Archive for the ‘Friendships’ Category

Weddings – a reunion of friends!

Monday, July 26th, 2010

 

Guest Blog: Shari from The Friendship Stone Team

Oh how wonderful it is to go to a wedding. 

I love it.
 
I promise myself each time I go to a wedding that I will not cry!
That is a good joke! I cry!
 
And last night was no exception – the groom, I have watched for the last 14 years grow from a boy into a man.  And now he is has chosen to turn his best friend into his wife – his partner for life!
How beautiful is that.
 
I promised the grooms parents that I would prepare a video clip of the wedding ceremony – but looking this morning at the footage I have – it is going to be difficult!
 
Can you tell that I was crying and had to wipe the tears away at the wrong time – I missed the Groom breaking the glass!

 
 
So what did we have at this wedding? A beautiful gathering of friends and family. 
 
 
The Ceremony was traditional Jewish Orthodox. I love how the Hupah (Canopy) is set up higher than the guests so everyone could see the young couple's expressions during the ceremony.
The friends of the bride and groom danced them to the hupa as they were accompanied by their parents – first the groom and then the bride.
 
The ceremony itself was beautifully done allowing for family and honored guests to participate.
Oh how young and beautiful they looked under the canopy!
 
So Young so Beautiful
 
Then the party began! The dancing – the singing – the eating!
 
I must call my girlfriend later today and thank her for seating my family and me at a great table. 
I sat with friends that I once worked with (a few years back) and enjoyed every minute of our reunion during the many courses of the dinner!
 
Catching up with one and other –we went around the table and telling us one by one what they are up to, how their children are (two have grand children already), how work is, etc.  It was great to hear all of the stories – two friends went back to school part time (master's degrees) two had grandchildren already – one just downsized into a smaller home…. I told them what I do and of course told them that they would be subjects of my blog this morning!
 
Once we were caught up – the conversation flowed – we laughed and laughed just like old times.
This reminded me of a great quote that I recently read: 
 
“Good friends are like stars…. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there”
 
The rest of the evening flew by – and finally my 6 year old said  " Mama – Daddy wants to go home, he's tired!"
 
So before slipping out of the party – I gave a Friendship Stone to two friends that I reconnected with. I placed the stone in their hands and just whispered in their ear –
 
"Thank you for being my friend, I am here for you always"

I got the best hugs!
 
 
 
 
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Should we or shouldn’t we? Would we or wouldn’t we? Could we or couldn’t we?

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Honestly, do we always have to be honest or can we let things slide? Is being Honest a Gift of Friendship?


How do be “honest” with your sister in law about something that she does that bothers you, and also not hurt her feelings?

The first question that arises is “Should I even bring up the subject?”


What is the subject? “Double Dipping“. Now I start to laugh as I recall the famous Jerry Seinfeld episode with George doing his double dipping.  Totally classic, but what happens when it is happening in your own home, with your SIL or even a good friend.

To talk or not to talk, that is the question!  Would it be so terrible to ignore?  Are they at your house enough to bring up the conversation?

As I was having a wonderful afternoon lunch with “the women of the Board” one of the ladies asked us what she should do.  It totally drove her crazy. And not only was her SIL double dipping, she was eating straight out of the serving bowl, time and time again. (Maybe she should watch this) We all decided that honesty here, discreetly off to the side, was the best policy.  She said it totally grossed her out and did not want to have family dinners at her house because of it.  By not telling her SIL, she was putting herself in a situation to distance herself from her family.  Therefore, we thought the matter should be addressed, but with great sensitivity,  i.e., in private.

It could be very well that her SIL was just not aware that she was that was doing something that might be considered uncouth, or bad manners, and more importantly, that bothered our friend. I have found that usually when someone is made aware of an action that they are doing that upsets someone; they will make an effort to stop it.  They can’t be expected to be mind readers and therefore, they probably have no idea that what they are doing drives you nuts.

Make them aware of what is on your mind, gently and lovingly, and you will both feel so much better!!  Now that is a great friendship gift,  honesty!

So go ahead, be honest, just do it with love and kindness.

An honest answer is the sign of true friendship.– Proverbs 24:26

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