This is a great collection of stories telling of friendships over time and how they became friends and how many of the friendships have stood the test of time. It was great to see all these stories and be able to read a few at a time. They were enlightening and great to read when you just needed some encouragement.
I received a copy from the publisher to read and review. ( )

I couldn't possibly get through life without my girlfriends. I have friends that I've known since childhood, friends from college that I've reconnected with because our kids are in the same school, best friends and casual friends, and friends for all seasons of my life. Each one fills a need in my heart and knows just what to say or do at just the right time. When we moved to this small community over twelve years ago, I was nervous about leaving my friends behind, knowing that with some of them, I would lose that daily connection, but hoping that new friends would fill that gap. There is always that trepidation about introducing yourself and trying to find that connection with a new person. Thankfully, I have been blessed to be surrounded by an amazing group of women in my community that I consider to be some of my closest friends.

Friendship is born at that moment when one says to another: "What! You too?"
C.S. Lewis

This collection of stories from well-known Christian authors, celebrates everything that friendship is about. It celebrates those moments when a friend knows just what to say when you're hurting, it acknowledges those moments when you are feeling vulnerable, and reminds you not to compare yourself to other moms in this "pinterest perfect" society. There are plenty of stories that you can identify with. I expect many of them will encourage you to reconnect with a friend when a story reminds you of a certain friendship or memory.

I had one particular story that resonated quite strongly with me and that was the one by Melissa Michaels. Her story of "Lessons in Hospitality from my Hairstylist" brought me to tears. Many of us wouldn't think of our hairstylist as our friend, but I sure did. Mary was my hairstylist for many years and I looked forward to seeing her every six weeks, catching up on our lives, sharing both the good and the bad. She was a friend to me while I was an exhausted stay-at-home mom. I wasn't always able to have my appointments without the kids tagging along and she never minded. The kids adored her and she always had a drawer full of cookies ready for them. This story hit me emotionally because Mary died of an aneurysm just five years ago. In fact, the day I read this story was on that five year anniversary. Michaels's story reminded me of how much I miss that friendship but yet so thankful I had it at that time in my life. Mary was the epitome of hospitality and kindness as a hairstylist and a friend and I miss her dearly.

As you can imagine, there are numerous other stories that will remind you of the joy in having meaningful friendships. This book would make a wonderful gift for a friend that you want to thank for being a part of your life. You can read a few stories a night and go to sleep with a smile on your face and a prayer to God for placing these special women in your life.

My friends have made the story of my life.
In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges.
Helen Keller ( )