a work in progress.

i am good at a lot of things.

remembering lyrics to a song.

making lists.

eating doritos.

performing dance routines from 8th grade cheer. 

(okay, maybe i'm not good at that.  but for some reason, it's still really fun)

on the flip side...

there are a lot of things i am really bad at.

getting birthday cards to people on time.

(although i always remember the actual date)

hanging up laundry after it is clean.

keeping anything green alive.

drinking water.

and... being a good friend.

really.  this is not me looking for sympathy.

or for you to say "no, shara!  you're a super-de-duper friend!"

the truth is that God has surrounded me with amazing, wonderful women 

whom i absolutely love, adore, and admire.

in my head, i want to be the kind of friend that regularly calls.

encourages people when they need it.

is there when they need a shoulder to cry on.

is available to hang out for coffee whenever they want.

recently, i feel more and more aware of my friendship-shortcomings.

there is one particular friendship for which i feel particularly guilty.

my amazing friend holly has been living in the middle east for the past year.

she and her husband moved there last summer with plans to stay for 3-4 years.

i cannot even imagine having the courage to do something like that.

i promised to write, skype, send mail, email, etc, etc, etc.

i have skyped less than a handful of times.

i rarely send emails.

not one package has been sent.

my heart is good.

my intentions are there.

i think of her all the time, pray for her, and miss her so much.

but my actions do not reflect my heart.

sadly, sometimes i feel like this is the theme of my life.

i want holly, and all my friends, to know how much i love them.

that i see such amazing qualities in them.

that their friendship has affected my life, changed who i am, and caused me to grow.

i am surrounded by women that challenge my way of thinking.

that love me when i am unloveable.

that pick me up when i am down.

i want to be that for them.

but instead, i get too busy with my own life.

so to all you women out there whose friendship blesses my life.

i love you.

i am ever-so-grateful for you.

and i thank you for putting up with me.

i am a work in progress.

and holly.... i promise.... i'll get something in the mail. soon....

maybe.

holly & ryan got to come to california this past week and we were able to spend a few days visiting with them.  what  a sweet time, and so sad to think it will be awhile before we are together in person again.

here are our kiddos with uncle ryan and auntie holly.  we love you guys.