Eastern North Carolina Photographer {Families: The Moodys}

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” – Proverbs 27:17

There are few things in life which I value as much a a true friend.  I have often said that, being from a military upbringing, I treasure a good life-long friend in a way that is hard for others to understand.  Throughout my life, I have had to make and leave hosts of friends.  Since I was a little girl, I learned that when a true friendship is forged, time and distance do nothing but cement it in place.

As a married adult, I have had to make many tearful goodbyes to dear friends.  Some of these people, I know, were only in my life for a short season and I am ok with that.  I definitely don’t feel the need to painstakingly maintain every single friendship I have.  Not that it makes those friendships any less valuable, but I know that some people are in our lives for a specific purpose and that after that purpose is fulfilled, our next meeting will be in Glory.

There are, however, other friendships that I know will endure no matter the time, distance, or life stage that happens to intersect the relationship.  There are times in life when you meet someone and as you get to know them and as you start to “do life” with them,  you know that God has sent them into your life to be a sweet gift to carry with you throughout.  There are a handful of people  who I consider these kinds of friends and I am always amazed and so incredible grateful when God brings them into my life.  It seems like no matter where we settle or no matter what stage of life we are in, that God always makes sure that we have faithful brothers and sisters alongside us.

I say all that, because I feel so so very thankful, blessed, and honored to call this family one of our most endearing friends.  There is something about having a friend who is in the same stage of life as you and who so seamlessly blends into the fabric of your family that can only be attributed to the blessing of God.  We have shared so many precious moments with this family over the last couple years.  I have cried with this mamma and laughed myself to tears with her.  We have nurtured each others children and made fun of each others husbands.

While I know that our lives will not always be woven together the way they are now, I am so exceedingly thankful for this sweet season of my life.  As the Bean family prepares for new horizons in our future, it is a bittersweet sorrow to think about not being able to see this family as a day-to-day basis.  I know from experience, however, that the best friendships are the ones that somehow manage to overcome and grow regardless of location.  I have no doubt whatsoever that we will be vacationing with this amazing group and hanging out on each others porches until we are all old and grey.  Until then, though, I will treasure the days we have right now, because they are so so wonderful, indeed.

I couldn’t end this indulgent post without a shout out to other friends who I feel just as blessed to call my own…….Miquela, Summer, Emily, Lindsay, Hayley, Kim, Whitney……I know that distance is not on our sides right now, but you are in my thoughts often and I love you all dearly <3  Come to NC, let me take pictures of you, and then I can write an homage to you guys as well <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3