A Reunion and my First Goodbye

A decade ago I was a new mom. And I was as neurotic and protective and clueless as most new moms are. But I had something quite special...a group of wonderful women who were all new moms. We set up playdates, ran a thriving joy school, and most of all, just relied on each other as we all tried to figure out this new life experience.

During that time of my life, both my husband and I were in graduate school. We were poor. We shopped at Aldi's and consignment stores. "Eating" out was a trip over to a friend's house for dinner. But for the most part, all of us (this group of new moms) were in the same situation. And so we called each other about sales, congratulated each other on thrift store finds, and planned dinner dates on a regular basis.

I look back on this time as one of the best in my life.

This week I made a quick trip down to DC to visit one of these dear moms. We're both veteran moms now and our lives are much different. I have such a tender place in my heart for this woman, because of everything we went through together in those crazy early years.

We talked and talked as CJ ran through the museum to her heart's content. It was wonderful to laugh about our first-year-mom mistakes, commiserate about recent heart aches, and celebrate successes. And when it was time to go, I shed tears. It was my first official "goodbye" before our family leaves for Indonesia.

I have been blessed with good friends through my life. And I am so grateful.