Three years after college and I was taken out of every comfort zone I’d ever had. 

We had left our church, our ministry, my career, most of my extended family and the state I had called home my entire life. 

Now, I was in a new state with no local friends, I was at home full time with our first baby, we had no church home, and our extended family was far away….I was truly isolated. 

I was facing the reality that I desperately needed to make friends, not only for myself but for my daughter. If I remained isolated how could I expect her to have any friends? So, I would have to make friends.

Most people I know make friends at work or church.

Well, my husband worked from home and I was a stay at home mom. 

We had to first find the church we felt called to attend (there were a lot of churches in our area) and then get plugged in…this could take quite some time.  

So, it was time to be creative. 

We made our first local friends in the most unconventional way. We bought their table off of Facebook marketplace. When we went to pick up the table, the husband invited us in, helped us load the table, and was so friendly and kind. During the pick up, while he was inside grabbing his tool box, Stephen and I both remarked how much we liked this couple and decided to ask to stay in touch. They had a daughter only a month or so younger than our daughter. The husband readily agreed and we exchanged numbers. 

Long story short, months later we would all be eating spaghetti on their old table in our new home. It was beautiful! They gave me hope in what could be. 

The next friends were made in the middle of church hunting. We were about to walk out of this particular church when they stopped us and began asking us questions about ourselves. We quickly discovered that we had both moved from California and the commonality was founded. I exchanged numbers with the wife and we stayed in touch. 

Long story short, this couple and their family is now our closest family friends and we see them on a regular basis. They are a blessing to my soul. 

In fact, we have made other friends through the invitations this particular couple have given to us with opportunities to continually be a part of their lives. 

Another good friend was made because I decided to nanny in order to give my daughter an immediate opportunity for friendship and socialization. This family became more than someone I nannied for—they became friends. The mom was a local and introduced me to so many fun spots around the area. She helped me feel at home here. They have now moved but she was truly an angel. She pursued friendship with me at a time where I felt very vulnerable. 

Subsequently, we met other family friends in retail stores. These are families who, later, would attend my daughter’s birthday party. 

Let me tell you…friends are all around us. It is up to us to give them a chance.