It's funny how we encourage our children to constantly make new friends and how we think that it's so easy for them to do. I've watched Sam and Riley play at a new park and walk up to kids and ask if they would like to play with them. As an adult, I wish it were that easy.

I got a phone call last night around 9:30 from a private number. I hesitated to answer it, but I am so glad I did. It was Diana, my Monday morning cycling instructor. She asked if we would like to have lunch with her and a few other woman while hanging out at her pool. I immediately accepted without hesitation and then the fear hit me. Wow...I was going to be on display....critiqued.....judged. What do I take? What do I wear? What about my crazy big curly hair. Things ran through my head so fast that I almost backed out. I'm so glad I didn't.

I was the first to arrive. I'm always very punctual..to a fault. The boys and I stopped at Target and picked out a very purple bouquet of fresh flowers. We took cream cheese with hot pepper jelly and crackers as a snack. I of course put it on one of my favorite southern living serving trays along with a cute little bow. Very Southern I must say. It was a hit with Diana. It was a nice little spicy side to her wonderful wild rice chicken salad.

The other woman were so nice. They were very healthy minded as I and we all had may things in common. I was so happy to see that they had children in the same age range as mine. It was a great day for all of us. When I say healthy minded, Diana rides 50 miles each morning. Wow!

On the flip side it made me miss my friends back home. Although I could never replace my dear friends it's also good to add new ones.

Speaking of new friends. My heart aches at this moment. Sammy just came home from the park very upset. He was supposed to be down there with two other boys They are a little older so it doesn't surprise me that they hid from him.

Sam came in the house, face all red from sweating and the sun he got at the pool today. He says to me, "mom, I guess I shouldn't play with those boys". Ok...the first thing that came to my mind was that they said bad words or did something mean. Sam continued to tell me that they hid from him and that he asked everyone at the park if they knew where the boys were. He asked the guy in his pool swimming, the guy fishing, the family playing. Sam looked in the bathrooms and no sign of the boys. That's when he decided to come home. Now it's up to me to mend his broken heart. The best explanation I could give him was the difference in their ages. I also went as far as saying something like,"I know that you would never do anything like that because you have Jesus in your heart". I reminded him of the boys he played with today and that we would see them again soon.

It breaks my heart to see the boys feeling get hurt. I know it's all part of life and that this experience was much needed to prepare him for adulthood (he's only 7 so he has a while)
This is just a reminder of how cruel our world can be and that it's hard to make knew friends and adjustments no matter what your age. So the next time I push Sam to make new friends I think I will be more tentative to his feelings.

Wow...I can't believe how I have gone on and on. One more last thought...
I have been asked by so many people how we are handling the transition to a new state and bigger city. It's like this...anyone can manage the transition, it's just the good friends and family left behind that I miss. On a happy note...I am driving home in July and meeting some of my friends at my parents. Hopefully a road trip to Henderson to say hello to all.

I have to get dinner now. Mahi Mahi tonight with quinoa and guacamole. Yummy!

Miss you all!