Friends and Gratitude ...

I had heard it said once that if you have two or three people during your life that you can TRULY call a close friend, that you are blessed ... and for some reason I have been in a waterfall of blessing most of my life!!! I seriously can't actually count the number of people who have come into my life who have changed me for the better, and who I feel like will be a part of my life forever. (How's that for a mushy lead in???)

You know who your TRUE friends are when they can see you through the Good, the Bad and the Ugly ... and will talk to you and NOT judge when you LOOK like the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!!! I am reminded, once again, how large my "safety net" of friends is as my mom has been back in the hospital (all is well ... she is currently in a rehab facility for a few weeks, but makes more improvements every day!)!

My friend, Cheryl, and I went for a nice, long walk during her lunch hour(s) the other day (it was HOT and HUMID and the walk was more of a HIKE)!! She is the one that used to urge ME to come walking with her ... and I struggled ... and huffed and puffed ... and she was my cheerleader the whole way. Having been a bit out of the habit of walking because of her commitment to school (SO proud of her for going "back" ... AND getting a Bachelors degree!). So now it was my turn to push HER a bit ... she kept apologizing for her "slow" pace ... which didn't matter to me ONE BIT!! I was grateful to have a friend to walk with, to laugh with, to encourage as she has so often encouraged me (and NOT just in the area of staying fit, either! We met through a mutual friend at a Stampin' Up Club about 13 years ago ... the beginning of my Stampin' Odyssey)!! There are MANY people in my life that I am blessed to call "friend" ...

And yeah ... this is a DUDE "friend" card ... and I have DO have some DUDE friends as well. But I have to admit that there is nothing like a GIRL friend to share your secrets with! It is the BEST!!

Stamps: The Open Sea, Awesomely Artistic
Paper: Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Night of Navy
Accessories: Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Circle Framelits, Artisan Label Punch, Washi Label Punch, Chevron Natural Ribbon, Project Life Paper Clips Thinlits, Antique Brads, Mini Stapler

So today I am going to go visit with my mama, go to the gym (the elliptical is calling my name!), spend time with my awesome son, Devan (who has declared today Mama Tech Support Day ... how AWESOME is THAT???), and spend the evening with my besties at book group (I have been in this group of ***GULP*** 24 years ... and it's MY turn to review the book ... and before you ask, it's "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon ... GREAT read!). My heart is full of gratitude ...

Have a great day, FRIENDS!!