The Bean Family Chronicles {The End of My Twenties, or The Blessing of Friendship}

Yesterday was my 29th birthday.  I remember when my mom was 29.  Now I am.  It’s weird.  Not weird as in “dreading my 30′s” weird, but just realizing that, in all likelihood, this is the end of the pregnant/nursing/baby mommying era of my life.  I always hoped that I would enter my 30th year as a married woman with a gaggle of kiddos, and I am so thankful and awed that God has granted me the desires of my heart.

To celebrate last night, we just had a little family fiesta at a local Mexican restaurant.  I almost said family/friends fiesta, but left it at family because that is really the only word to describe how we feel about our sweet friends who joined us for dinner.  Being raised in a military family and now being a military spouse myself, I don’t take close friendships for granted.  I don’t think many people do, but I am especially cognizant of the value of a good friend because I have had to say goodbye to so many of them.  Every time we leave one town and move to another, I always see-saw between fearing we won’t make as good of friends as we left behind and knowing that God will, again, provide.

We have been mulling around with future plans as of lately, and thinking and praying about what God’s next step for our family will be.  One of the hardest things about taking new steps and moving forward, whether it be with the military or otherwise, is the pain of leaving friends behind.  While I know from experience that God always brings people into our lives who love on and care for our family, it is still hard to think about leaving such precious gifts behind.

In the last week we have celebrated both Banyan’s and my birthday and I have been reminded of what a treasure a faithful friend is.  As we celebrated my little boy’s special day in the backyard, I looked around and just said a quick prayer of thanks to God for each and every person who was in the backyard.  My children have so many aunties and uncles who treat them like their own children and who support, encourage, and even chastise them with necessary.  Austin and I would not be the couple we are, the parents we are, or the people we are today with out the constant presence of committed friends.

I want to be the kind of friend who is quick to lend a hand, who will remember kids birthdays, who sends a gift just because, and who builds up the people God has graciously placed in my life.  There are so many days that I want to be a more thoughtful and intentional wife, sister, mother, and friend, but I just get overwhelmed and busy with the daily tasks of kids, school, photography work, ect.  I have been praying that God would mold me into a more selfless person in general, but specifically into a more selfless and generous friend.

 

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:12-15

Photos taken with iphone 5

My mommy was my first best friend.  She surprised me with a special birthday bouquet.  Thanks, mom!!

I hope that this little lady calls me her best friend one day <3

My hubby is my current BFF <3  He DIYed this amazing gift just for me.  So thankful for a man who isn’t  afraid to dream with me.

Random birthday mail…..feta cheese!!

How blessed we feel to do life with this amazing family and their crew of silly kiddos.  It’s such a sweet gift from God to be able to hang out with people who “get” us and love us “as-is.”  It doesn’t hurt that their kids are just as loony as ours.

Even Lil’ Mamma has her baby bestie at her side.  She can be a bit of a bully to Callie sometimes.  I guess that’s what happens when you have two older brothers.

I hope that, one day, she will count her brothers amongst her best friends.  That day, obviously, hasn’t arrived.  Poor little lady