kindred spirit diaries

the tide rises, the tide falls

My two daughters and I decided this year to perform a trio in the annual music festival. Alright, truth be told, my older daughter and I decided to do a trio and then convinced my younger daughter to join in. She wasn't keen, but the song is beautiful, so she acquiesced.

It has been quite a path to travel with my daughters, two of my best friends. When we had the first 2/3 of the song learned, we treated my mother with a concert over speaker-phone. Little did we know that the players on the other end of the head-set my husband was using to play an on-line game with could also hear us. Apparently, the players had all been yelling (common behaviour), when one of the players asked, "What on earth are you listening to?" and then they all fell silent until the end of the game. Nothing like a world-wide audience!

Tonight we practiced with our accompanist. One of the last times, as we perform in three days! Standing there, I tried to remember everything... stand up straight, hands at side, breathe, sing, remember your vowel sounds, come in louder here, crescendo, decrescendo, take a DEEP breath because you're going to have to hold it forever here, quiet here... and WHAT PITCH IS THAT LAST NOTE AGAIN?? I actually remembered everything... ok, not the bow at the end, but at least I didn't high-five my girls like I did at our last practice!

I love singing with my girls. I love hearing our voices weave in and out and then meld together. Granted, we make our fair share of blunders, but the laughter that we share binds us together as family... and as friends.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, the title of the post is our song... I just can't seem to get it out of my head! :)

The Friendship of Women

How honored I feel to be asked to contribute to this project. The friendship of Honeyanne and Amber is a rare and incomparable one. It is an enduring friendship between 2 purehearts who embrace all that is good, natural, sweet, uplifting and that illicits a lovely enduring blend of faith, dedication, laughter and unending love and devotion. A friendship that began with 2 little girls; a friendship destined and blessed by the Heavens above.

As eldest sister to Amber, it has been wonderful to observe and I cannot think of 2 better women to lead the way in writing on the rich gift of friendship among women. I am grateful to be asked to be a part of it. The mission of it is to teach our daughters, granddaughters, nieces and all who come after about the true value of a dear and devoted friend who can be counted upon to love and support you through all of the thicks and thins of life and in spite of the natural human frailties that we all possess.

Such friends help you to successfully navigate and survive the journey of life. They are their with you through all of life's important experiences and transitions. They share the realm of human emotion with you ~ the depths of pain, the quiet beauty of personal testimonies realized, the harsh regret of mistakes made, the fears of the unknown paths ahead of us, the hopes of our dearest desires and the utter, breathless laughter that forces tears down your cheeks and your body to convulse in uncontrollable giggles. They support you, uplift you, cheer you, challenge you, teach you and stand by you.

They never ask you to betray yourself, but rather ensure that you honor the deepest truths within yourself. They trust you to use your own knowledge, strengths and talents to make the right decisions in life and to ultimately succeed. It is their voice, their smile, their eyes, their presence that gives you strength, assurance, comfort in all situations.

I too have such friends and will ever kneel in gratitude to thank my loving Heavenly Father who knows me so intimately and for blessing me thus, throughout my life. Not always have those friendships endured, for it is not logical that all such friendships remain throughout our lives here on this earth; but the impact of them will be forever imprinted upon my heart and in my dearest memories. They are a part of my makeup, of my very soul and I am all the better for them for they have nourished the best parts of me and I hope I have them too. Forever intertwined within one anothers lives.