My Sister, My Friend

I always assumed friends came from outside your family.  I have 3 brothers and 1 sister.  As kids, we were not the best of friends.  As we have grown, we have become better friends.  I never would have imagined when my older brother married his sweetheart that she would become my best friend someday.

Stephanie has been an amazing support for me in the last 20 years she has been my sister.  This last weekend, I had the opportunity to go back to Utah to see family, and stayed with them.  I have been pondering a lot, and reflecting on our friendship and how it has grown through the years.

Stephanie has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders.  She sees the best in everyone, loves with all of her heart, and has more patience than Job.  As the Mother of 8 children (yes, 8!!!), she has been my prime Mothering example.  Her love for her children, my brother, and God, has brought her through many difficult times.

It was through her that I first had the inkling that maybe, just maybe, I could birth without drugs.  She taught me that Women are STRONG and capable.  When Emma was born, she was there.  When I didn't know how to nurse my baby, she talked me through it and helped me to have an amazing breastfeeding relationship with my girl.

When my world crumbled down around me, she, having just moved to Utah from Kansas that week, was on the first flight to me.  She held me, encouraged me to eat, prayed for me, cried with me, and stood by me as I not only buried my baby, but faced the aftermath of life without her.

In the 8 years since Emma's death, Stephanie and I have been through a lot.  She added 2 more babes to her family.  When one of them was critically ill, I pulled up my bootstraps and did all I could to give her the love and support she gave me.

It isn't often that we are blessed enough in life to find a friend who you feel you have known forever.  I was lucky that my brother found my soul sister and married her.

It is my prayer that my girls find someone in their lives who love them, lift them up and encourage them the way Stephanie does me.  Because one good friend really does make the whole difference in life.

**This post is part of the Hallmark Life is a Special Occasion Campaign.  I am lucky enough to be blogging for them for the rest of the year.  This month I was asked to write about encouragement, and I couldn't think of a better theme for the month of August!
Be sure to sign up for Hallmark emails for great ideas and ways to honor those special people in your life. All words are mine, as always.