Friendship

I just got home from a trip to Kentucky.  It has been 14 months since I packed up my truck and horse trailer and headed south to Texas.  I was able to stay with my dear friend Lori.  This is a photo of the room I stayed in and yes, all those gifts were for me.  She spoiled me beyond my dreams. I opened a couple everyday and stretched it out over the three days I was there.  A 90 minute massage was pure bliss.  I am so grateful that she came into my life when she did.  She loves me. She makes me laugh.  She is wise and makes me think. She encourages me to be the best I can be.  I want to be that kind of friend. I KNOW that she is a gift from God.  

  

So now that camp is over I have 9 months of "normal" to work on life goals.  I want to work on getting to know people in the community and making friends, healthy exercise and eating habits, working on my art everyday, becoming a better rider, knowing God's character and hearing Him better. So that means structure, discipline, routine.  I have written out a schedule and will have to adjust it as I go.  Most of my goals are measurable but as long I spend the time working toward them I will be moving in the right direction.  I have a half marathon in March that I am registered for.  I have horse hair bracelets that need to be made and marketed.  I will join a bible study group.  I will find a trainer and take some dressage lessons.  I really hope to look back on this year and see that I have made efforts to improve and become closer to the person that God intends me to be.

As I listened to the iBloom calls tonight I thought about the qualities I admire in a friend.  

A good listener that is wise

challenges me to grow

uplifting and encouraging because they believe in me

thoughtful in word and actions

someone that has Godly values and walks them

they want to work toward their goals

like to laugh and have fun. 

I have so many friends that are all of these things.  I hope that I will always be striving and learning to be that kind of friend to them.  I have lived with 10 college girls this summer and that was a fun experience.  I look forward to the coming years and the opportunities I will have to be a friend to the people that cross my path. I hope they will see some of those qualities and feel loved and encouraged to be all they can be.