WANTED: Friends!

Does the title seem to have a slight twinge of desperation to you?!?  Well, I'm not too desperate...yet...but it has definitely been an interesting experience moving to a completely new place with very little upon which to build in the way of friends.  I guess I should be thankful that I am not back in 8th grade, on the first day of school, in a new city, in a new state trying to find someone to sit with in a large and rather intimidating lunch room.  (I may or may not have eaten that first meal in the bathroom...but that's a story for another day, kids!)

I do feel fairly confident at this point that we have done a lot to 'integrate' into this great southern society.  We are attending a local church, but their Sunday school just went on a hiatus for the month of July (bummer!).  James' fellow interns are mostly unmarried, so not much help there.  I've reached out to several mom's groups, but they are all off for the summer and won't start back until September.  Obviously, I don't work to be able to network friends that way.  It's so weird to be in a place with people all around and not know how to tap into what I know is probably a very vibrant community of young families!

Is it a bit much (true story) to have resorted to following a woman with her young baby and toddler around Target for 3 aisles trying to get up the courage to strike up a conversation and then casually insert the fact that I'm new to the area and then maybe mention that I'd like her to be my friend??...(I chickened out, but looking back I kinda regret that!)  OR Is it bizarre to strike up a conversation with a nice young married saleswoman at Brooks Brothers and after hearing her mention all her friends with babies essentially ask if she would introduce me to them??  I did leave the store with her email address and an invitation to attend her church's bible study.  I am halfway considering changing denominations just to join her group!  :)

The truth of the matter is that making true friends takes time and patience.  We don't have tons of time here in Bham, but I will try to be patient.  One thing is for sure, though, this experience has reminded me of something I learned as a child moving a couple times and it still rings true as an adult-- a warm hand of welcome is such a blessing!  Being the new kid on the block is a very vulnerable and isolating feeling at times.  But, we are not discouraged!  In just a few short weeks come new possibilities and opportunities.  Our prayer right now is just for God to go before us and bless us with deep and meaningful relationships to build here that will last a lifetime.  He has always been so faithful to provide in the past and I have no doubts in His provision now.

Though it may be easier and safer to remain in the comfortable confines of your friend group, may I be so bold as to encourage you to take a moment this week to look around the office, the classroom, the neighborhood and reach out to someone new?  We 'newbies' would be much obliged!