My goodness, it's been over a month since I posted on here. Something major must have happened in my life. Oh yes, I started a job. Sorry about that. Tired girl is not a good base for a blog. In case you're wondering, I really like my job. I like the people. I like the environment. It's a good thing for me to interact with adults again, to use my brain. I am thankful.
Friends. I am going to tell you about my dearest friends. I call them my Hoopla Sisters. Linda, Stacey and Tobi (and Debbie who lives in Phoenix, whom I have known since 6th grade is an Honorary Hoopla). These girls have walked through the fire with me. Why are they called my Hoopla Sisters? You read my testimony so you know what Jesus brought me through. For the one year anniversary I wanted to mark the date with a special weekend with these three friends as they had been through so much with me. I made invitations for them to "Reneene's Healing Hoopla" weekend. We stayed at a hotel and I got to thank them for all they had done. We took salsa dance lessons, had pedicures, saw "Hairspray" at the movies. It was a great time. Anyway from that day on, they became my Hoopla Sisters.
One of them would call and my kids confusingly would say, "Mom, your Hobo Sister is on the phone." or "Your Poopla Sister is on the phone." Anyway the name has stuck.
Oh, we started out as regular friends. Nothing heavy. Well, one of them did date my husband. But then the running joke has always been, who in Wichita hasn't dated Jeff Wenzel? He had to go to Arizona to find a wife. Ha ha. He didn't seem freaked out that she and I became instant heart friends. It's like we were meant to be together, we have such similar childhood stories. What would I do without her wisdom and counsel? She knows exactly what to say to me. She always ask the hard questions that you don't want to answer. I just love her.
Another hoopla sister is a neighbor. She and I are like Lucy and Ethel. Left to our own accord, I'm sure we could get into some trouble. We are the kind of friends who could talk 5 times day and there would still be stuff to talk about. We both have fumbled our way through being home with our kids. It's like we were made the same. I always call her for advice, about anything.
And finally the peaceful one. We all need a friend who you know exactly how she is going to react. I can be a bit high strung but she is as calm as a cucumber. When I when to Phoenix to speak and share my testimony, this is the girl who came. I knew she would be able to keep me level headed. But man is she funny, she has this dry sense of humor that you would never expect.
Oh, we started out as regular friends. We liked being with each other when we could get away. And then they were put to the test on April 1, 2003. Brain tumor. Things were moved up to a new level in the friendship chain. These girls would walk through fire for me. I say this with certainty because they have already done so.
Do you have friends on this level? I am so blessed and know they are gifts from God. They never backed up. They are STRONG women. They have held up my arms when I could not hold them up. They have reminded me who I am in Christ when I have forgotten. They showed up at the Psych. hospital when I was overwhelmed with shame. They have listened to all my deepest fears, longings, wishes, questions, frustrations and any other emotion you can think of. They have sat at the ER on many occasions to treat a migraine. They have held me as I have cried buckets of tears. They were there the day my husband died and they were there the day we gave him back to Jesus.
Years later, they remain my tight circle who I reach out to for counsel, advice and they are my voices of reason. I trust them completely with my life. My children. My heart. My future. They have proven to be the kind of friends that Jesus talks about we should be, one who lays down his life for his friend. They have done that for me. I love them. I could not have gotten through what Jesus had put in front of me without them.
This is dedicated to my dear Hoopla Sisters.
