Now as a woman I've been blessed with female best friends. I will start with Rebekah. She and I met shortly after our family arrived at Ft. Belvoir, well actually we were still living at the Ronald McDonald House waiting on housing, while Jordyn was being treated at Walter Reed. Her husband and Chad were in the same unit, and her and I hit it off immediately. At the time they only had their oldest son, S, he was 6 months younger than Jordyn. When Jordyn died she wept with me, she gave me space to mourn, but never let go of me. After we moved from Virginia we continued to stay in touch. For a while we drifted a little, but we always found ourselves reconnecting and grew closer. The last 3 years we have chatted online nearly every day, until that fateful day in August. Chad had his accident on a Sunday and Thursday morning around 1 AM, Rebekah went home to our Savior. She had been in the hospital to have her spleen removed in hopes of it putting her the ITP (platelett disorder) into remission. Wednesday surgery had been postponed because of her passing out that morning until Friday. Wednesday night though she started having trouble breathing and xrays showed multiple pulmonary embolisms. Treatment didn't work and she slipped into the arms of our Savior. My heart hurts, Thursday willl be 8 weeks since she left this earth and I still have a hard time believing she's really gone, that I'll never hear her voice again, see her words being typed in front of my face, no hugs again, etc. She was a dedicated mom, she'd fought for a marriage that her husband had walked out on years ago and had come to the decision that she was going to move on and live her life the best she could without him, was finishing up her degree. She was simply put...amazing. The greatest thing about her, her heart for Jesus. I'm so thankful that she knew Jesus and had a relationship with him, so reassuring to know where she's at.
My other best friend is Tami. We met 10 years ago when Jordyn died and her Sydney died. We met on an online support group for parents who'd lost a child who died from cancer. We instantly bonded, initially it was because of our common loss, but it grew so much stronger. We were both unexpectantly pregnant with boys, who are only 1 1/2 months apart. We met aprox 2 years after Jordyn and Sydney died, in person. She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She understands me unlike most people. I can tell her anything and know she's not going to judge me.
The last one would be Bobbie. She's my Army wife best friend. I've never had a friend like her. We're like sisters. So much alike, yet enough differences to keep it fun and interesting. Her son is the same age as Jacob and they were best friends and her daughter is 7 months older than Emma and they loved each other deeply. She moved 2 years ago and I can't even find the words to describe how much I miss her. I find myself still in tears from time to time wanting their family to be back here with us. We were together literally almost every day. Walking, working out together, making dinner together, sports for our kids, fun activities, going to the park, PWOC, Hospitality House, you name it we did it together. Sometimes I have to make myself not think about her, because the pit in my stomach just hurts too much.
I have many other near and dear friends and am so blessed by them.
How blessed you were. I miss all the friends we had in the military.
ReplyDeleteChristy, thanks for sharing all your dear friends with us. I remember when your friend, Bobbi, was moving a few years back. I can't believe its been 2 years. you have been blessed to have had such wonderful friends and a wonderful husband!
ReplyDeletebetty