I've had many friends in my life.
But, I've had one girl friend in my life for almost 21 years now.
We have shared everything. Marriage, death, college life, work life, births, children raising, problems (that's a pretty broad category!), relatives, moves, vacations, fires - house/apartment and camping. If I didn't mentions something, I'm still pretty sure we've visited that event in life together. :) Although we aren't blood, I would turn to my friend as quickly as I would to my own siblings. Her friendship means everything to me.
My favorite story about our relationship has to do with when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. My DH and I had been trying to get pg for a few years. At that stage in our lives we lived three hours away from our friends. So we kept in touch mostly by phone and weekend visits. It was so easy to travel without kids!
On a Friday morning in October I took a home pregnancy test. It was positive! I was so excited! I was worried about calling my friend though because I know they had been trying to get pg for a long time too. That night after work I called her with my news. "Guess what. I took a home pregnancy test today and it was positive." I told her and then I waited to hear the touch of disappointment in her voice. "Well," she said with a hint of her own excitement, "I was going to call you tomorrow because I am taking a home pregnancy test then!" This was back in the day when for the best results one took a home pg test first thing in the morning.
As luck would have it, my mom was coming to visit us on that Saturday. A cousin was getting married near where I lived. I would be able to tell my mom my great news in person. I'm not sure I slept much that night. I couldn't wait to tell my mom and I couldn't wait to hear my friends news.
It was later in the day on Saturday that my friend called me. Her test did show positive. Some how I knew it would! My mom had just arrived in town and my DH and I went to her hotel. I was poised to tell her the news.
"Mom, I just got the best news," I started. "Remember Joann? Well, she took a home pg test this morning and it came back positive! Isn't that great!" I can still see my mom. She was sitting in a chair in her hotel room, shoes off, legs crossed, stretched out propped up on her bed, arms folded behind her head. "Well, yeah. That's good news," my mom responded. I could see that puzzled and then distracted look on her face. "Mom, that means her parents are going to be grandparents! Isn't that great!?" "Sure," she said. "But mom, even better than that...I'm pregnant too!"
That was one of the best moments in my life. The shock, realization and then joy that spread across my mom's face still brings tears to my eyes. Life was good.
My friend and I shared that pregnancy. We have photos of our big bellies and then photos of our bathing boys together. The boys are only separated by 12 days.
Today my friend and I are fortunate enough to live just 18 miles apart. Our lives do not allow us to talk daily, but twice a year we do get together to celebrate each other's birthday even months after our true birthday date. Her B-day was in August, a few nights ago I made dinner for her. Here is a look into the food of the night, she allowed me to make a bunch of my favorites for her:
Stuffed mushroom caps started the night, red raspberries were our snack and homemade almond joy bars our dessert.
We drank too much wine and were as giddy as teenage girls, so my teen told me later! She should know...I've heard the same giggles and seen the same happy faces on her and her girl friends!
I am convinced we should all have one person we are not married to or related to in our lives to keep us grounded.
Thank you Joann for being my one person!
...my thumbprint pumpkin cards! I took a break from life yesterday to play and make these cards. They are heading out in the mail with Halloween greetings today. I forgot how much fun thumbprint art can be! :)
This lucky dove just stunned himself. He sat by our backdoor for a few hours and then flew to the safety of a nearby tree. His foe had been scared off by the teenage girl in our household who cannot accept the circle of life when she's around. I also think my teen was hoping she'd have a new "pet" to nurse back to health. She is a compassionate soul. 
We drank too much wine and were as giddy as teenage girls, so my teen told me later! She should know...I've heard the same giggles and seen the same happy faces on her and her girl friends! 
Although these flowers are in my yard, they just started blooming about three weeks ago. I can't recall what they are, but I did plant them from seeds. I am happy to see their little blue blossoms. 
The hues in the woods are looking more yellow. Under foot the noisy crunch, crunch, crunch of each step alerted the wildlife we are visiting them. We did see a few white tails jumping away as we walked. 
It was so still on the lake. We could hear one other couple talking on the other bank, across the water. I think it was just the four of us walking in the woods Monday afternoon. 
I can't wait to hear her reactions as she opens each treat! :)
I've been so busy weeding, hosting a neighborhood picnic, tending a sick (now back to school and fine) kid, and doing the normal stuff of life that it's hard to find time to delete photos off a stuffed computer. I just don't seem to have the time to just sit and go through/transfer them. 
I know I posted this photo in April in jest. 
These are from the summer of 2007. Old, but not ancient photos. I have lots of good memories of fishing as a young girl. On this day I was the only lucky one to catch a fish. It was one of the last times we went out on my in-laws old pontoon boat. The kids and I went out with dad (my MIL). 