A tribute to my girlfriends

I went to Relief Society with my mom last night. It was fun to hang out with her. I am enjoying it more and more. But they talked about how it's okay to have girlfriends, and it's okay to nurture those relationships even if you don't feel you are accomplishing something at that moment. We do feel accomplishment driven sometimes, huh?
But I had to stop and think about BobbieJo who is my friend who calls me too. She lives here in the Tri-Cities. We met because I trained her on her paper route. She in now my best babysitter. And I see her about once a week. We both like to talk. And she takes good care of me. But I also thought of Jennifer Graham who was my BobbieJo of Albuquerque. The first time I met Jennifer I thought she was so neat. And I never thought she would even know my name. It turned out, she became one of my best friends. In Rexburg, that lady was Ila Potter. And Ila now lives half way across the world it seems, Texas, but we still keep in touch. And that counts too. Ila and her husband Henry helped us out through some tough times. I owe a lot of who I've become and where we are to them--all in good ways.
Amber Young was my very first roommate at collage. It was hard growing up and leaving home, but she adopted me right in. She is my sister. And through all my moves, she is the first who worked to keep in touch with me. I've even been to one of her family reunions. And I love her dearly.
My mom will tell you about her best friends--she has had 3 in her many years. And I have to admit that I have been very blessed. I have had so many best friends, I don't think I could even name them all anymore. There is Zina who loved me when I was very unloveable. Her and her husband helped us through a very dark time in our lives--and loved us anyway. I am so grateful that Nick still keeps in touch with Todd. (They do better than Zina and I do--at keeping in touch). Miriam was one of my best friends as I was finishing collage. And we still keep in touch too. Trudy Redman was my best friend from High School. And I've gotten to know her again recently. She was there for me when I needed her wisdom. I feel bad that I wasn't there for her when she could have used mine. Hiedi Allred also from RHS. Becca and Stacy from Jr. High. Holly Turnidge, her mom was my mom's very bestest friend, now her daughter is still so dear to me.
And then I was blessed with two amazing sisters who are sisters by blood and friends by choice. I was also blessed to marry into a wonderful family. My mother-in-law is also on my girlfriends list, eventhough she is much more than just a girlfriend. And I have 6 wonderful sister-in-laws who also fall in that catagory. Trudy has made me feel welcome and part of the family from the start. Janice is so easy to love, and who could doubt her sincerety? Julie is a blast to hang out with. I still remember when I miscarried. She had also just miscarried. And she was such a comfort to me. And all we did was hang out. I miss living close to them. Lorna is a chatter box like me, and I enjoy joking around with her. Emily married Todd's best friend and little brother. I was nervous about him marring such a cute girl!! And I prayed she'd like me if only for Todd's sake. Come to find out we have a lot in common, and I enjoy her and am so glad she is part of the family even if she is so darn cute. And Tiffany is so fun to sit back and just listen to her banter with her brothers. I have been so blessed by the Nefs.
And that brings me back to my mom. Her and I don't see eye to eye always. I think I have caused her the most heartaches of us all. But when I needed her she has always been there--even when she didn't like it. And I truly enjoy my time with my mom now. And I am glad I live close enough to go to RS together or go shopping or just hang out.