Friendship is

We sat down and ordered drinks and chatted life. They talked the boys in their life and I listened and gave my (obviously good since I’m not currently dating) advice and it was nice. It was just friends chatting. 

One mentioned a certain fear and the other spoke truth into it. Another brought up another fear and again truth was spoken. She mentioned this and I spoke into it. She mentioned that and she spoke into that too. I spoke of things I was terrified for - callings I am feeling from God, the type that make me weak in the knees and give a stomach aches. The type of things I wrote about yesterday. 

And they cheered and spoke truth and listened and loved. 

And I noticed. 

I recognize how that's what friendship is. 

Friendship is the listening and cheering. It's speaking truth into the lies our friends believe and listening silently when they really just need an ear. 

Friendship is saying "yes you can" and whispering "maybe you shouldn't”. It's the good and fun and dark and dirty. 

Friendship is the sitting beside, standing with, walking alongside, and holding close. It’s the letting go and the saying goodbye.

Friendship is late night runs for bad food, paying too much for a morning mimosa, fitting three on a bed, laughter that hurts. It's the tightest hugs simply because you can. 

Some friendships are for such specific seasons and others span seasons on end. 

Friendship is many things. It’s living life in community, and I really think that community is how we make it from here to the end.

What does friendship look like to you? 

the photo I love

I messaged one of my dearest friends Christy and said, "we need an adventure before you go". 

She’s about to leave for a few months to intern with a non-profit in San Fransico. 

She’s also one of my longest running friends. We met in high school while working at a summer camp and have kept touch throughout the years and now are close friends. 

When I moved to Vancouver 4 years ago, she was one of the three people I knew. Since then we’ve become dear friends. I stood beside her in her wedding, and she’s the friend I want to be pregnant with, travel with our spouses, friends forever type of friend. And since we’re 10 years into this friendship, the chances are high we’ll remain friends. Right Christy??

Anyway, adventure. 

She was up for it as she always is, so we drove out of Vancouver to a nearby town, walked through an outdoor mall (not every adventurous but certainly fun), and then went over to Ambleside. I parked the car and we wandered over to the water. 

We laughed and chatted and I snapped pictures of the ground and the water, the bridge and the barges, pictures of her, pictures of us.

 

Then she made me give her my phone to take pictures of me.I got super awkward. It was okay when she asked me to look out at the water because that just felt normal, but then she told me to turn around and look at her. 

As I did, I was laughing because I felt so stinking awkward. I saw people walking along the path and I worried about their reactions to me. My pride and fear held hands and asked me to join them.

 

She told me the pictures were great. I figured she was pulling a bestie move and just being kind.  

Side note: have I even read my blog last week, didn’t I just learn to agree with people when they say nice things - lots to learn still I think.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the ones she had just taken. And you know what? The pictures were beautiful. I was laughing and I was happy and it was so nice. 

And that last one above, it's my new favourite picture of myself.

 

acknowledging my people

I want to write about some girls whom I love with a whole lot of my heart. On Saturday, I went for brunch with them. I hadn't seen them all together in far too long.

These girls, they're my hometown people. I moved away almost 3 years ago and they are the four girls I keep in touch with the most from home. I love them a lot.

You know that old Jesse McCartney song, they're each the girl he is singing about. They've each got a beautiful soul. 

Two of them I've known since elementary, and the other two I met one summer at camp when we were in the same cabin. We all went to the same high school and all because good friends when we worked at that same camp. I'd say our friendships have all grown since high school. We're far more confident in ourselves now and aren't trying to please a hundred other people any more walking down hallways. We can just be ourselves.

These girls love Jesus. That's their best quality. I can honestly claim these verse for each of them.

One of them, Kirstyn, is one of my dearest friends. This past year we haven't hung out nearly as often as we should have, but she is one person whom I know that at all times, she is on my side. I know she'll be praying for me. I know she'll check in if it's been too long. I know that because I do the same.

She moved to London last week on Tuesday and I am (so very sad for myself to lose her!) so very excited for her adventure! We've had a lot of adventures in our time and I look forward to years more of them, even if they'll have to include one of us crossing an ocean.

Kirsty-loo-hoo - I miss you already! Have a great time.