Nearest and Dearest: Why we need Girlfriends?

Girlfriends will bring casseroles and also scrub your bathroom or all floors when you are sick.

Girlfriends will keep your children, and they will keep your secrets.

Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it.

Sometimes you take it, sometimes you don't.

and it makes no difference... either way.

Girlfriends don't always tell you that you are right.

Girlfriends might send you a birthday card, but they might not. And if they don't it does not matter in the least.

Girlfriends laugh with you and you sometimes need absolutely nothing to start the laughter.

Girlfriends don't talk about you behind your back.

Girlfriends help you out of jams, the dumps, and the blues.

Girlfriends don't keep a calendar that lets them know whose turn it is to do what.

Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby in whichever order that comes!

And girlfriends are there for you in an instant, and truly... when the hard times come.

Girlfriends listen when you lose a job, a husband, or anyone dear to you.

Girlfriends will listen when your children break your heart, and will hold you when you cry.

Girlfriends will listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail, and cry with you.

When girlfriends are young, they have no idea of the incredible joys or the incredible sorrows that lay ahead of them. Nor do they know how much they will need each other.

Young women today should take my sister-in-law's advice. "Get yourself some girlfriends."

You're gonna need them.

Tonight was one of my favorite nights of the year. It is our Women's Dinner at church. Every year women in our church host a table, deck it out in a theme or in their best dishes and then invite friends to come and enjoy a delicious dinner that they help host and serve. There is also some type of speaker or singer every year. It is a great chance to catch up with friends and meet some new friends as well. Tonight's them was "Why We Need Girlfriends."

The first year that I went I had such a wonderful time even though I knew hardly anyone that I decided that I wanted to host a table the next year. I was scared to do it by myself ( I am not that talented in the decorating department) so I talked one of my closest friends Cindy into doing it with me. We had a great time putting together a beach themed table complete with sand castle and shells. No sooner than the table was cleaned off last year than we started planning for this year. Our table theme for tonight? What can no woman do without?

Cindy is so funny because she has a vision in her head of what she wants everything to look like and I am just there to help fulfill the vision. Most of the times I bow to her expertise, only offering suggestions here and there. Like when she momentarily got off track and tried to talk me into a blue and red fabric pattern when we had already decided on pink. The night before the dinner when we go to set up, I usually sit back and watch her go to work and only jump in when needed. I joke and tell people that I am the manual labor.

I have been blessed to have wonderful girlfriends in my life. Girlfriends that have done all the above and more and I am forever grateful. Thank you to all those who have been a girlfriendto me. Life is a journey and I am glad that you are sharing it with me. I was also grateful tonight that I got to share table hosting duties with one of my closest girlfriends, Cindy and got to share the night with other girlfriends.