Our mutual admiration society

Did you have a group of best girlfriends at school? You know the type, the ones who hung together during recess and had sleepovers at each other's homes on the weekend - often together as a group. The type that shared clothes - and boyfriends - and secrets - that talked all day at school and on the phone all evening. The ones that did everything together - happily. Did you?

Do you now? Are you part of a group of friends that go out together for meals or to the pictures or for drinks, or for whatever it is you do? Perhaps it's a church group - or perhaps its the same group that you had at school. It doesn't matter really, I'm just wondering if you had a group of friends like this.

I didn't. I was - and am - more of a loner - a serial monogamist as it were. I moved from one best friend at school to another best friend at University to another best friend at work and on to another best friend who remains my best friend to this day, even though she now lives far away. I keep the rest of my friends at arms length. Except my husband of course. He's my best friend of all.

I think part of the reason that I prefer this type of relationship is that I am a listener not a talker. I like to support my friends on a one on one basis, and I almost never talk about my self. As I mentioned in my 25 random things about me post I am pathologically private. I think I might be quite odd actually, but that's the way I am.

Then along came blogging. Unless I was going to have blank pages, suddenly I had to start talking about things - about my family, my beliefs, my thoughts - about me! There are things I don't talk about, of course - our older two children, my hubby (except anonymously and peripherally) and our work. I don't talk about the bad days either (mostly).

I do talk about me.

If you read my blog regularly, you know more about me than most of my real life friends. More than my family about some things. And you know, I really like it!! I love my group of blogging girlfriends, and I really value your opinions. I feel like you really care what's going on in my life - and I know that I care what happens in yours too.

Two of that group of girlfriends gave me awards on the weekend. Jillian from Homeschooling4Christ cared enough to give me the Loyalty and Friendship Award. This award is to be passed on to those who faithfully follow my blog, giving encouragement and forming friendships that help us to build one another up in the Lord. That is an overwhelming honour, Jillian. Thank you.

Grace from Beyond the Black Stump has given A Peaceful Day the My Favourite Blogs Award (well it is favorite, but I like the 'u'!) There are so many amazing blogs out there, to be though of as a favourite is actually a bit overwhelming. Thanks Grace, truly.

So these two awards I want to pass onto my group of girlfriends - the very first 'group' of friends I have ever had! We are sort of a mutual admiration society really, aren't we?

I know I'm going to miss someone if I name names so I won't. Well I'll just name four. To Sarah and Louise who have gone on to become friends in real life as well as in cyberspace, and to Jeana who already was, I thank you for your friendship, both in real life and through the pages of my blog. And to Richele who everyone knows is my special friend, thank you for caring.

The rest of you know who you are. We speak on almost a daily basis, and I appreciate your support more than you can know. Thank you all. These awards are for you.

Perfume and insense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:9