A celebration
So a couple of weeks ago the boys came down and spent the day with us and I was very excited. I do love when the boys are in town. We had a pioneer woman dinner that to my surprise turned into a full blown celebration dinner for the selling of my business and my move to Cincinnati finally. As if it wasn't wonderful enough to share it with such great friends, have a glass of champagne and general merriment, they each took turns talking about me. I'm just so not used to people telling me such nice things. I was doing well until the end and Jake's speech started to really get to me, the emotions of the other speeches were already built up and Jake's started to push me over the edge. I dodged it with a joke or two and maintained composure. It's not as if I was afraid of crying in front of my friends, I just didn't want to go there.
I really wish I had known ahead of time so I could have come up with some words of my own to show my appreciation to each of them but I'm not very good with on the spot speeches. I'm a write it down ahead of time type of person as I get so nervous, even in small groups that I forget what I want to say. I felt as if my speech didn't portray what I wanted to say so I decided to do a speech for each of you on here.
Bethany: I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done for me to help me on this journey. Our friendship took me by surprise and was a whirlwind of awesomeness that I never could have expected. I thank God often for crossing our paths. Not only have you supported me emotionally to get me to the point I'm at, you've helped guide the religious journey I continue on, you have loved me when I needed love, you pushed me when I needed pushed and you have called me on crap I need to be called on. To top everything off you opened your home to me to made this opportunity for change so much more feasible and easier. I love you, and thank you for being such a rocking roommate. I look forward to the future as our friendship only gets stronger and we continue to grow together.
Sharen: I can't even remember the first time I met you, if it was here in Cinci or at your parents house, I can't remember because it was like I have known you forever. It seems as if we've been family for the entire time. You make me feel so comfortable to be myself and I can't express how that makes me feel. Your constant value searching is catchy and tells me I have a lot to learn yet. You're an amazing mom and constantly surprise me at the amounts of everything you juggle and make it all seem so easy.
Jeff: What can I say about Apples, except there are so very few straight men out there like you. You are always welcoming, caring and friendly, especially when there is macaroni or potato salad involved. lol. You've made me feel like part of the family and I can't tell you how much that means to me.
Cody: I just can't explain it Cody, you bring something out in me, a part of me I enjoy, and while people warn me I only encourage you, I really enjoy our time together. You wrap your wisdom and experience in hilarious, line crossing stories that keep me laughing and thinking at the same time. I'm able to express things with you that I never thought I would be able to express to anyone and with you it just rolls off my tongue (insert the dirty joke here). You can be hilarious and serious all at the same time and you make me feel as if I could call on you at any time if I need to, and someone I can always count on to sing show tunes with.
Jake: It's very hard for me to put to words what your friendship has meant to me. It sounds silly at times seeing as how little time we've spent together. Your willingness to help someone in need, someone you had never met or spoken too before said volumes about who you are from the very beginning. When our paths crossed without even knowing each other, it came at a time that I needed it the most. The advice, and help that came from even knowing someone who knew you was so needed and I've never forgotten it. Your words and actions have had a profound impact on my life. I know you enough to realize you probably don't think you have it all together, but in watching you (not in a creepy stalker way of course) you really do. You have stumbles and it's o.k because that's human nature, it's how we learn, but you do live an inspiring life.
I hate to think that any of these would make it sound like I value one of you more than the other because it's not true, you all inspire me in different ways and you have all raised the bar in how I value future friendships and what I expect out of people I hold close to my heart.
I can't thank you all enough for that night. I'm sorry it's taken so long to post about but it's taken me awhile to put it to words and to get through it honestly. If I would have tried to get through this that night I would have been a hot mess. lol.
Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn't imagine a better group of people to celebrate such a big change in my life with.
I really wish I had known ahead of time so I could have come up with some words of my own to show my appreciation to each of them but I'm not very good with on the spot speeches. I'm a write it down ahead of time type of person as I get so nervous, even in small groups that I forget what I want to say. I felt as if my speech didn't portray what I wanted to say so I decided to do a speech for each of you on here.
Bethany: I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done for me to help me on this journey. Our friendship took me by surprise and was a whirlwind of awesomeness that I never could have expected. I thank God often for crossing our paths. Not only have you supported me emotionally to get me to the point I'm at, you've helped guide the religious journey I continue on, you have loved me when I needed love, you pushed me when I needed pushed and you have called me on crap I need to be called on. To top everything off you opened your home to me to made this opportunity for change so much more feasible and easier. I love you, and thank you for being such a rocking roommate. I look forward to the future as our friendship only gets stronger and we continue to grow together.
Sharen: I can't even remember the first time I met you, if it was here in Cinci or at your parents house, I can't remember because it was like I have known you forever. It seems as if we've been family for the entire time. You make me feel so comfortable to be myself and I can't express how that makes me feel. Your constant value searching is catchy and tells me I have a lot to learn yet. You're an amazing mom and constantly surprise me at the amounts of everything you juggle and make it all seem so easy.
Jeff: What can I say about Apples, except there are so very few straight men out there like you. You are always welcoming, caring and friendly, especially when there is macaroni or potato salad involved. lol. You've made me feel like part of the family and I can't tell you how much that means to me.
Cody: I just can't explain it Cody, you bring something out in me, a part of me I enjoy, and while people warn me I only encourage you, I really enjoy our time together. You wrap your wisdom and experience in hilarious, line crossing stories that keep me laughing and thinking at the same time. I'm able to express things with you that I never thought I would be able to express to anyone and with you it just rolls off my tongue (insert the dirty joke here). You can be hilarious and serious all at the same time and you make me feel as if I could call on you at any time if I need to, and someone I can always count on to sing show tunes with.
Jake: It's very hard for me to put to words what your friendship has meant to me. It sounds silly at times seeing as how little time we've spent together. Your willingness to help someone in need, someone you had never met or spoken too before said volumes about who you are from the very beginning. When our paths crossed without even knowing each other, it came at a time that I needed it the most. The advice, and help that came from even knowing someone who knew you was so needed and I've never forgotten it. Your words and actions have had a profound impact on my life. I know you enough to realize you probably don't think you have it all together, but in watching you (not in a creepy stalker way of course) you really do. You have stumbles and it's o.k because that's human nature, it's how we learn, but you do live an inspiring life.
I hate to think that any of these would make it sound like I value one of you more than the other because it's not true, you all inspire me in different ways and you have all raised the bar in how I value future friendships and what I expect out of people I hold close to my heart.
I can't thank you all enough for that night. I'm sorry it's taken so long to post about but it's taken me awhile to put it to words and to get through it honestly. If I would have tried to get through this that night I would have been a hot mess. lol.
Thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart. I couldn't imagine a better group of people to celebrate such a big change in my life with.
Awww... Just thinking about Sharen crying has got me tearing up, lol!
ReplyDeletePete, before I knew you personally, I only knew the tiniest fraction of your struggles. What I knew then was that a child of God felt like an orphan, and I needed to show you that you weren't. I am SO glad you met Bethany and she brought us together! You understand my crazy more than most, and the support and confidence that that creates is not something that can be achieved through any effort I could make on my own.
Love you!