I can't even remember how we met or exactly when, all I know is that when we did meet we clicked and became best friends. Julie and I had so much in common and thought the same too. We had really lived mirrored lives with the same experiences. It was these experiences that bonded us and drew us close. We helped each other through lots of hard times; such as broken hearts, loss of loved ones, and growing up pains. Plus, we celebrated together the first time becoming aunts, engagements, holidays. We also had the opportunity to be roommates in an awesome 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment at the Burlington. Julie introduced me to so much that I continue to enjoy today, like jazz music, sassy socks, and wine. She contributed to who I am today. Of course, we had our arguments ( think), but she was the best roommate and friend that I could have asked for.
This is a picture of Jules and I before marriage and kids:
When Jules and I lived together, she also had to live with my kitty, Winnie. I had gotten Winnie as a baby a year or so before we lived at the Burlington. Jules was great about having her live with us. And don't let Jules fool you, she was smitten with Winnie.
While living with Julie, I met a man whom I got engaged to. I asked Julie to be my Maid of Honor, which she accepted excitedly. There were some situations and experiences that occurred before my wedding that prompted Julie to decline being my Maid of Honor. At the time, I was devistated and so sad. I couldn't understand how my best friend would not be standing beside me while I entered this new chapter in my life. It was at this time that our friendship was broken and not able to be repaired. I chose to allow someone to tell me who I could and could not be friends with, which meant letting a precious friend slip away. There is so much honor in her decision and I will never know how hard it was for her to do this, but boy do I respect her a great deal!
Well as you can imagine, life went on. I had two babies and different experiences in my life. Julie got married and had two children as well. I always wondered what happened to her and where she was. There was a time or two when we connected through a Christmas card, but it wasn't much of a connection. As I went through my divorce, I thought a lot about why Julie declined being in my wedding. It made sense to me at that moment. I realized that she really was as great a friend as she had always been, but I wasn't able to see it clearly and I chose to let someone else control my decisions and thoughts by what they saw the situation as being. Julie knew that the decisions I were making at that time in my life were not ones that were healthy for me. She could not stand beside me at that alter when she knew it wasn't right. WOW! I am so thankful to her, because most of my friends I had while I was married are no longer a part of my life. Divorce makes people feel uncomfortable and judgemental, which often means friends either ignore you, choose your spouse to keep as a friend, or judge you into thinking you should have worked harder to make the marriage work. It was like God took Julie away until he knew exactly when I would need her and when I started to make healthy choices for my life again. It takes a lot to stand up for what you think is right for a friend and if it means losing that friendship, you have done what God called you to do.
When facebook came to life, I would search for Julie on there, but nothing turned up. I couldn't think of any other ways to find her. Finally, she found me when she got onto facebook. Since then, I have met her two handsome boys and been reunited with her wonderful husband, Bob. (Bob was a reoccurring guest at the Burlington and I fell in love with him then. So, I was thrilled to see who Bob has become and the wonderful dad and husband he grew to be.) We have gotten together for movie night, scrapbooking sleepovers.
All this to say, that time has gone by and we both have missed a lot in each other's lives. But it doesn't matter what we've missed, we are friends again now. I am thrilled and blessed to have Julie standing by my side as a friend. She is my soulmate friend. We just click in a way that I can't explain or even understand. She is a blessing from God and an answer to prayer. I am so excited to continue to "do life" with Jules.
I love you Jules and I am so happy that you are back in my life. A lot has changed. But now we can experience motherhood together and boy it is good to have someone like you (honest, loving, comforting) to go through it with. You are a blessing!
1 comment:
Fantastic!
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