Mandi

friendship

With this week’s focus on friendship, I took the time to see exactly how it was listed in the dictionary. One definition that stood out defined friendship as “A friendly relation or intimacy”. A friendly relation can be with anyone for any amount of time; be it a family member, childhood friend, or even someone you met at the coffee shop just last week. Nonetheless – all of these people come into our lives and makes us who we are.

When having a conversation about friendship, whether it’s about building one up or letting one go, I always think back to the quote “People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime”, and am reminded that some friends are meant to simply teach us a lesson while others celebrate with us as we share our time in laughter. Then there are those rare friends, the ones who stand with us through our ups and downs, the laughter and tears, as our lifetime friends.

Who are your friends?

Family Members – Friends – Pets – Good Books – Work – Dreams

ps. the picture above is of me and my first “lifetime” friend! We met when she was born and I was 6 weeks old.

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

creating your roots with traditions

by Mandi | personal

As I sit down to write my personal story on what “roots” means to me, I feel so blessed to have always been surrounded with love and support by so many people in my life. Having roots is about traditions and creating a sense of home…somewhere to belong and make wonderful memories.

I came home this Sunday after spending a long weekend with my family and friends continuing one of those traditions that I hold so dear. Since I can remember, my parents have thrown a bbq during the week of the 4^th. We have all kinds of food, some fun on the lake, yard games and or course fireworks. I have many family members there, friends that I have known for my entire life and friends I have only known a short while. My parents and sister invite their own sets of neighbors and friends, so as you can imagine we have a pretty big group. There are so many memories that we share from year to year and it is times like these that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

It is interesting going through life. When you are a child, your parents have created their roots for you to grow from and live in. Now in my 30s I see that as I get older however, it is time for me to create my own roots. I begin to ask myself, what traditions will I set for my future family and children? What morals and life style will I set as a standard for my future generations to live in and grow from?

I hope to take all that I was taught and what I have experienced… the importance of a good conversation, the importance of the people in my life, the sweet memories of time spent together and one day hopefully create some traditions or “roots” that I can pass along.