where we left off! It was there I also met my twin, Sarah. We connected in so many ways and understood each other on a very deep level. I will always love her and appreciate her for her kindness and for our mutual understanding of each other!
Moving from Rancho to Victorville was difficult, especially because of the friendships I had made; I didn't know if I would be able to have those same kind of relationships somewhere else. It didn't take long to find my "people" (Chrissy, Dawn, Amy, Candace, Kelly, Yvonne, Carol, Maria, Amanda, Jaima) to name a few. Never in my life had I experienced such deep and profound relationships with a group of women! No matter what was going on around us, we made time for each other and relied on each other, like a big family! There wasn't anything we wouldn't do for each other. It would take pages to write about these amazing women individually but I am so grateful for all of the special memories we share together. When it was time to move, leaving Victorville was no problem, but leaving those women was the hardest thing I'd done since leaving my family back in Utah.
From there we had a short 3 month stint in Northern California. Even though it was ridiculously short, we had the kindest neighbors and ward members who welcomed us with open arms. There really are great people everywhere!
When we moved back to So Cal we had to live in Randy's hotel for a couple of months. While waiting to move into our new home, I began driving the kids back and forth to school everyday. Carter was in kindergarten and got out a few hours before Lincoln. Some of our new ward members found out about this and instead of letting me drive back and forth (30 minutes each way-with no traffic...) they made sure I had a place to hang out or go to each day before we got into our house! One lady I barely knew at the time, knowing that being holed up in a hotel with 3 boys while being 9 months pregnant was probably taking its toll, offered to watch my boys so I could get a pedicure and lunch by myself! If only she knew how much those couple of hours of freedom meant to me at the time! Christina, Kristi and Amber are some of the most generous and kind women I've ever had the pleasure to know! Valencia was also a place where my children met some of their greatest friends. Jackson met his best buddy, Dax, which led to my friendship with Kayla and the Hasert family moved in across the street, which led to my friendship with Melissa. If only they could have stayed our neighbors forever! :-) And then when Lincoln came home one day begging for a play date with his new friend, Edison, I had no idea how great that friendship would be for both of us. Edison's Mom and I hit it off instantly and Jenny ended up being like a sister to me! Talk about a fiercely loyal friend! When she sat there for hours with me trying to keep me calm before a surgery, and then crying with me when my Mom passed away, I knew we would be friends for life!
When it came time to part ways with California, I was excited but unsure of what New York would hold. Would people be accepting of this weirdo from California? It didn't take long to realize that people were a little different back east. As a whole, I felt like there was a very down-to-earth quality they had. There wasn't as much emphasis on having "things" (which made me a little worried that no one would accept my shoe addiction). However, they did accept me, with all of my faults and eccentricities. Tiffany Dunn understood my shoe feddish, Petra understood my California-ness, and Holly Frazee and Katie Sheffield were plain kindred spirits! I felt like I had known them my whole life. I'm a true believer that friends who run together are bonded forever! I absolutely loved my time in New York! It was far too short but I feel like I learned so much from the people I met and I will always be grateful for our time there!
Now as I drive to our next destination, I'm a little nervous...
I didn't plan for my life to be this adventurous, at least not while raising children. Starting over in a new place is difficult. New school, new church, new doctors, and new friends. I think I'm beginning to see the silver lining in it, though. Life is short. You have to enjoy the journey and not worry so much about the destination. If I hadn't moved so much, I wouldn't have met the amazing people I have. The friendships I've made mean the world to me and I feel like each friend has taught me something different that, hopefully, has made me a better person. I feel so incredibly lucky to have rubbed shoulders with all of you, both those I've mentioned by name as well as those I haven't. Thank you. I will love you always!
"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return. Well I don't know if I believe that's true but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you... Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun, like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good" ~Wicked
