Friends

Currently I'm in a place where most of my friends are not in the same stage of life with me, and it is beautiful and challenging and surprising. Let me give some examples. I'll start from the youngest and go up. 

There's a girl at church who is 15. We both went to Louisiana with 16 other people on a mission trip, and I shared a room with her and another girl who was 14. And for some reason we just clicked. We laughed and talked and I felt like we were the same age. It was weird. Then when we came back home and there was a youth event, I was her small group leader and I said to her in the lobby later, "It's weird because I felt like we were equals on the Louisiana trip and now I'm your leader." But, we still talk at church and she's awesome. 

I had coffee and dinner - in that order - with two guys in my young adults' Bible study that are both 22. They both just finished college. Although I'm 10 years older than them, we had great conversations and I enjoyed our time. Again, age didn't seem to matter. 

I have three sets of friends with 4 kids each (one of them with their 5th on the way) - one are just a few years older than me, one are late 30's, and one early 40's. Their kids range from baby up to 16. With some, I have dinner with them and their kids, some I do Bible study with, some I do ministry with. They are some of my best friends. 

At work I have a friend who is in his late 40s, married with 2 teenagers, and we have good conversations. I also really like both of my bosses that are early 40's and mid 40's - both women that are married with 1 and 2 kids. 

I'm thankful for friends of all different ages and walks of life. 

Thankful

I want to be thankful for every season I'm in. It's easy to look back at times that were good, or to look ahead to other times I think will be good. 

I'm thankful for my job that I like. In January it will be two years which feels crazy! I'm thankful this is the job I have for a pandemic - working at Starbucks with a mask on all day is not where I'd want to be. I'm thankful for the people I work with. I miss working with them in person, and currently when I go in once a month it is a joy to see those that I get to see! 

I'm thankful for my friendships with some people at church that I do ministry with. Even when I see some of them 3 days a week that's not even enough for me and I never take them for granted. 

I'm thankful I have a good car now, and that I can go places -  even if I'm going by myself. 

I'm thankful for friends that are married that let me come have dinner with them and their families, for inviting me in. (Or letting me invite myself in! Haha.) 

I'm in a unique place with friendships right now... which I feel like should be a different blog entirely. Which I'll write in a minute. HA. 

I'm thankful for my parents and that I didn't have to live quarantine months alone.