all of a sudden God has plopped a few of these relating gals in my lap. some are new friends, some are old, but both varieties are equally heaven-sent.
last year was one big block of blur, having a newborn and a 16 month old meant i was at home most always, trying to keep up with diaper changes, feedings, pumping, trying to get by. i was the captain of a ship that needed steering the whole time - i couldn't take my eyes off the water or the wheel. there wasn't a whole lot of time for get-togethers and girl's nights. that was okay... certain seasons of life call for different things... that was my time to cocoon. and it was sweet being immersed in babies all day, every day.
i'm now growing my wings; my cocooning is over. i'm still immersed in the baby and toddler, and it sure is sweet as honey. but, the kids are becoming so much easier, the fog is lifting and i can do normal things again.
like getting together with friends, letting the kids play, and talking the day away. it's always good to live life with others, though it does take work for me. i'm that ugly "i" word... the one that could almost be synonymous with loner. only introvert sounds a tad bit better. i could go through weeks and be okay by myself. i don't thrive off of people, so i can easily forget my need to be around them. we were made to be in relationship with others. we were made to pray for each other, to treat others better than ourselves, to confess our sins and dreams, to live life. and what a gift it is.
27 {comments}:
You are so right-on. Genuine girlfriends are a gift, indeed. I'm in that place where me and all of my close friends are emerging from that fog together. We all had little's around the same time, been in the same waters, and we're just now getting where we can get the kids together to play, so we can have adult conversation. I think I almost forgot how to do that, but it's coming back. :) Beautiful pics, girl. You are lovely inside and out!
Girlfriends are wonderful! I am so thankful I've found a group up here to hang out with each week for playdates and the occasional GNO. I'm one that has to have social contact - although I do dream of living on a hobby farm, then I don't know how i'd visit with people while tending all my chickens and goats :)
amen.
it is so hard for me to relate to you specifically because hello? not a mom. :) but that doesn't mean my season isn't hard right now because it sure as heck is. i'm the kind of person who does better with a reward/goal in mind, whether it's doing all my school then having blogging time or watching a fave show, but i also need the people time. i stayed home for a whole week one time and just about DIED.
so, thanks for writing this, carissa! YOU get ME. :)
I totally feel ya. I still feel like I'm in a cacoon, although some days I feel as though I have enough courage to peek my little head out :)
I know exactly what you mean! I am more that way too...I have to make an effort to remember to not "seclude" myself from others! Awesome insight! Oh, my email got shut down bc I got hacked grrrr.... sorry you can email me here for now birdandtree@live.com!!!!
i wish i had a little more of that introverted thing to be honest. i need people. they make me feel loved and safe. good for you breaking out of your comfort zone a bit. now if you only lived a little more north;)
Love this post! I can definitely relate to the feeling of being in a fog ... my daughter is fourteen months old and mine is starting to life. I'm feeling "normal" again ... getting back into things I love again ... feeling like I'm actually a part of the world again. :)
I'm a lot like you. I can be by myself for long periods of time, and I'm ok with it, but then I forget how much fun it is to spend time with others, and how much I really need it. I haven't yet found a group of friends that I just click with, but I'm actively going out and meeting new people in hopes that I can find someone to click with. Thanks for sharing!
I just love your blog. I've been following you for about 6 months and I always feel so encouraged and lifted after reading:)
i just recently started reading your blog, don't even remember how i stumbled across it, but i so understand. i am a total introvert and honestly don't have many/any friends that i would consider close enough to spend any time with it. i have those casual relationships, but no one close and boy do i need it. i myself have 4 children and there are days that i just don't even hardly see the outdoors, smell the fresh air. much less share a cup of coffee with a friend. thanks for your thoughts.
love time with my neighbor (with 5 kids also) when she comes over with her son Lily's age..and her son Reid's age and chat over coffee....remembering we are not alone in hectic daily life...and reminding each other how fast these days go and how precious it is we get to stay home to watch it!
we are so much alike! i feel like i can always relate to everything you post. i am the same way-i could go a long time without a need for people (except my husband!) but i have found over this past year there really is something beautiful and necessary about fellowship with other women!
i was meant to read this today! i get so accustomed to my own routine with elizabeth and the comfort of doing our own thing...it always seems harder and such a task to make plans, but when you get the chance to get together with your girls...you think, "why have i been m.i.a. for so long?" and i'm terrible about waiting for the invition instead of being the one to get a group together. we so need to keep in close touch with our friends for support and fun!
Ahh Carissa...I'm so glad things are getting a little easier for you with the kids and you are able to enjoy some great relationships. I am a "loner"-type too. I even had a friendship fall apart because I did not extend as much or as often as she needed me to...so sad. I am working on opening up more. Blogging is one way but it's still fairly "hands-off". I would really love to get some face to face time with some of the great women I have been meeting! Alas, distance is an eternal issue. Would love the chance to chat with you face to face but since that's unlikely, I just like to consider you one of my sweet bloggy friends :) I love to read all the thoughts and insights you share and think you're a really great gal.
Enjoy every moment of all your blossoming relationships...hooray for you!
New and old friends that can completely relate to you are the best things ever. Something to hold tight to.
I can go weeks by myself until I realize I haven't interacted with anyone, to then have the loneliness set in, but you're right, we're meant to be around each other and I ignore that too often.
So happy you get to have you time again, sans kids and with girlfriends.
Yay for the new phase in life!
What a great post! I totally agree! :)
so glad you have found some great women to have in your life. it's so important! It's amazing how God places things in our lives at exactly that time we need it most. I go through spurts...being okay around no one and then needing people around. Even when I am around others, I catch myself not investing in them. It's a constant battle for me. Thanks for sharing your heart as always!
Hi Carissa,
Wow, your post hit me right in the face although I am a grandmother of 5 beautiful grandchildren and not in the middle of the 'baby times.' I am however a loner and you are so right that it is so important that we immerse ourselves with others and develop deep friendships and "light' friendships.. I know this and yet sometimes I do not follow it. Thanks for reminding me!!!
You look STUNNING in these pictures!!!
I totally relate! I'm a major introvert as well, so I have to force myself to get together with people (and I don't even have kids). I think the hardest thing for me is finding people I relate to or connect with. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm the have a few close friends rather than a lot of acquaintances type of girl, so it feels hard to find those. Investing in others and allowing them to invest in me should be a top priority though! :)
It's so good when people pop into your life! :-)
Beautiful.
I can relate. I am very much a homebody type person, and honestly good just go through my day with just myself and my family. But, seriously, these last years the Lord has been teaching me to grow beyond that self. I live in a neighborhood where my next door neighbors have become more than neighbors -- they've become friends. And that has widened my circle, my sphere of days.
Blessings to you sweet friend.
Rachel
and I agree -- amazing pictures. :)
hi!
i've missed my little lower case sis! if you are really an introvert,
then we have another trait in common.
so happy you've found a rhythm in juggling babies and now some
friend time, too. those friends will last a lifetime, because the
bond you forge as young mothers is such a strong one. i have
had three of my best friends for 30 years now and have the
sweetest memories of meeting at the park w/all our little ducklings.
blessings on your precious family!
love,
lea
You are gorgeous! So thankful for the gals he's brought to encourage you and help you spread your wings.
good girlfriends are the best! very important.
kelly
I'm a lot like you too - content to be alone and not feeling the "need" to reach out to others. (so with 9 in the house, I value my alone time!) But the older I get the more I realize that even if I don't necessarily need that interaction frequently, I still do need to be willing to serve others. It takes sacrifice sometimes, but the Lord always blesses and encourages when we seek others out and strive to minister, doesn't He?!
I'm amazing how much life changes when you have kids, and even then how much it changes year to year. I'm glad you're finding your rhythm and growing your wings. Enjoy it!
Also, I'm a new follower and looking forward to linking up to miscellany monday tomorrow :)
I'm so glad that you are coming out of your cocoon season - God does really neat things in that season but I'm always glad when it's over and I can begin to participate more fully with my spiritual community - those times with other Sisters in Christ is priceless. Hope you are able to continue to find ways to get together with other mommies in the next weeks and months :)
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