Saturday, November 5, 2011

A Grateful Heart For Dear Friends ~


November always seems to be a good month to count our blessings. I know that I have numerous blessings that I am so grateful for. During this month I will be sharing a few posts from  my grateful heart.
One of the things that I have always had deep appreciation for is friends. We have lived in three different states and nine cities. Wherever we have lived we have left behind some very wonderful friendships. Many of our friends are people we will communicate with and see on at least a limited basis. Some of those friends I feel are eternal friends. Perhaps we even knew each other in the Pre-existence and promised to find each other in this life. I have had those strong feelings with various friends. It's a connection that it hard to explain. I have bonded with them quickly and even though we don't communicate often; when we do it is as if we had never been a part. I didn't have that the blessing of a sister; so in many ways they have fulfilled that desire. I treasure the relationships that I have with my dearest friends. Three of these friends are Toni, Barbara and Tammy. Two live in Washington and the other here. I at least get to see Toni on a more regular basis. I can tell these three sisters anything and they will still love me for who I am.
There have been a few experiences where I have ran into a lost friend that I haven't seen for years. I have had a couple of those moments. I was at the temple one day doing some temple work and I could hear the voice of another sister and I knew who it was. She was a very choice friend and when we were through with our work; we just hug one another with tears of gratefulness to have been able to see each other again. Over the last couple of years I have found two friends on facebook that I knew 30 years ago while living in California. It has been so much fun to get updates on their lives.
I am still searching for one other friend that I haven't see for many years.  We moved back to Utah 6 years ago and I have reconnected with one friend from Nursing school and several friends from High School. Two of my High School friends I found in the temple. At a High school reunions,I have reconnected with high school friends. We try to go to lunch together at least quarterly. What I can say about these friends is that they are forever friends. It is so fun to be with them at a lunch and we have so much to share and talk about. We are a good support group for each other.
Always I have found great friends through the years in the wards I have belonged too. I have some very deep and sweet relationships with many of these friends.
I have a very unique group of friends that I have made on the Internet through blogging. This has been so sweet for me. As I have developed this blog; I have gained many friendships with the ladies that I follow. Just recently I had the wonderful opportunity to go to lunch with one of my blogger friends. I am going to share with you how we met through blogging and how we came to meet one another in person. 
When I first started to blog. I had a very dear friend who is also my Daughter in Laws mother.
LeAnn and Barbara
 I started following Barb's Blog and noticed a few of her blog followers and decided to read their blogs. Two that I loved are Marmee's Pantry  and The Farmer's Daughter. Then I found Marie at A Year At Oak Cottage. One day she asked  her friends to pray for a very dear lady named Lura who had just been in a bad accident and was critically injured. At the time Lura had a  blog called Grammy's News . Her daughter was keeping her followers  advised as to her condition. For some reason I just felt like I wanted to get to know her. As she got better and returned home we started to follow each others blogs. She is such an inspiration to me.
Lura and I at lunch
 She had such faith while going through the accident. After a few months she was feeling somewhat better when she had another frightful diagnosis that required surgery. I was praying for her and was so happy no cancer was found. It was so scary for her. In October her husband brought her back to Utah to visit her children and we connected for lunch. To me she is a forever friend and it was like we knew each other before and we bonded quickly. Recently in her blog she told about her accident and her testimony of her recovery through her deep faith; be sure and read that one.  
There are a number of other blogger that I love and care about and have enjoyed getting to know them through their blogs. I have learned so much from so many bloggers. I love reading their testimonies of our Savior Jesus Christ. These woman share their souls and  my own testimony of faith and of the Savior has increased. Most of all I have grown to love them all. I love to read about their day, their trials, triumphs and joys. I love learning about their families, jobs and activities. So I just want all of my friends and blogging friends to know that I love you all very much. Thanks you for all of your sweet comments on my posts. Thank you for sharing your heart on your own blogs. Thanks for lifting my soul, inspiring me and helping me to grow. Thanks you for sharing your testimony, thoughts, poetry and just life experiences. You have blessed my life in so many ways.
Blessings to you all and know that you are greatly loved by me.
Here are just a few of the blogs that I follow and I will add more to this list each week this month for those of you who might want to look in on their blogs.
Sue's New's and Views - You must visit her blog. She is a fantastic writer and has written books and I love her poetry.
Just Rambling -  Like quilting and other fun projects visit her site.
Singing Granny - Paints and does photography; but mostly I admire her for going back to school.
The More The Merrier -This is a favorite of mine. I love reading her life experiences with her sweet family. For the next several days she is having guests who are writing about Faith - Join in on this one.
Grandma Robbin's Nest - Grandma Robbins is in her early 80's and I love her wisdom and everyday experiences. She is way fun!
Ok, next week I will share some more.

15 comments:

Marie Rayner said...

Leanne, how very much I treasure my friendship with Lura. She is a kindred spirit and from the moment we met I knew she was an eternal friend. I felt as if I had always known her, even before we came to this earth. I feel a kindred spirit in you as well. It's a really special feeling. It is my hope that we can one day meet. Friends such as these are precious and rare. I have promised Todd and myself, that once we get through all the health issues at present (and I will get through them) we are going to take a trip to California and Utah. It's a dream I plan on turning into reality. Love and hugs to you today and always, and many thanks for your prayers. They mean the world to me.
xxoo

Just Ramblin' said...

I love your blog because as I read each one I am reminded of my blessings and things that are of importance and value to me. This one of being grateful for friends reminded me of a dear friend that I don't see very often but when we do talk or see one another, it's like we were together just hours ago. Friends are such a blessing in my life and you as well as Barb have become my blogging friends and I'm grateful for that. So grateful for your strong testimonies, values and thoughts.
How fun that you could do lunch with Lura.
By the way, I love that you and your husband made snow angels. That is awesome.
Have a wonderful Sunday. Nola

John said...

I am thankful for friends too. I love knowing people and I love my blog friends too. I always think that I want to meet them. Thanks for high lighting my blog.

sayer13 said...

I just love your blog and looking at the blogs you listed as blogs you follow, I too, now follow some of these blogs. My daughter insisted I start a blog of my own so last May, my story began. Thanks - Marsha

amber and james said...

My life has been shaped by my friends. They play such a large role in who we are. I am so glad I married my best friend. I am so blessed to have you as one of my dearest friends also Mom!
Love ya!

Grammy Staffy said...

Hello dear LeAnn,
What a sweet blog about your friends. I am sure that you must have many dear friends because surely everyone that knows you loves you. I know that I do. You and Marie may be far away but you are close to me in my heart. I so enjoyed the time we spent together. Thank you so much for the nice lunch. Next time, it is my turn to treat.
I put the same picture of us on my blog today... how funny huh??? Oh well, they say that great minds think alike....Ha ha.
Have a great week. Wish me luck because I have to speak at the Women's Improvement club this week. I am praying that our story can be an inspiration to them.

Thanks for the tip to the good blogs you have found. Isn't blogging fun!... and faith promoting!
Have a good week sweet friend. Hugs, Lura

Cheryl @ TFD said...

This is such a sweet post, LeAnn! I appreciate the mention, too! You and Barb are beautiful gals that I am blessed to call my blog friends! You both always have such uplifting posts and know just the right thing to say in your comments too.
Have a wonderful week!

Susan Anderson said...

Aren't friends the best? I am surely glad to be counted as one of yours.

=)

PS. I ran into an old friend at the temple once, too. It was such a cool experience and the perfect setting for seeing someone you love and haven't seen for ages.

singing/granny said...

I loved this blog! I feel like friends are very special too. And I am glad to have you as one of my blogging friends! You are an inspiration to many people! Melody

Darlene said...

Friends are just the best, aren't they? I just feel so blessed to have so many good friends here in the desert. They are always there for me and I try to reciprocate. One never knows what the day will bring and one of our good friends has had so much misfortune lately that I am not sure what she would have done without a lot of help from the rest of us. She is legally blind and her husband has just gotten out of the hospital after being in ICU with a bad infection. He is 90 and I don't think he will be driving again, at least for a long time. They have to be taken everywhere they go and goodness knows they have to go to a lot of differnt doctors and labs. We are happy to be able to help them.

I am so glad that you consider me a good blogging friend and love that you mentioned my blog.

I also liked seeing the pictures of you with two of your good friends. I do hope to be able to meet you one day in person.

Barb said...

Hi LeAnn!

What can I say - I just love you! I am so blessed to have you as my "sister" and friend! I could not have asked for a better mom for my daughter! What a wonderful opportunity to go have lunch with Lura, and to make another forever friend. So many of my blogging friends have blessed my life in ways that they will never know or understand - Nola and Cheryl, who are also on your blog list are just a few of them - such beautiful souls!

Thank you for being such a wonderful example to me - you inspire me daily!

Hugs and Love,
Barb

Hesses Madhouse said...

Thank you for the list of blogs. I will definitely check them out. It is amazing to me how this blogging thing has led to so many new connections and friendships. Thank you for all the positive things you've said on my blog. I've really needed them lately. You're so sweet to take the time to do that.

Buttercup said...

What a blessing to get to meet Lura. Can't think of a sweeter woman and feel so grateful that she and now you have come into my life. Thanks for a lovely post.

Kara Chupp said...

I love that you took the time to share about your heart for these friendships...I was thinking about that just tonight...about how much I need those treasured friendships.
This was a beautiful, heartfelt tribute.
Love,
K @ The Chuppies/NOBH

Anonymous said...

I wanted to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely loved every bit of
it. I have got you bookmarked to check out new things you post?.
Here is my wares ... best cord electric lawn mower #AGreenHand