Mama needs some friends

When people ask how I am adjusting  to Raleigh they expect me to begin to weep or talking about my great loneliness, but the truth is, I am great.  A big part of this is that for the first time in several years I have an amazing group of new friends and time to hang out with them.  For the past three years I was homeschooling, and as rewarding as that was, it was also lonely.  When you homeschool in the manner I chose to, there is little to no time to get together with other women.  It was not good for me.  This Mama needed some friends. 

Today I was so blessed by new friends, it made me realize what I had been missing, and also what I need to be proactive about protecting.  This morning as I was getting ready to head out to drop off the girls, I had a text from my friend Michelle to see if I had some time to grab a coffee. Yes, please. Off we went.  One hour with one friend and one cup off coffee is worth a whole lot more than those individual parts.  She had work, but she took the time to prioritize our friendship and the initiative to invite me.  I was so grateful. 

This afternoon Marci had invited myself and Amy to her house for lunch.  Marci and I just met last month.  She is new to Raleigh as well.  I loved that even though she just met Amy and I, she was bold enough to invite us into our home.  Marci has some mad hospitality skills.  MAD!  Having lunch at her house was like have lunch in a Pinterest board. But as amazing as our pretty table and yummy food was, the time together was even better. Two hours, with two new friends, and I tell you my cup runneth over. 

Whether it is at a coffee shop or Martha Stewart-worthy lunch, the two things my day had in common was that Michelle and Marci were both willing to make the sacrifice of time and risk extending an invitation.  Maybe you are feeling like I did a year ago.  Are you thinking, "This Mama needs some friends?"   Use the holidays as a reason to reach out and extend an invitation to a new friend or two.  While we can all use the excuse that it's a busy season, I pray your investment of time will have you too soon saying,  "My cup runneth over."