.Lemons.

Life is what you make it--that's what they tell you. Sometimes you get lemons so make lemonade. Sometimes nothing goes right, instead go left. Unfortunately, none of these give me much comfort as of late. I'm not good at making lemonade and I'm naturally right hand dominant so I don't really like to go left. In fact, if I'm lost, my first instinct is always to turn right....I'm not sure why, just is.

I wonder, often, how we get to where we are going....and when we are off track, how we get back on. Unfortunately, we never have a road map and we fight the whispers God tries giving us until he slams us with a brick wall...and then, of course, we begin to listen and then wonder why we ever even tried to fight.

I have a great friend who I have known longer than most of the people in my life. She has eased my bad days with strawberry pancakes and chocolate chip cookies. She is amazing. She has also been faced with hard decisions that will change the course of her life, undoubtedly. I am constantly amazed by the strength she has and, even more, her will and character. She makes me want to be better...and challenges me to be more loving, more caring, more selfless....all the things she embodies. I don't think she always sees this in herself, but I do. Every single day. I see this beautiful woman fight for herself and her beautiful child and her family. She has never been a quitter and doesn't give up easily. She makes me strive for more. She is one of the few people I would squeeze those lemons for....because sometimes we all need a friend....someone to help carry our load for a little while--just long enough to dust ourselves off and try again. That's just what friends do....they show you who you are through their eyes so that someday you might see those same things through your own and they stand by you until that day comes.

Life gets and, sometimes, stays messy. What they should tell you is not to wear white...and that sometimes even the lemonade tastes sour....and sometimes U-Turns are in order.....and that you should lean....lean on the people who love you.....let them love you.....and maybe that we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves. We live and we learn....and hopefully, we move on from it and we are better for it.....and maybe we should hug more. Hugs make me feel better....so maybe we should always have a hug before we start taking on those lemons.