We have not seen each other in about 5 years now. This photo was taken Friday August 6, 2010. Mel was near us in PA visiting with her husband Bryan's family. His family lives about 30 mins away from where we now live in Lancaster. When we both realized this we knew we had to get together! It had been far too long!
Let me go back a little and share with you this story that I love to think of and that I am even happier to tell.
I met Mel when I worked at the YMCA in Child Care. Specifically the Pre School program. Before I met her...I was living on my own with Logan. We had a wonderful life...an apartment all to ourselves and we just lived day by day together and I would not change a thing! I had not met Matt yet...and with working allot I had little time for a social life. I had just started going back to Church and LOVED my new church home and some friends I had made.... but something was lacking. Though a big part of that was missing Matt in my life....another aspect was that I was longing for a true , real, good female friend. I so badly just wanted ONE female friend that was consistent in my life...that seemed to really care about me and vis versa. I had many wonderful female friends come and go in my life and some I still did talk too..but either they lived far away or we grew apart...or did not have much time to grow our friendship. I got to the point of praying for God to send into my life a female friend ...and I even asked that she be Christian too so that I had a support in that way...someone I could talk too about faith along with other things.
Then I met Mel.
Mel and her husband Bryan had moved to Hanover from Michigan! He was in ministry and had family back this way...they heard about a church in hanover and he began his work there. She came to the YMCA and walked into my life not too long after I began praying for her! It was so incredible. When I met her...I knew she was a unique soul. Such a kind and loving woman. So easy going...I liked her immediately and as we got to know one another I felt we would be quick friends. Working together every day with as many kids as we had...either made you very close or caused tension. It drew us together. We worked very well together and quickly I saw that I could talk to her about both good and deep things. We would have so many discussions during the kids nap times about happy and silly things and very deep , faith filled, - life things. Whether she wanted to or not..she became my best and closest friend for quite some time. She became very close to Logan since she worked with him daily in pre school and because we were friends. I went to church with them some times, Creation festival one summer, and to their house on different occassions. She was truly that friend I had prayed for. She was right there with me as I was praying for God to send my future husband into my life. She heard my hearts cry regarding this and so when I met Matt....she was able to share in my joy as well! Unfortunately...our bond was about to change a bit. Her and her husband were about to move back home to Michigan. I always supported her but it was very hard for me to see her go. She had a sweet little baby, Isaac , while in Hanover. I am so happy that I got to see her pregnancy...and also see her sweet little newborn. But it was short....they moved and it was a bittersweet goodbye.
However, though we were not close physically , we kept in touch over the years. She never got to meet Matt for whatever reason but she heard enough about him! ;O) They were invited out to our wedding but they could not make it so I made sure to keep her updated and send photo's her way! And then of course there was Face Book where we reconnected for a while. There are months and months at times that will pass us by before we speak...but each time we reconnect we just pick up where we left off. I will say that Mel has encouraged me very much as a Christian woman , wife, mother...and has just been such a wonderful friend. I do not know what the future holds, or where life will take us (though she mentioned they are considering moving back out here and close to where we now live! ) but whatever happens in this life and to us..I will forever be thankful that God answered my prayers all those years ago..in Melyssa.
To see her this past weekend was amazing! After 5 years..(Logan was 3 the last she saw him!) and she FINALLY got to meet my husband! I was so very excited for Matt and Mel to finally meet. I felt like two VERY important people in my life were meeting and this meant so much to me. She had been the closest friend to me for a while and knew my desires and struggles in waiting for God to bring Matt into my life. And then...Matt came into my life and she left! And now they finally could meet..two wonderful people that God blessed me with. We spent the day here , showing her our new home, she was able to reconnect with Logan a bit -who slightly remembers "Miss Melyssa" ...and she got to meet Isaac! Of course, part of our inspiration for Isaac's name came from her son's name...but we all loved that name prior as well :O) We went out to lunch and it was so wonderful to catch up in person. To see her again was ....very emotional for me. So happy to see her...so strange to think the last time I saw her..how my life was so different and about to change and now to see where we both are in our lives is neat. She has two beautiful children , and I am married with two little ones as well. How life changes in 5 years...but our friendship has not!
So, as I reflect on Melyssa...who she is...the wonderful friend she has been to me...I cannot help but be filled with joy and thankfulness over and over again that God loves me so much that he crossed my path with a beautiful soul such as Mel. For me to deserve a great friend like her is hard to imagine but I will take it! :O)
I find in my life...that I do not have many "close" friends. I do have friends, and they are wonderful amazing people whom I think very highly of. They all have taught me something and bring a wonderful aspect to my life! I love each one of them. But, most if not all of them live great distances. This is ok...it just makes me very grateful for the times I do get to spend with them . It makes me value friendship since it only comes every so often. It makes me cherish the friends in my live and I want to make sure I honor not only God , for he brought me each of these wonderful people,but honor our friendship by taking care of it.
And due to the few really good friendships that I do have .... I realize more and more that Matt is my very best friend in this world! I always knew that but it hits home when I really think of it. He is the only person I truly open up to and that knows me so well....and I would not trade that for anything or anyone!
I pray that each of you has at least one friend , like I have in Mel, that though you may not see often, you would consider like a sister...and that you cherish very very much. May it be that you find this friend in your spouse...or your own biological sister. Maybe she is your Mother...or your daughter. Whoever "she" or "he" is....maybe you could let them know if you have not in a while...just how much they really mean to you. And may we always take care of that friendship...nurture it and love it , for it is a gift from above.
Thank you , Mel. I love you!
No comments:
Post a Comment