Monday, July 11, 2011

on Friends

So, between getting married at 19, moving far far away from where I grew up, and living a life pretty 'different' then what's 'normal', I don't really have many girlfriends. 

I never realized how much a good girlfriend does for the soul until quite recently.

When I got married, it seemed like a lot of the friends that I did have sort of backed away. I think that they felt like they couldn't relate anymore, or maybe they just felt like it would be too hard to be friends with someone in such a different stage of life now
And that's understandable.
Although, I promise I'm still the girl who wants to stay up all night and chat with a friend :)

Anyways,
 I was left wondering if I'll ever make good friends- I'm so young... its rare to find other couples that are married so young, you know? And not very often do you find another couple who desires to live the same sort of life we want to live. Also, Lee and I are travelers. You never know where we'll be the next year let alone the next month.

But guess what? 
God heard me. He granted me a way to have so many beautiful friends- 
Through blogging
I realize this may sound silly to some, but seriously, I can't even express how BLESSED I am because of all of you. I went from feeling sad about not really having many friends... to feeling so excited to know all of you. You guys are a HUGE part of my life. I'm so so thankful for all of you.
 I really do love you all so much! 

Three things I've learned: 
one.) God really does care about the little things. like giving me a bunch of awesome girlfriends :) 
two.) We all need girlyfriends
three.) My bloggy friends mean a whole lot to me

28 comments:

  1. Oh my word, girl!! I know EXACTLY how you feel! I started reading blogs when we moved to the South and when I had no friends...
    I didn't start a blog until recently, and we don't live in the south anymore, but it has really helped. So even though we moved back to our hometown, things are different. I was married when was 19, with a baby... not many good girls my age that can relate to me or my life. I am 22 and it's still the same. Only a few married couples, most don't have any children. It can be tough getting married this young, but there are amazing things about it, too. I am glad I started blogging so I could meet so many wonderful girls, like yourself, and I don't think what you wrote would sound silly to any blogging person! "Real life" people may not get it, but the rest of us do! ha ha

    ReplyDelete
  2. so, if it helps any...that's kind of my dream life. not the having no friends part. but the getting married young, being on your own...that's what i've always wanted.

    plus i don't really have alot of girl friends anyway...not sure why. i'm not good at making friends. :( but i'd be honored to be a new bloggy friend! they're my favorite! :)

    life in a nutshell

    ReplyDelete
  3. I so agree! I was just about to jump up and down yelling "pick me!" to add to your list of girlfriends! It's so true though :) it's so nice to have a network and meet people who are going through similar things. God works in mysterious ways!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can totally relate Bethany! I think I'm probably closer to my blogging friends more than some people I know in real life. =D Plus they're much more in tune with the things I like and am pursuing =)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I don't have any girlfriends either!! totally need my bloggy friends to become my real girlfriends!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I know how you feel!! It was sorta the opposite for me though. I spent 25 years living in NY, wondering WHEN God would send some REAL girlfriends my way... then I got married and moved to Cali, and God 100% comforted my heart by surrounding me with some amazing women-- mostly from my husband's church. They are TRUE friends, and it's such a blessing! .... AND, you're so right... blog friends are amazing too! =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. i 100% agree. being married and making girl friends is hard!! really hard. my bloggy friends are some of my best friends:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. you're oh so sweet! I can totally relate about friends when you start a new level in life (or in this case, a relationship). but friends are vital in each stage!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for posting this. I am SO unbelievably encouraged by your post. I'm in the same boat, however I haven't attained good blogger friends...yet ;-) I am a mother of 2 and I'm only 26, so I don't know many people who are young like me with kids and married. I got married at 20, so I know what you mean by being not "normal" - supposedly. Anyways, God is so good, and again, thank you for this post. I don't know you, but I look forward to reading your blog!!
    Here's a link to mine:
    http://onerowblog.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can relate as well. I do have a lot of "friends" but very few who honestly share my interests and that I feel that are on the same page as I am. It so great to instantly be connected to people who think the way you do.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hi Bethany, thank you so much for the visit, very sweet words you left for me - cheers! this post is a well-up fest, such a wonderful tribute and extremely poignant too. bloggy friends are pretty great, it's such a community, i had no idea where it would lead when i began either. i moved away from home when i was young too, i wish you many blessings and am happy to hear you are feeling divinity in your moments. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  12. I totally know what you mean, girl. Being married is such a beautiful thing, but finding a new network of friends can be so difficult. All my real life friends are in a totally different stage of life. But, yay for blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I LOVE THIS! Just found your blog and... let me say, I've recently moved and had been praying for a while for God to help me find community and fellowship with Christian women... and, go figure, blogging really does begin to make that happen! I am so glad to have found your blog tonight because I was thinking very similarly :)
    -Carly
    www.createliveblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love, love, love this! And I completely agree. Although I have so many amazing friends in my life, blogging has opened a completely new world of friends to me. It's an amazing way to connect with people, like you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Girl, you have no idea how much I can relate to this, especially as someone who married young. I have been aching for some good girlfriends for sometime, especially since my sisters, who were always my best friends, moments overseas. But blogging is pretty darn good therapy if I do say so :) I have connected with so many wonderful people (like you!) and it is SUCH a blessing. I know it sounds funny but I thank God for blogging. I really do:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Bethany! Thanks for following my blog, and hey! I'm following you as well =). I totally understand how you feel, I'm from Argentina, I moved to NC, USA over 2 years ago, and I'll just say it wasn't easy. Loneliness can hit hard sometimes, but it's in that place that Jesus truly becomes our everything... our father, mother,brother and sister, friend, counselor, everything! It's so refreshing to hear a young girl so passionate for the Lord, keep following His footsteps, He will comfort your soul!
    xoxoxo
    Pame

    ReplyDelete
  17. From what I'm reading on your comments, there are a TON of other girls who feel the same way, and I'm no different!! I started blogging on Xanga years ago when I was dating a guy in the military. My friends at home and school couldn't relate to what I was going through, but the girls I met through blogging were amazing and helpful and some of the best friends I could have asked for! I'm not dating that guy anymore, and I've switched blogs, but I'm still in contact with quite a few girls I met through there and I'm thankful they are still in my life :) I just blogged a little about this today actually, lol. Blogging is really great and I am glad that you've found a way to connect with some girlfriends!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a beautiful post! I love that you have an appreciation for girl friends like I do. I don't have many, and I'm creating such strong bonds in this blog world, but at least we get to meet lots of people here. Happy Tuesday, Bethany!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you for sharing this and being so open. I can't wait to look around your blog more and find out more about you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Bethany! Come back to Malone!! I need another young, married friend! Or, maybe we'll have to just start being the travelin' kind as well and meet up along the way! =)

    P.S. I love your blog mucho. You are the cutest!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is such a CUTE post! I relate in every way. I left my country to be an exchange student in California and I don't talk to lots of girls that I used to talk all the time. Then I made friends and got married - and moved again to a different part of the Bay Area. But one thing that I learned is: good friends are always going to be with you. It doesn't matter how long you can go without talking to them and if life takes you different places. Good friends will always reconnect, one way or the other :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey girl! I'm a new follower! :) I'm getting married next month! I love your blog! It's so cute! I'm also getting married super young! I just turned 20! What part of Ohio did you go to school at? I've lived in Ohio my whole life! I can completly relate to this post. My girlfriends and I are growing apart. We don't have a lot in common anymore. They're in the party scene and I'm getting married! I love blogging though, I feel the same way about all my blog friends! It's a great way to find friends dealing with the same things as you! I look forward to getting to know you more! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi! I just found your blog and I have totally been feeling the same way. Friends make life more fun :) I'm glad that you have found some great ones through blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just read your site for the first time. I think you have a great site. I'm looking forward to reading some more.Great post by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I just found your blog.. and would love to be your newest bloggy friend! Haha. This post is really inspiring.. blogging is a great outlet and also a great way to connect with others in an unusual medium. God does answer our prayers, doesn't He? :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey girly, this really hit home for me! I also moved away from home when I went to college at 18 and haven't really kept in touch with my friends from home. I moved to another state after that... and now I'm in a whole new state, Florida like you! It's really hard to keep friends... and make new ones. It takes a whole lot of work! Blogging has been great for me too... for all of the reasons that you mentioned. I want to meet all of my blogger friends! (:

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm almost crying reading this. This is right where I am. Although I'm 20 and in a very serious relationship, I am still that girl who wants to have fun with her girlfriends, but those girlfriends don't feel the same. And that's sad. I'm so thankful for how the Lord uses blogging in my life. Know you aren't alone, sister. And if you ever find your way to MS, I'll be your "real" friend. :)

    Found you through 20SB!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I remember what that was like when I first got married. Some of the closest friendships I had changed because I was married, plus I moved states away, and was also young compared to the age most people get married these days. I'm just loving reading through your blog! I love the blog world. There are amazing people to meet. From all over the world.

    I'm very blessed to have met so many wonderful people that would not have been possible without bloggy-land. :)

    ReplyDelete