And There is Always Garfield and Odie...

I spent time on the phone today with my BFF, Angie. Ang for me. I have three very close friends. I am to blessed to have them. Angie, Preston, and Eugene. I could not go on without them. Angie is my best friend from High School. She has known me to longest of the three. We spent the night together so many times. We shared so many laughs. In the days when, "cruising," was popular, we would ride around town together. As teenagers, we dreamed together, cried together, planned together, schemed together, made late night cheeseburgers together, went to movies together, you get the gist. Our favorite cartoon character was Garfield. We laughed at his sarcasm. I think it helped us both. We never have had a bad word to say to each other. With what I have been going through lately, and what she has been going through, we have needed that firm foundation of a long time friendship. We talked for a long while today. I was very happy to hear her voice. She was so very supportive of me and encouraging me in the situation of estrangement I am in with my adult daughter. She reminded me of who I am. She reminded me that I must be who I was born to be, no matter what. Angie, Preston, and Eugene all are my towers of strength and help me through this difficult situation. Sometimes you have to have your friends. I have mine.

When you surround yourself with your friends you are reminded of the core of your heart. In situations like I am in with my estranged daughter that is much needed. They each remind me that I am loved and that I can endure. They remind me that I have much to give, and that there is so much good within me. They don't let me fall into the trap of feeling like a failure at being a mother. Today, Angie lifted me up and gave me the strength to know that I have to let my adult children fall and pick themselves up. She had a situation with her own daughter that caused them not to speak for a while. She told me that sometimes our adult children have to hit rock bottom before they realize they had it pretty darn good with us as parents. Not everyone has that situation, however, our children did. Her daughter came around and is doing great. Mine will do the same.

Nelson and I start family therapy with our other daughter and our son this coming week. I am praying we can work together, learn to communicate well, and gain coping skills that help us become a stronger family. I have to honestly admit, being the parents of adult children is hard. No one ever warns you about that, so I am warning you. I am praying for God to use our family therapy to help me learn to enjoy being the parent of adult children. So far, it has not been too much fun.

I turn back to Garfield and Odie. They make me smile. Seeing them brings back so many great memories. They make me laugh. If you do not know them, you need to get to know them. At this time in my life, I need all the humor and laughs I can get. Angie, I love you. You always know how to remind me that I was loved before and I am loved now. Preston, I love you. You, like Angie, bring me laughter and let me know that I am awesome regardless. Eugene, what can I say to tell you how much I appreciate you. You are more than a friend, and more than a brother, I am going to have to make up a word one day for what you are to me, because there just isn't a word to describe what we are, siblings doesn't quite make it. Thank you for being there always. How blessed I am to have three friends that are my heart and soul. God did something good for me, when He brought you three into my life.

Garfield and Odie, thanks for showing that friendship is worth it, no matter what. My friends let me know that I have a life worth living outside of the part of me that is a mother. I have value beyond motherhood. Before I had children, I had friends. That is good to know. Praise God for that knowledge!

#yougottahavefriends #garfieldandodie #bestfriendsareawesome #estrangement #estrangementwithadultchild