I Won't Let Go

"I Won't Let Go"  Rascal Flatts

Friend
noun.
1.) person attached to another by affection or regard.

These past few days have been busy. The good kind of busy.
You know, the kind where you lose yourself in moments with the ones you love.

The definition above, is only a small fraction of what friend means to me.

A friend is someone who turns your frown upside down in an instant, with just their presence.

Jessica and I...Thursday night-Girl's Night


A friend is someone who shares food with you. Down to the last risotto ball and quesadilla triangle.

A friend is someone who inspires you to be silly and laugh at yourself.

A friend is someone you could talk to for 300 hours at a time. And yet, still feel like you need 300 more.

Jessica and I after a wonderful night in town.

Jessica.
The girl has got some major talent!
I knew she was the perfect friend to turn to, while deciding on the perfect baby shower gift for a friend.
Jessica turned a bag of ordinary baby onesies, pants, wash clothes, and socks into this bright and BEAUTIFUL work of art!

Mama-to-be, Jill, adored it! How cute is she!? It even matched her dress!

LikeLOVE what you see?
Jessica can be contacted @ jlengro@yahoo.com

For more on her talents and info...
as well as my friend, Kelly's
see THIS POST.

Speaking of  lovely friends...
And speaking of Kelly...

Kelly is also a friend who shares food. *omygoodness, this looks so good to me right now*

A friend is someone who shares it all, down to Kahlua cheesecake.

A friend is someone who listens and shares so much of themselves with you, and allows you to do the same.

Kelly and I, Friday @ the Cheesecake Factory


A friend is someone who offers to take pretty pictures of you.

We ventured into the mall and tried on some pretty fabulous headbands.

Kelly looking exquisite.


And me, well, not so much.

We decided to walk the 5 mile trail (and a few bites of that cheesecake off)
It was gorgeous outside. The weather was perfect. AND, we had no idea what was in store for us in the coming miles.
So, we set off.

We walked, we TALKED, we laughed til our stomachs exploded.

About a mile and a half in, we ran into this guy. (Come on, I had to take a picture)
Kelly called him, He-Man. He was nearly naked. Ankle weighted. And orange. He called every little boy he walked by, Junior. And he was surely on a mission.
He-Man quickly disappeared into the wilderness.
(I hope He-Man doesn't read my blog)


At about mile 3, we approached a couple (not a teenage couple, a couple in their 40's, mind you) under a tree that UHHH, needed to UM, find a hotel room fast! Very fast! We will leave it at that. It was FRIGHTENING. The kind of frightening where you couldn't help but look back 728 times.
But instead of risking looking like weirdos, we did the next best thing. We took a picture.

Yes, I know you can barely see them.  Be thankful for that.

It left us scarred. Just look at our faces.

Ok, phewww...glad that is over with.
Back to enjoying our walk.

Check out Kelly @ Stay at Home Trader and XtophyDesignStudio


How could I go wrong, with starting my weekend in the company of the lovely ladies above?!


Saturday, I felt a bit like Cindarella.  I woke up and cleaned all day.  I finshed all the extra offices my boss asked for help with by late afternoon.  I came home, sweaty and in need of a shower.  And by night, I got all snazzy, and Steve and I headed to dinner in the city with friends.  My friend, Jen and I decided we would celebrate our birthdays a few weeks early, and our gift, would be a fancy night out with our men.  It was such a treat.
I quickly began to feel more Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" than Cinderalla.
No, I didn't work the street corners.
But, I'm not the most swift when it comes to fancy schmancy places.  I mean, I love getting all dolled up.  But, I don't walk in heels well.  I kinda walk like a lumberjack. I fumble over myself and had to hold Jen's hand every time we walked downstairs to use the bathroom ladies lounge. I am easily amazed.  I Ohh and Ahh over every little detail when somewhere out of the ordinary.  The ladies room had a super sweet bathroom attendant, who awaited you with a hand towel when you were finished washing your hands.  She opened and closed doors for you.  She had an array of every-possible-thing-you-could-ever-need, just sitting on the counter for your enjoyment.  Jen and I sprayed ourselves down with "expensive bathroom counter perfume" each time we took a visit.
I'm so caught up in the bathroom-o-fun, I'm forgetting to mention how amazing the dinner was.  Steak, crab cakes, spinach, potatoes.  We were all in heaven.  And soon, a food coma.  It was a wonderful night.  A rare treat.  And as the dinner came to an end, I said, "You know, this was insanely good...Is it weird that Taco Bell is just as good to me?!"  Everyone agreed, Taco Bell IS just as good. :)

But, food...
Food is never as good as the company in which you choose to share it with.  And Saturday, was another perfect example of the gift of friendship.

Pictures from our sweet evening.

Sean and Jen

The Mr and I

Yum!

Sean and Jen outside the vault

Me and Steve

Studs.

Me and Jen, after our 73rd trip to the ladies room  perfume spritz

Jen and Sean, 7 weeks til their wedding day!

Me, Steve and a bag of beef (it was really cheesecake, bag of beef just sounded better)


Sunday, Steve had his beloved "almost beginning of Football season day" at a friend's house.  I have to admit, as much as I sometimes shake my head at all the fuss that comes with Sundays this season...it makes me smile to see Steve so enthusiastic about something he loves.

While Steve was enjoying the company of his friends, I was enjoying the company of a new friend.  We walked into town.  She introduced me to a new and adorable coffee shop.  We walked some more, iced coffee in hand, and parked it on a bench in a nearby park.  We talked.  We talked a lot.  About it all.  And I am so very thankful to have met her. 

Later that night, we got an unexpected invite to meet up with some friends in town.  Friends we haven't seen in way too long.  There were laughs.  There were chats.  There was karaoke.
Though Labor Day involved a little labor and the sun was nowhere to be found, it was good day.  Steve and I took a trip to Target. One that made for a pretty interesting order, given our fast approaching "trying time" (more to come with that, in next post).  I spent the night with my Mom and Nani.  My Mom and I "played hairdresser" and Nani was our subject.  I wish I had photos. We sat and caught up for a couple hours and I left with my day complete. After a weekend of joyous occasions, Monday night left me pretty sappy and happy (hey, that rhymes). I felt refreshed...invigorated...renewed.

It left me thinking a lot about my friends.  And what friend means to me.
A friend is a long phone call on a rainy day.  A hilarious text message.  A 15 paragraph email.
A friend is a walk with nowhere to go.  A few good laughs.  A hug, a kiss, an "I love you"
A friend is a chat across a booth about everything and nothing all at once.
A friend is my husband.  A friend is my mother.  A friend is the sleeping kitty at the end of the bed as I type.
A friend is a note on your windshield, on a day you need it most.  A card.  A joke to make you smile.
A friend is a shoulder to cry on.  Someone who lets you be you.  And loves you for it.
A friend is someone you trust and believe in and someone who trusts and believes in you.


"I Won't Let Go"

"It’s like a storm
That cuts a path
It breaks your will
It feels like that
You think you're lost
But you're not lost
On your own
You're not alone

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let go

It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it’s dark
This part of life
Oh, it finds us all
But we’re too small
To stop the rain
Oh, but when it rains

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I won't let you fall

Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you
I won't let you down
It won't get you down
You're gonna make it
Yeah, I know you can make it"


To me, a friend is someone you pray for...someone you have hope for...someone whose dreams, you have faith will come true.

Happy Wednesday, Friends
<3<3<3