I could think of no better way to get your attention than to just shout the words "Giveaway" at the top of the page to make you stop and look.
I have been teasing you with a giveaway for some time now and I felt that I was due to cough it up already.
In this time of transition in my life, I have once again found that friendships are the cornerstone of my being. I don't enjoy sitting home alone and I don't enjoy just giving a new place a year or so before I try to "make some friends". If no one comes to me, by golly, I will come to you. I have gone so far on this move to Indy to have a blind date with a bloggy friend named Dawn last week to connect with someone new and I also am meeting another "blind date" friend tomorrow. By the way, Dawn is lovely and has 5 wonderful kiddos - and would you believe that even with all 6 in tow, that we actually carried full on conversations? It was a blast meeting them. I did go on a few other blind dates during my stint in New York too - anyone remember those?
The Lord is my ultimate, of course, and then there's the hubby and the child, and yes, yes, yes, but, then there is this side of me that isn't complete without having a friend to share with and having them share their lives with me. It is inborn and a part of my soul that is frankly - just who I am. It truly isn't out of insecurity (atleast I don't think it is.), it is out of a heart that loves people and loves having a relationship that is more than just "surface". I prefer my friends to be like family and for our lives to be richer because we are in them together.
I have talked about friendship on my blog here and there and have mentioned the facts of how desperately we as women need each other in our lives. When I am surrounded by fun, caring, godly women - my marriage is better, my mothering has a spring in it's step, I tend to be calmer, I have energy to fold one more load of laundry when I am exhausted, I worship better and actually have a stronger relationship with the Lord. I am not saying that I can't have these other things without friends, but it's like eating a brownie by itself. It's good and everything, but it's REALLY good when you add ice cream and a big tall glass of cold milk with it (right Bekah?)
I have a dear friend of mine who followed and chased her dreams until lo and behold - they came true. She wrote a book and then it got published. How cool is she!!! Sue's and my hubby were on staff together at our church in D.C. and well, I just love her to pieces. We kind of just "got each other" right away when we met.
My giveaway is nothing other than..........drum roll please..........Sue's awesome book "Confessions of a Tired Supergirl". It hasn't officially been released yet, but it is available for pre-order right now through Target online. Woo Hoo!
Here's what you get to do to enter this giveaway and have a chance to own one of the first few copies (minus the hundreds that I am sure her family and friends are going to be snatching up!!). Leave me a comment about a friend you have had who has been one of those "unique" friends. Ya know - the kind that go the extra mile, the kind that says "I'll take the kids, you go get a manicure", the kind that just sits with you for an afternoon and pats your leg while you share a hard day. Tell me something about this special friend, or maybe that special friend is you and you have a fun story. I will open the comments now and will do the random drawing this Friday morning.
Wanna play? Wanna win? Can't wait to hear from you....FRIENDS!!!
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14 comments:
OK, I gotta give a shout out to my friend Jennifer....she was the one who first began teaching me about real, living, drop your kids off here and go shopping, stay up all night with you packing, cook food for you while you're sick kind of friend.
Can't wait to read Sue's book!
Well, since we just "met" online I have to enter your contest. My friend, Heather, is the dearest, sweetest friend in the whole world. She is as close as a sister. I would move half way across the country for her (well, at least across two states). I miss her dearly. We talk on the phone almost everyday. She is always the first person I call for anything.
Sue's book sounds interesting - thanks for the give-a-way.
Kara~ how fun for you that you get to read about my best friend that just so happens to be one of your best friends also!
Julie and I have been friends for a long long time. Julie has been my best friend for about 3 years. We have bonded more and more as we have raised our kids together, shared the fun and frustration of being a stay at home mom together, and grown in our faith together. I don't trust people with the deep down inner Amber very easily. I have oh so slowly opened up to Julie and she has more than proven herself trustworthy with the very heart of me. These past few months have been super hard for me and yesterday I just found out that what I thought was over is not. Once again, Julie is right there to let me rant, let me cry, distract me and keep me occupied. I give Julie a lot of credit for my increased faith and for my increased desire to be a better mother, wife, etc. She is one of those friends that makes you better. I thank God everyday for giving me a friend like Julie - maybe at the exact time that I needed her the most.
As I have now taken up all your space and am now crying, I guess I will sign off and let other people have a turn. (:
Well, first off, I think Amber should win, because this Julie girl sounds pretty awesome! Ha! Wow, where do I begin. (This is in no particular order) I love Amber just like a sister. I would do anything for her. I have grown as a person over the last 10 years with her. She has seen a lot of change in me and is responsible for a lot of it. If you are around her for any amount of time she will rub off on you. I am a better wife, mother, sister, and friend because of her. Another friend I love dearly is you, Kara. You encourage me when I need it the most. This season in my life has been trying and you have always been there to take my calls and just listen. I miss you so much that it still brings tears to my eyes when I think about you not being right down the street. At last (again in no particular order) is my sister Amanda. We used to fight like crazy when we were younger but now she has turned into one of my best friends. It's amazing to see her as a mother. I admire her and how brave she is. She packed up and moved her family with a newborn overseas to support her husband in the military. She is the most loving mother and the most beautiful sister, inside and out. I am so blessed to be writing about 3 friends in my life that have changed who I am and that I love dearly.
Great giveaway! I have so many special friends but my greatest friend would be my mother. She is just always there and always knows just what I need. I adore her:)
Hey Kara, hope your blind date this week goes well!!
I have a group of friends like that. We all met through MOPS and started having playdates with our first born children, then we all added a second child, and started doing a "supper club" with husbands and all. It is amazing how our group sticks together and surround each other with love. Over a year ago, we had a scare with my husband's health and we ended up in the emergency room. At least one member from each family showed up to support us there...they are an amazing gift from God!
Last year I was adjusting to becoming a mom at last after waiting so long for our blessing from above. While one of the best jobs in the world is mothering my daughter, I did begin falling into the lonely mommy blues. I began praying for a friend, since many of my closest friends live far away or work. In the fall a met a new girl at a church mom's group. We have daughters close in age and we both stay home with them. We have similar interests: shopping, coffee, chatting, watching our girls play together, etc. One day I told her that I had actually prayed for a friend to shop with and she became my answer. During the winter & spring we attended Bible study together, mom's group together, couple's small group together, church & our random playdates. So we were getting together about 3 - 4 times a week. We have missed them lately! We had lunch together today for the 1st time in a while (busy summer). It was a joy to me & Kylee to see our friends again. Sharon is a sweet gift from God.
I also have to mention, not to be too cheesy here, but I really did marry my best friend. We were friends long before we began dating. I would not want to be on this journey of life with anyone else. I am so grateful to have him in my life. We celebrate our 10 year anniversary next month. We will be celebrating in Hawaii!
I have an awesome friend named Leah. We lived next door to each other in our dorm in college. We became instant friends. Even though we don't live near each other anymore we still stay in touch. She is one of those friends that even if we go a month or two with out talking, the minute we get on the phone it is like no time has passed. We are connected even though we are leading seperate lives.
True friendship comes from living life together. Late night conversations, pregnancies, babies, loss of parent, celebrations...These are the things we share with our dear friends we have been on staff with here in Pittsburgh for 10 years. When friendship passes from friend to family you know the hand of God was at work.
Alright-I'll come out of my "Kara's blog stalker" mode for this one. I have a friend named Leah who is one of my dearest friends ever. We have only been friends now for two years-but she is like a sister to me. We've probably spent enough time together to be moved into the sisterhood realm. She was my walking buddy, garage sale buddy, my listening ear. I don't know what drew us together so quickly-whether it was that we attended the same church, we were both nurses and could swap horror stories from work to someone who actually would understand or that our girls were close in age. Whatever it was-we were fast friends from the beginning. BUT-just a few weeks ago they moved back home to Minnesota. While I was incredibly happy for them to be back with family-I was sad for us. I know that we can continue our friendship long distance but what makes me the saddest is that they took Ana's best friend with them-and that still makes me tear up. They didn't understand that their last hug and kiss would have to last them for months and months. They will never know the friendship that they could have had. We miss them a lot! And I know Kara that you and your friends understand that all too well.
My best friend is Alicia. She & I met in high school. About two years ago my husband was having a seizure at 2 in the morning. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and I drove separately. On my way to the hospital I called Alicia. She was awake. She couldn't sleep. Alicia made it to the hospital before I did. It is so great to have someone you can call at any time for help and support.
I am loving hearing all these great stories about friendship. Keep em' coming. You've got until tomorrow morning!
Also - Shout out to my cousin Alison for coming out of "stalking my blog" mode and leaving me a comment. Sorry about your friend moving away....you know I feel your pain on this one! Love ya.
You've got a lot of good ones on here, maybe I can be on the judging committee! Well, one of my oldest & dearest friends is Marci. Our mothers were pregnant with us at the same time and our families have been best friends all my life. She is truly like a sister to me. The memories we have made in 29 yrs. are too numerous to mention. We've vacationed together, camped, fished, celebrated life and mourned the loss of both her brother & sister. This girl has the STRONGEST faith of anyone I know. When most people might question God after losing two people so close, she has not faultered. I can't think of anything we haven't helped each other through. She was one of my most supportive bridesmaids(next to my sister) and took her job of making sure everyone had "fun" seriously. Even if that meant breaking the straps of her dress while dancing, whoo we had fun! And of course I can't post something about best friends without mentioning my sis, Stephanie. I've always looked up to her and although we had our normal spats when we were younger (she used to lock her bedroom door so I couldn't "borrow" any clothes!) we are closer now than ever. Since she became a mother, our relationship has been stronger, I think she sees now how much help I can be, that I will never be too busy and how much I love that little guy! I can only hope that when I have children that we will have even more fun! And Kara, I still really miss seeing you next door. You've been a great friend to talk to during all this stuff & I miss our walks. I could always count on to get my mail or check my coffee pot even if it was pouring down rain! You guys were our first neighbors and they are some big shoes to fill.
Kara, you posted on my blog a few weeks ago. I am Julie's friend. Anyway, you encouraged me so much. Moving to a new place has been difficult for sure, but your encouraging words have been great for me! I am finally posting on your blog, even though I check if often! As cheesy as this may seem, the friend I will write about is... my husband. Right now being in a new place, I have no friends! (YET!) My poor husband has had to step into that role and be the "girlfriend" that I so desperately need. Let me tell you after a full testosterone filled day of coaching football and being surrounded by 40 boys and other men, it isn't easy to transition into caring, compasionate, attentive friend. He as done it night after night without complaining and I am grateful! I am slowly getting out there so that hopefully soon a "real girlfriend" will take his place. Until then I am thankful for him.
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