This is my friend Tracy.
You may already know her from her blog, Pinewood Castle, but I am blessed—if you don’t mind me saying—in that I know Tracy IRL.
In REAL life.
Because, as you know, these blogs aren’t real.
[wink]
I’m kidding, of course, but I will say that it is always a blessing when an online friend becomes an IRL friend. In Tracy’s case, though, we knew each other in the BC years.*
Now I’m like, I love your blog!
And she’s like, I love your blog!
I first met Tracy after church one Sunday. This was many years ago, when her oldest was just a wee little lap baby and I had—well, I think that I had just two back then.
Two kids seemed like a lot to me.
Two kids seemed overwhelming.
Of course I find this funny now, as I so often do when I consider the thoughts and fears of my long-ago self. That’s not really fair to that me, I know. I’m sorry, long-ago little overwhelmed me! It’s just that, well, you took your life so seriously!
That’s okay, though. Tracy took her life too seriously too.
[another wink]
I once confessed to Tracy that I never used to let my children play in the grass—too many creepy crawlies, you know. She once confessed to me that she got very stressed out by the fingerprints my little boys left on her window. In Tracy’s words: “What I remember is that Joe and I had purchased and renovated our first home. Proud new home owners [that] we were, we had cleaned windows probably for the first time in our lives and felt mortified to see your young boys undoing our work.”
We get a good laugh out of how…controlling we were.
Not that we’re not still controlling these days. We’re just controlling in a good way.
[yet another wink]
It’s a beautiful thing to be friends over the years—to grow together, to lighten up together, to hold the new babies when they come and to cry together when they don’t. An old friend understands your hopes and failings, an old friend shares your deep dark dreams.
“Make new friends but keep the old;
The one is silver, the other gold.”
Corny, yes, yet oh so true.
Who are your dearest IRL friends? Have you given them a call lately?
*Before Computer
Love the photos! But then, who doesn't love Tracy AND Anthony??!! They both are equally photogenic.
I'll admit, I was hoping that maybe you had a side view somewhere in there that would show Tracy's baby bump. Inquiring minds want to know/see!! Yes, we are THAT nosey.
Happy Weekend to you Margaret!
Gosh, Sarah said exactly what I was going to say!!
Only bloggers and blog readers get that real friend thing. It's a blog thing….
I have a friend who I've called, written and prayed for for the past couple years, who finally wrote me back and well, I'm just overjoyed today at re-connecting!
So His Royal Cuteness is out of control adorable and bubbly in pictures. What a little love!
What a lovely tribute to friendship, Margaret! I love it!!
I'm grateful that one my closest friends IRL just came over last night to help me pack (we're moving, but just to another 'burb). But it was fun (I hope she thought so, too =), because we got to chat away as we were sorting, throwing away and packing up kids' craft supplies … She's a dear!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Great photos.
My best friend moved 14 hours away, I miss the face time, the phone is just not the same but we try.
Anonymous
I moved far away from my best friend 5 yrs ago and it has been the hardest thing in the world for me. We have the memories to live off of and that makes me smile every day. Songs on the radio make me cry, but out of happiness. Those of you who have your best friend right around the corner, thank God every day for that gift. To my friend, may we meet again some day soon.
That last picture is my favorite. They are both so cute!
Simply the greatest!
*blushing*
Sarah, trouble is, I still had a baby bump from last time, so now I just look . . . BIG
Folks, Anthony really is as smiley as Margaret makes him out to be in blog photos. He's downright adorable. Must be all the yummy food his mom cooks up!
All her kids are adorable. Now they are old enough to help keep my kids from making fingerprints all over her windows!
I love the one of them looking at each other. So cute. 🙂