Friends Who Feel Like Home

So many of my teen years and my early 20's I spent worrying about whether people liked me. It was a long, painful struggle that I often felt tortured over - obsessing over whether I was "ok" with friends and loved by others. Ugh, approval addiction.

Now, into my adult life, I feel more at peace with myself. I don't know if it's that I love myself better or that I've learned to let things go. Yay for growing up and growing into my own skin!

Luckily, along with growing up, I have found a treasure in friends who make me feel like home. These are people in life whose hearts I've connected almost instantly with. They are people I've known for years, and they're also people I've met recently along life's path. They may live a million miles away, or just down the street. What all of these friends share in common, they are like family. Nothing stops. Nothing changes. They are like home every time I see them.

I'm blessed that I get to visit a couple of friends just like this tomorrow. Jake and I are off to Austin, Texas for the Memorial Weekend to see our sweet friends Jon and Cassandra Moton. Today I'm blogging to celebrate friends like them. Thank you sweet friends for loving me for me and for always making me feel like home.

My New Baby

Meet Moo.

Jake's boss has been pressing him to adopt her last kitten and we caved. He's the cutest little button... white with black patches, just like a cow. We started talking about "adopting cow kitty" and when we brought him home we named him Moo. Moo is a rambunctious little guy, getting into everything, including under Spike's skin. My 1st born is having some "issues". :) The hissing match is on.

I've actually had some introspection by adding Moo to this family. I've watched Spike be intensely focused on Moo - keeping him from enjoying his own life - as if Moo took it from him. Spike is angry, paranoid, and jealous. I've gotta say, I can relate. I've become paralyzed in life at times by focussing on negative things and negative people. I've allowed others (people who have hurt me, purposely or inadvertantly) to become my only focus. I've allowed my fears and pain to keep me from enjoying life today. I'm watching Spike hide and not get along with Moo and can see from the outside what a waste it is - if only Spike could shift his focus. Poor kitty.

Who knew I could learn a life lesson by watching cat drama. :)