A reflection on friendships

As I prepare to head home (West TN.) to visit my parents over the kids' spring break I am reminiscing on a few things. Things are always changing and how hard it is sometimes to accept those changes...
Over the past two years I feel many things have changed in my life as 1. both boys have entered school and 2. I had another baby. But also along with those changes that have themselves brought about a ripple effect in my life there has been outside circumstances that have changed me.

I had a very close friend move out of town which was very hard to accept. Then due to our children starting school another close friend and I had to say goodbye to our regularly scheduled social time twice a month at a preschool mothers group. More recently I have had two friends start back to work full time (well, almost there right K.?) and that has about crushed me.
I understand that things change and very rarely will your situation stay the same as far as the little bubble you surround yourself in goes. But when that bubble does change shape and you are left feeling a little different then before it is a time for reflection.

All of these friend situations over the years have taught me that more important than anything is trying to stay in touch with people...making an effort to send e-mails or write a quick text or even more lasting to actually make a date to have lunch with that friend you want to stay in touch with. It takes more effort sometimes but when I remember that those I have put such time and care into building a relationship with mean so much to me I know that I can't give up and get lazy or get my feelings hurt and wait on them to make the first move. (We all do that don't we?)

So...here is to changes in relationships...old friends that I miss but still care about...current friends who are moving on with life circumstances but still remain close at heart...and to any new friends out there that I have yet to meet!