Make new friends but keep the old

I feel that certain people are placed into your life for a reason. Some people aren't great influences but in the end help you find your way, while others are there for support and some are simply just angels to guide you through.

This whole transition to Indianapolis has given me much to think about and I feel like everything has come full circle.

This post was written under the influence of Girl Scout cookies. As I sit and pound thin mints I was reflecting on my time as a Girl Scout. One memory comes to mind- Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the others gold. As a kid this song didn't mean much because you changed friends as quickly as you found a new BFF necklace. But as I grow up and new people are coming into my life I feel this overwhelming appreciation for specific people and circumstances.

A few weeks ago I joined a moms group at a local church and as we all know, I'm not what someone would call religious. Sure I believe in a greater good, but I'm not a regular. In this group we were asked to reflect on people who have come into our lives and why we thought they were placed there. I went all the way back to birth and then realized I was being superficial and needed to be honest.

There are those friends who have stuck by your side since 1st grade and you can still pick up right where you left off after months of not speaking. Luckily we all still love each other after going through all of our awkward states. I remember putting on parades, running through the snow in bathing suits, running away from home with suitcases, playing Olympics, playing in the creek and eating June bugs. I believe that these people continue to be placed in my life at specific times as I grow because they have a purpose in my life.

In highschool I met my best gal. No questions asked, we became inseparable nearly immediately. We needed each other to instigate trouble and to be there for each other for all the heart aches, fights with our dads, and to create a friendship that I know cannot be broken. She was my maid of honor, is the god mother to my son and the aunt to my children. She's the super sweet version of me and I know she was a person sent to me to protect me and to share memories with, old and new.

When I entered into my adult life I was lucky enough to go to college with a friend mentioned before, and we conquered college together. College is where I am sure specific people were placed into my life for specific reasons. I met one of these people the first day of English 102 class when we struck up a conversation about randomness and then ended up becoming pledge sisters. It was so random and genuine, I'll never forget that meeting, ever. Another person I met was one who I played dress up with our first night living in the delta zeta house. I have a picture of us as a bride and super turtle from that night.. And we became roomies. Another random and chance meeting that I'm sure wasn't random or chance at all.

I also met my husband in college and I am positive that he was sent to me to be my friend, my confidant, my laughter, and the father of my children. He's my person when my girlie persons aren't around. To be someone who is strong when I am weak and will tell me the truth always.

In my professional life I believe that I was paired up with specific people to guide me through and to mold me the way that I was supposed to end up as an educator. I learned a lot about the real world through these people and the experiences that we shared. I was able to grow up, surrounded by my work family to help guide me through the different times of my life I would encounter while working with them. I miss them.

As I go down the list of important people I come to my children.

Camden was given to me to teach me patience and an unimaginable love, that only parents understand. I believe he was given to me first because, like his dad, he's solid. He's a rock, unwavering and very calm and collected. To prepare us for what was to come. To be the best big brother ever. I believe that it takes a special person to be a great sibling and that is what baby Andie will need.

Andie has been chosen for us, I'm confident in that statement. We weren't planning her and frankly she has been a "head scratcher"baby since day one. I was meant to be her mom and Travis is meant to be her dad. As scary as her journey has been its what was planned for us. I was given to my parents for some reason.. I'm sure they are still questioning what they did wrong..

As I go through and reflect on my meetings with people, it's interesting to see how many people have impacted my life in such different ways.

While sitting at the mommy group table we were sharing stories and I shared Andie's story, our story. It was difficult because I didn't know these women, but the tears just came down..everyone was so sweet, and shared their own stories of life... And across the table a fellow mommy said, I am a heart nurse at Riley Children's hospital and know a lot about your daughters condition.

At that moment, I knew that it is true that someone, somewhere does put people into your life for some reason. Whether its to tell you it's ok, for support, to teach you a lesson or to stay forever.