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I recently went on a girl’s weekend with 3 of my friends that I have known since Jr. High and High School. We try to go on trips once or twice a year. We are all busy so sometimes it can turn into every few years.

I have to say that I love these women. They truly are like my sisters. We all e-mail and talk all the time, but there is something special about when we all get together. All four of us are very different, but that is what I love most. We have great conversations about meaningful things. We catch up on each others families. We act silly. We disagree. But one of the greatest gifts to me is that I laugh. Not just giggles, but those deep-down-my-stomach-hurts laughs. I forget about all my responsibilities and just enjoy these wonderful women.

And on this last trip something else was very clear to me; what a great gift these women are to my two children. My girl’s don’t have one role model, they have 4. I don’t have to be an athlete, my friend is. I don’t have to be a scientist, my other friend is. I don’t have to be an environmentalist, my other friend is. What a relief to me that I have such wonderful women in my life that can help me shape the two girls I have into strong women. As a Mom I am very aware of how the decisions I make affect my children, so knowing that I am not on my own sometimes is a relief. I can point to any one of these women and tell my daughters, “well, look at her and what she is doing.”

I will forever cherish my friendship with these women. I look forward to the day when my girls will possibly join us on our trips.