Contest rules:
In celebration of my upcoming book, WOMEN OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, here are the RULES:
Each Monday, I'll post a random question here.
To be entered:
1. You as the blogger will make a comment (answer to the question of the week of course)
2. Become a blog follower (if you aren't already)
On Thursday of the same week, I'll pick a favorite answer or do a drawing if it's too hard to choose. I'll announce the winner here, and the winner can choose any of my novels as a prize.
Question of the Week #2:
I've been reading Annette Lyon's Band of Sisters this weekend. Although I read it in pre-publication stage, it's even more fun to read the final book version. I forgot that it was a tear-jerker though (darn you, Annette!). But as I'm on the journey with the 5 Military Wives who are forming strong friendships as they meet each week for lunch (their husbands are deployed together in Afghanistan), I've been thinking of some of my close friendships that have helped me over the years.
Last fall I went to lunch with two friends, and we were chatting about the usual stuff. I don't talk about my books much with my non-writer friends because I don't want to always be focusing on "me". But that day my two friends seemed to have a lot of interest in my WIP, Alma the Younger. So it got me talking and we ended up having a pivitol discussion about their relatives who had fallen away from the church, then came back full force. This was exactly the journey Alma the Younger took, so it was incredible to hear personal stories. I am forever grateful for that one conversation with those friends in helping me characterize and establish motivations for Alma the Younger.
So, long story over, question of the week is: How has a friend helped you when you least expected it?
10 comments:
I had an experience where a friend helped me, and it was totally unexpected. I stopped by her house to return something I had borrowed. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I was on my way. Later that day she called me to ask if I was ok. I hadn't felt that I'd given off any signs that I wasn't ok, but her unexpected call and concern helped me to open up about an issue that I hadn't felt comfortable bringing up. It was something that I needed to talk about though, and knowing that I had support and understanding has helped immensely.
A while back, I was feeling sorry for myself because I've never been able to get pregnant. Even though we were able to adopt a little boy with autism (whom we love very much), there was still a void in my heart for a little girl. One Sunday in Relief Society, a young woman sat next to me with her newborn baby girl. Everyone was oohing and awing over the infant--even me, although not as sincere. On my other side was my friend, Becky. She'd known about my situation from years ago, but I hadn't shared my feelings that day with her. After everyone sat down, she leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry. In the hereafter you'll have so many kids running around, you'll probably have to pawn them off on me so you can have a moment of peace." Her comment did two things. One, it made me laugh. Two, it made me remember that our lives are eternal. There's more to it than just what we have here and we need to live so that we can receive all those blessings on the other side.
Great post! I'll be putting a link to it on my blog for Tagalong Tuesday tomorrow.
Great stories, Andrea & C.K. :-)
I was faced with a particularly difficult family event, one in which in the past I was always "left out", "excluded" and made to feel "less than" because my family doesn't really "get" me. I kind of think outside the box and lean to the left most of the time. My friend hugged me and said in response to them not "getting" me that it was a compliment. A new perspective that made me feel better. So I enjoyed my weekend as a "peacock" among "pigeons". SO I merrily proceed in life "standing out" instead of "fitting in."
I love the peacock and pigeons analogy!
I waffling about whether to apologize or cheer about the book. :D (Thanks for mentioning it!)
I was going through a particularly hard time when a friend, who was also struggling with some serious trials said that the way she coped was to remind herself that, "It is what it is," meaning that there's no point in fighting the reality or trying to change other people--that relying on God to help us survive and cope is about all we really CAN do. In a sense, surrender. "It is what it is" has been a big help to me ever since.
I like that. It reminds me of the serenity prayer.
I fell away from the church when I was a teenager. Several years later, I was helping a friend address her wedding announcements. She was getting married in the temple, and I was not able to go. The Spirit had been working on me for several months (years, even), and I was considering going back to church. Late that night, my friend listened to her own prompting of the spirit, and asked straight out, "Kim, do you ever think about going back to church?" I admitted it had been on my mind, and we talked about it.
I will always appreciate the love and support she offered me. I started going to church soon after, and have never looked back.
I have a friend who is..well...needy. Our phone calls and visits usually involve talking over her crazy life and we rarely talk about my comparably boring one. It can be exhausting to be her friend but she has no one else so I persevere.
The other day I mentioned something I was struggling with - just in passing. She said something incredibly wise and insightful that changed my thinking, and my day, completely around.
The first thought that came to mind was my BFF in high school. She was a true friend in every way. She even took on some guy, ready to fight him over something rude he said about me! She made sure I was better than I thought I was merely by her example. We never thought about drinking, drugs, etc because we were 'high on life' which meant we were spaztic and proud of it! :)
She's still a good friend, though we aren't as spaztic as we were (just don't ask our kids about that).
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