i will be grateful for this friend.

I have a friend.
(go visit her blog, she's got great pictures of the state I miss so much!)

this friend:

We became good friends when I lived in Alaska.
We were pretty much inseparable for 2.5 years.

I haven't seen her in 13 years.
(can you tell from the picture?)

She is very thoughtful.
Even though we don't talk very often,
she is such an encourager in my life.
She always pulls through in the hard times of my life.

When I was on bedrest with Graysen
she sent me chocolate from my favorite chocolate factory in Anchorage!

Today I received this.

isn't it beautiful?

Her note said this:
"A few weeks ago, I came across this print and it made me think of you. It is a thoughtful reminder to be grateful for what you have, even when you don't feel like being grateful. Your stories of your family remind me what a wonderful and caring person you are and I wanted to do something for you...because you deserve it! Share this with your family (if you want) to help remind them to be grateful every day, or keep it for yourself to help you weather the next storm. Much love, Martha"

I don't ever think of myself as anyone special,
but she makes me feel special.
Isn't that what a good friend does?

So thank you dear friend,
for the gentle reminder to be grateful.
I am grateful for you.

This is the literally the last time I saw Martha:

Think we can remedy that?