Erin, over at Home With The Boys, has been doing a 31 Days Meme, “All About Women“. On October 8th, she talked about “Influence” and the women who have been a big influence in her life. She is asking her readers to comment or blog about the women who have been a big influence in their life.  So I thought I would join in.

The first woman that came to my mind was my best friend of 36 years, Rhonda.  Yes, we were born 14 days apart and loved only 4 miles from each other.  Throughout elementary, middle and high school, she was always there for me no matter what.  When I was seventeen, pregnant and then married, she never left my side.  She never judged or condemned.  She was even there when my first 3 children was born.  She moved off first and our phone bills skyrocketed.  She eventually came back to our hometown.  Then I moved away a few years later.  During this whole time of us being apart, we really aren’t apart.  You see, our main love and the one thing we have in common, is our love of Jesus.  We have both grown so much spiritually together in the past years.  We call each other whenever we have a problem or a need.  We both go to the Lord in prayer knowing that He will take care of us.

While we don’t talk daily like we used to, we still keep in touch through texting and facebook.  Rhonda, if you happen to read this, just know that I love you.  You have always been there for me no matter what.  We have laughed together and we have cried together.  You will always be my best friend and an important part of my life.

While I spoke of Rhonda above, there have been several more women who have touched my life in some form in the past and even in the present.  There have been there for me in different seasons of my life.  From my home church, Jeanette Tucker Thomas, Lillian Brown and Ann Cooper.  From the church that we left when we moved,  Sharon Kramme (who mentored me when I started homeschooling). To my present church that we are attending now, Beth Burnette.  There are several ladies in our homeschool group, Charlotte Metz, Laura Crisp and Amy Eilers.  Honestly, I could keep naming names.  I have had so many women that have influenced me at different seasons of my life.  I actually feel kind of bad naming the few I did!

I also can’t go without naming those who have been such a positive influence on my blogging and talking about what is important which is being an encouragement to others (whether it be spiritually or through homeschooling) and sharing my love of Jesus.  In no in particular order:

Penny – Living Above Ministries
Erin, – Home With The Boys
Stef – Educating Layton
Sally Clarkson – I Take Joy
Seeds of Faith and (in)courage writers
Sarah Mae – Like a Warm Cup of Coffee
Teri Lynne Underwood

I know I could keep adding more and more names to this list.  I m also sure that I will most likely offend some  people for not actually naming certain ones, but like I said, many women have influenced my life.  It just has depend on the season I have been in.  Our season’s change and so do the people who are around us.

Yes, we do have those solid rock women who are there for us until the end, but we also have those that come and go in our life as the days pass by.

Blessings.

Photobucket