What exactly is a girlfriend? Webster's dictionary describes a girlfriend as "a female friend". And yes, that is the obvious statement, but I've got to say, a girlfriend to me is much more than that. I've been blessed with good girlfriends my entire life. I had the best friends growing up. These are the gals that I can go for years without seeing, but if I see them tomorrow it will be like no time has passed at all. These are the girls that I could call at any hour of the night and know without a shadow of a doubt that they would be there as soon as they possibly could to help me out. I had wonderful college girlfriends. These girls helped me find the real me... they saw me at my worst (you know you did) and still loved me. They helped me grow into the person that I am today. If it weren't for some of them, who knows where in the heck I'd be? Definitely not writing this blog!! I love my Meredith girls even if we're not close in location and even if I don't get to see them on a regular basis. I credit them with so much of this crazy life I lead today!
I have been blessed with many friends. I don't say that boastfully, I say it honestly. I have been so very blessed. However, I took my girlfriends for granted over the years. I thought that it was just normal to have so many good friends. Surprise! Boy, was I wrong! It wasn't until the birth of Tee that I realized just how lucky I am . I have been overwhelmingly humbled by my girlfriends over the past eight months. I don't like to depend on others... never have. But, my girlfriends have made me see that it's okay to let others help you. They've made me realize that I cannot do everything myself. These girls have shown me what true friendship is all about... and I'll tell you exactly why.
These girlfriends have taken my kids to school most days, they have brought my kids home from school. They have sat in the hospital (pre-Tee) with me... and brought flowers and gifts along with their company. They have driven me to the hospital after Tee was discharged and sat while I held Tee in the NICU for HOURS. They brought me dinner before I had Tee... they brought me dinner after I had Tee... for MONTHS! They have called me numerous times "just to check on things". They have texted me EVERY SINGLE DAY that Tee was in NICU just to tell me to keep my head up and to hang in there! The texts continue to come. They have offered me more words of encouragement than I could possibly reciprocate. They have stood in for me at meetings... they have taken my workload for volunteer commitments. They have taken me for pedicures and wine lunches. They have listened to me cry, they have helped me laugh. They have offered me words of encouragement JUST to make it through the day. They brought Biscuitville for breakfast when Tee had RSV (I'm still addicted to the cinnamon bites, by the way)... hours later they brought by my favorite Starbucks latte. They were with me the first time I got a little tipsy post-baby. They make me get out of the house! They invite me to dinner to get me out of the house! They offer up "let us know what we can do" and they honestly mean it. They keep my kids when I can't find a sitter. They've traveled with me to faraway places in knee-deep snow because I needed a "GIRLS NIGHT!" They have gone beyond the call of duty and I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. "My girlfriends put the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the Ya-Yas , and the Sweet Potato Queens to shame. Makes me think how much better off men would be if they had real girlfriends."
So... here's to you, my dear girlfriends! I'm lucky to have each and every one of you... near and far... old and new. I love you and am thankful for the Missy Dillehay Butler that you've contributed to assembling. I think I'm a pretty fortunate gal!
