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| This photo is a few years old, but these are the friends who are hanging out with me this weekend. No, the goat won’t be joining us… |
I am so super excited today to hang out with two friends who are making the three-hour drive to my place. We’ve been planning the weekend for a long time now. And, get this, I’m going to cook!
I know, cooking shouldn’t be such a monumental thing, but I’m a busy girl with a full-time day job and a writing career and other important things eating up my time. You know, like re-watching Downton Abbey and playing “Flow” on my iPhone. (Anyone else play that? I’m slightly addicted.)
Back to my friends.
So, they’ve put a couple stipulations on our weekend:
- I’m not allowed to go chainsaw crazy. Yes, you read that right. I bought a chainsaw earlier this week and my friends are, well, concerned.
- I’m not allowed to use the microwave for the duration of their stay. An understandable request considering my history.
In our planning for the weekend, I also promised my friends I’d try to get something else out of my system—a little state of being I like to call “emotional schizophrenia.”
See, I’ve had some seriously awesome stuff happening lately. Really. Good. Stuff. I’m like Pollyanna-on-steroids happy.
And yet, on the other hand, in the past couple weeks I’ve experienced heartbreak as I’ve watched family and friends walk through a tough, tough situation. At any given moment, tears are only a pinch away.
High highs and low lows, all at once, make for an interesting state of emotions. So, I promised my friends I’d work the kinks out of my mental system by the time they arrived. But one of them said something I love. She said, We’re here to be with you in your emotional schizophrenia, my dear!
And I smiled.
Because that’s what friendship is about, yeah? Celebrating the highs together, walking through the lows together and not shrinking from whatever gamut of emotions presents itself.
I love that my friends are like that. I love that God is like that.
And I love that friendships can outlast distance, emotional craziness and even chainsaw fears.
Who are your friends who put up with your any and every emotion?
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I have a hodgepodge that I’m soooo grateful for. Some I never would have expected b/c they are so much more mild mannered than I am, but God has gifted me with them!
~ Wendy
I love that you have unexpected friends. 🙂 It’s fun to look around and think, “How did I become friends with this person when we’re so different?” And those are some of the coolest friendships.
Great picture. Have fun!
Thanks! We definitely will!
Oh, I love good friends! I hope you guys have fun – and I’m on pins and needles about the good news you’ve received…it’s like I’m reading a novel and the author isn’t revealing the information, so I have to keep reading until she divulges…although I have some ideas floating around in my head as to what it may be… 🙂 My husband is my rock for my emotional highs and lows – seriously, I don’t deserve that man. Last night we went out on a spontaneous dinner date and I unloaded on him and he gave me the most amazing insight and wisdom. He’s so handsome, too – he’s the perfect hero. 🙂
Oh, that’s so sweet of your husband, to be your listening ear and source of stability. And of course, the handsome part doesn’t hurt either. 🙂
Yeah. I’ve been blessed with friends like that too. My BFF has been around since I was 17, so she’s seen a LOT of crazies in me:) Hope you have a blast this weekend! Excited for your highs, and praying for your lows, Melissa.
How cool to have a friend that long, Susan! I just hung out yesterday with two friends I’ve known pretty much since I was born…I love friendships like that. The ones I’m hanging out with this weekend I’ve known since college/post-college, so, not quite as long, but it feels like we’ve known each other forever. 🙂
I have so many awesome friends who put up with MY emotional schizophrenia. 😉 One of whom is my CP who I have yet to meet in person (will be remedied soon!!). Seriously, girl, thanks for listening to me whine about all my schtuff. I love that you ride the waves with me and often are the one to pull me up on the surfboard with you! Love you sooooooooo much!! Muah! Have fun this weekend.
And thank you to YOU for riding the same waves with me. You’re just awesome! We are going to have sooooo much fun at ACFW…and Storycrafters…and when I visit in 2013…and at next year’s ACFW…and at the other event you’ll hopefully be coming up here for. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Looooove you! 🙂
Yay, yay, yay!!! So much Mel and Linds time!!! 😀
I think you saw my blog where “Jane” and I talked about friends. But I so appreciate the friends in my life and the value they bring to my life! Have a great weekend!
Oh yes, I remember that. You and “Jane” are a hoot! Hope you have a great weekend, too!
I am so impressed by your chainsaw ownership!!
The same wacko emotional roller coaster happened to me last year–I finished the rough draft of my book the day before my aunt passed away. So glad you get to spend time with your friends through the spazzy-ness.
Thanks, Beth…wacko emotional roller coaster is the perfect phrase for it. But yes, I’m glad for friends in the midst of it. 🙂
Melissa – have a delicious weekend with your girls!
Emotional schizophrenia. Yes.
P.S. I have a goat that looks just like the one in the pic – you can borrow her if you need to in order to make your weekend complete.
Hahaha, a goat would definitely add an extra element of fun to the weekend. Hehehe…
Have a great weekend!
Oh, friends who love us in the midst of all our emotional yuck — they are the best of the best. Two of my dearest friends just helped me plan and execute my daughter’s wedding — and honestly, it wouldn’t have happened without them. We had the Waldo Canyon Fire just a couple of weeks before the wedding — and were evacuated — and I was on deadline — and my computer crashed … these friends kept me sane. And they loved me when I wasn’t sane.
What a summer you’ve had, Beth. I can’t imagine…so glad you had close friends around to, as you said, keep you sane. 🙂 And your last line made me LOL. That’s one of the very best things about friends, I think…they way they love us in our insanity. 🙂
You have a chain saw? Seriously? Wow! I’m jealous. Would you come down to Mississippi? I’m really in need of someone to do a little tree trimming in my back yard.
I have so great friends who are there for my whenever I need them! Great prayer partners, too.
Haha, yes, I do have a chainsaw…okay, well, technically, I gave it to my dad. But I did ask him to promise to let me use it sometime. I think he might be hesitant about that! Hehehe…
I just want to assure everyone that Melissa held up her end of the bargain and did not operate any microwaves or chainsaws during the duration of our stay. She did, however, make it an amazing time.
We love you Melissa.
I think you guys made it an amazing time! 🙂 It never ceases to amaze me how many, many months can go by between seeing each other…but how it never actually feels that way once we get together. I’m already scheming and scouting for a weekend when I can get up to NW Iowa. 🙂 Love you, too! 🙂
God has placed some amazing women in my life (including Mrs. Patch!) who hold my hand in the hard times, and rejoice with me in the good times. Thank the Lord for friends like that!
(And for goodness sake – put down that chainsaw!)