Friends

Dear Gabriel,

This weekend was very busy for us... we moved back to St. George! Thank heavens, I am so glad to be back down here. This same weekend one of my very best friends (and old mission comp) Lynne was in town to run a race. She was supposed to stay with us originally, but then it ended up being the same weekend we moved, so I missed her. Yet again.

Lynne and I have tried to see each other for months and months now. Each time we have arranged to meet one of us has had something BIG come up and we have missed each other. We haven't seen each other for over a year and she hasn't seen you yet, which makes me so sad! I was thinking about missing her YET again this weekend while I was driving with a trailer full of stuff. The Lord told me, "Andrea, be so grateful you have such a wonderful friend in your life that you WANT to see so badly."

It is so true. I have AMAZING friends. Lynne is one of many amazing friends and women in my life. I have had so many friends who have shaped who I am and what I am about because of their love and example. A child, teenager and woman is truly shaped by the people she hangs out with (and it will be the same for you, but from the guy perspective!).

Choose good friends. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life is to surround myself with people I love and enjoy... and they also PUSH me to be better. Lynne is one of those people, which is why I want to see her so badly. But there are many friends in my life who are like that... they PUSH me to better, to be stronger, to be happier, to be courageous, just to be better. Surround yourself with friends who PUSH you to be better and you will have one of the greatest gifts in the world.

I love you,

Your Mom