thankful thursday: friends

Mr. F and I got some pretty major news this week that will be changing a great many things in our lives.  (No, I'm not pregnant.)  I can't yet share what that news is yet, but trust me, it's major.  One of the elements of this new change is that Mr. F will probably be taken from home even more than he already is.  While grateful for the opportunity this is going to be for our little family, I was overwhelmed by a fear of loneliness that I already struggle with regularly while I am so far away from everything I used to know.  How would I possibly be able to handle such isolation?

Well, that fear lasted about five seconds as my Father in Heaven whispered sweet remindings of the dear friends I have made on this little island.  Those whispers turned into hugs, kisses, smiles, phone calls, and gatherings today as I spent a rather lovely day with these kindreds of mine.  I was able to share the news with some of them and others I just listened to their stories and the feeling of comfort and camaraderie blossomed and swelled at the rate of the Cyprus summer heat.   

I got home much later in the day than I had anticipated.  My basket that had carried a cake in the morning was stuffed to capacity with gifts and helpmeets from these women.  But my heart was even more full.  When I picked Mr. F up from work I could not stop sharing stories of my day and of the love these women had shared with our little family.  Not only did I not feel alone, I felt like my husband was not alone either.  And trust me when I say that is a big, big deal right now.

To my friends, both far and near, please know how dearly I love you.  To those of you whom I have begun emailing via our blogs, to lifelong friends who call on a whim, to my parents and siblings.  To all of you, you have filled my heart so much more than I thought it could be.  Thank you for loving me and caring for my family.  Mr. F and I are so much stronger and capable because of you.  To you, my friends, I offer my sincerest thanks.