It Takes a Village...

Weddings are a really big deal, I get it. But, I think there's something so equally wonderful--definitely worthy of the same glorification and celebration among friends as a wedding. We don't get t-shirts made to support the occassion, we don't host catered receptions to celebrate. And yet I think there is no greater occassion to show up, no better time to celebrate, than when a friend welcomes new life.

My best friend is having a baby next week, and I will be there to celebrate. If there's one thing Sisterfriend knows how to do, it's celebrate; and while, yes, I cannot wait to hold her sweet baby, I am also looking forward to the opportunity of showing up. I get asked a lot about my friendships--how we make it work, how we've built intimate relationships with each other and kept them. It's simple. You show up. And the big things in life like having babies? You celebrate. You let your friends know that you are well aware that moment of falling desperately in love with a child they've carried for nine months deserves one hullabaloo.

The old proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, it also takes one to celebrate a child. And I think any mama can agree that one of the best ways to feel loved is when someone loves your child. Which is why I can recall every single person who came to the hospital to see both my girls when they were born. Or why I saved every "Welcome to the World" card I ever received and have them wrapped in ribbon and tucked away in keepsake boxes.

Having a baby is a life-changing, soul-stretching, glorious occasion, and if there's one opportunity to deepen a friendship, it's rallying to celebrate the miracle of birth, the triumph of adoption, the undeniable fact that having your heart stretched with love for a new child is a very, very big deal.

Someday, several years from now, my friends and I will gather for coffee, and we'll talk about our kids' college applications. How much car insurance costs for teenagers. How we love our daughter's boyfriend (I hope). But we'll remember that the depth of our cherished friendships began when we showed up long ago. When we held out our arms to hold each other's babies for the very first time. When we made mothering an infant seem a little less isolating because we stopped by, we brought meals, we rocked and kissed those newborns and we celebrated.

Because it takes a village.

(taken from the "Enjoying the Small Things" blog - not my own thoughts - but I wish they were!)

Below are pictures of some members of Sully's village - we are missing a lot of people but wanted to share the pictures we do have:)