This entry was actually written on 2/27/10, but never published due to the fact that I could not find the pictures that I wanted to go with the entry. So here it is. Some things have changed....like Luke is not potty trained, no more pull-ups, etc. but my feelings about friends are still the same. I still feel exactly the same way today as I did on 2/27/10. I think I will feel exactly the same way on 2/27/50. :)
"'Good friends are like stars......You don't always see them,
but they are always there."
Dearest Joshua and Luke,
Both of you know that each month, I spend two hours after school meeting Susy at Applebees for catching up on each other's lives. (Sometimes Lana comes, too which makes it an extra special treat.) I am so lucky that I have had a lot of really good friends through the years. Great friends I grew up with, wonderful friends when Daddy and I were first married, when I started teaching, etc. There are wonderful people and friends that I have met in various phases of my life. Susy is an exceptional one.
First of all, it is difficult for me to take the time away from you at home. Might I add, that neither of you make it easy for me, but I know that some day you will understand the importance of this friendship. Susy was teaching first grade when I got hired to teach first grade as her teaching partner. From the first time I met her, she was a true professional in every sense of the word. She was an excellent role model for the teaching profession (and still is!). I am sure that is what immediately drew me to her. Susy has made me a better teacher and person (something friends often do). We are opposites in a lot of ways and have lived such different lives, but somehow we are almost always in sync. I miss not being a part of her daily life when we worked together, but, I know we can pick up right where we left off even if we have not seen each other for months. And every time I leave Applebees, I am in a great mood for days afterwards. It has been so much fun catching up on each other's lives and talking about the future. Even though I do not see Susy as much as I used to, I feel extremely blessed to have her in my life. I know there will be a day when there will be more time for big girl beverages, lodge meetings, afternoons by the pool, and time to do even more together.
You both are working so hard at developing friendships. Please remember the golden rule - to treat others as you would want to be treated. Be aware of other people's feelings and work diligently to make everyone feel included. Especially watch out for those people around you that need a friend and be a friend to them. Smile a lot, too. People like to be around other people that smile. And listen to others (don't always do all of the talking), be honest and respectful to your friends, and always be there for them especially if they are
sad, mad, etc.I see you both beginning to do these things with your friends. We are so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people with our neighbors, friends at the Atrium, your schools, Karate, everywhere we go. Thank goodness!
You should also know that I have been very blessed with friends throughout many phases of my life. So many people are special to me that I can not mention them all in fear of the fact that I may leave one out! And I do not ever want to hurt my friend's feelings. You will feel blessed with your friends some day, too if you are only a fraction as lucky as I have been!
One quick story from the week:
About 6:30am this week, I heard a noise coming from the boy's bedroom. Joshua had just crawled into our bed a little bit before, so I knew it was not him. As I walked into the bedroom, Luke was sitting on the floor in front of his dresser, putting a new pull up on. He explained that he woke up and could not get to the bathroom fast enough so there was pee in his pull up. He was certainly taking care of himself. Not only did he put a new pull up on, but he put his pajama bottoms back on, crawled back into bed, and said, "I am all set now." Then, he went back to sleep until 8 am. What a little guy! Luke is wearing underwear all day now! Way to go, Luke! He wears a pull up at night, but just about every morning it is dry when he gets up! Yeah Luke!
Love,
Mama
