Friends are cheaper than therapy!

And what a great blessing !
This past week has been a busy, good week, shared with friends.  I was thinking about all of the people that come in and out of my  life and  the value they add to my life!  For example, yesterday neighborhood women came to my house to pray a rosary and pray for ourselves and our  families and others.   Then we discussed politically incorrect issues and morality as it exists today...  and had cake and coffee and simply interacted.  Tonight a friend is having a recipe party, where we all bake a dish to share and she prints the recipe in a book and gives a copy of  the book to everyone.  How fun is that!  We get to sample what looks good to us and then make it for our guests for Thanksgiving... and this is at night, so we drink wine not coffee!  Relating to each other  enriches all of our lives..for many reasons, not just conversation and companionship...we laugh!  And laughter makes us look and feel better. I have had many acquaintances filling my needs at different stages of my life... the couples we would party with when we first got married, the women who would sit around in circles breastfeeding our babies offering encouragement to each other, the play groups at each others houses, where the kids would play with  other kids toys while the moms sat around  and talked ..each of these groups of friends offered support when I needed it..because  I was stranded in a house with all these kids!  I don't think we can underestimate the value and dimension friends add to our lives.  And the true, real friends are a gift from God!  When I count my blessings, I count those friends.  Who are they?  The ones that bring  dinner to a family of 10 (could anyone ask for more?!), the ones who sympathize without criticising  your teenagers indiscretions, the ones who pray for you and help you in a crisis...you know.   So like the old girl scount song, "make new friends, but keep the old...one is silver and the other gold."