Wednesday, January 5, 2011

M Is for Memories

It's been a doozy of a day.
Hyrum has that scary croupy "barking-like-a-chihuahua" cough. We were both up most of the night. And that lack of sleep just threw my day off kilter.

I haven't had the brain capacity to finish thinking through my resolution/word/change-my-soul post yet. But Rum's doctored up with dimetapp, prescription cough medicine and a working humidifier, so I hope I'll sleep tonight and post the result of my brain acrobatics on Friday.

Today, I wanted to share this with you.
One of my dearest friends--Jamie at Just a Little Taste--moved almost two weeks ago.

The kind of friend that you can talk with about anything and know she'll listen and not judge.  
The kind of friend that brings you dinner, even though she's not a gourmet cook (It's okay.  She knows I'm not, either.)  
The kind of friend that buys you just the right book for your birthday and knows you'll love it.   
The kind of friend that understands mothering and all the hard work that goes into it. 
The kind of friend that you have inside jokes with and stay up late talking with and text just because something reminds you of them.
The kind of friend that you can know their opinion about a discussion just by catching her eye.
The kind of friend that you can count on for an honest opinion, even if it differs from yours.

That kind of friend.

It's been hard for all of us still here, but I know it's been extremely difficult for her.

What do you do for a friend like this?
We planned a surprise lunch for her, that's what we did.  I did try to take a few pictures, but it was at my house, so I was a little occupied most of the time.  But we did put together this book:  Every one of her friends designed their own scrapbook page, then wrote memories and words of encouragement and love for her to read now that we aren't just around the corner.

I hope it helps.

Love you.  Miss you.  I'm still planning on visiting in May, so you better be all unpacked and decorated and gorgeous by then, Sister!

Linking up to Jenny Matlock's Letter M at Alphabe-Thursday.
Jenny Matlock

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30 comments:

  1. You just made me cry. Love you! And you better plan on visiting in May-I'm counting on it!!! Thanks for all the memories Jenny, I love the book & all the precious love it holds.

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  2. That is a fun idea for a friend going on that long vacation called moving. How very nice.

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  3. Oh, I hope that little guy gets better, that is such a worry. And what a nice thing to do for your friend, I am sure that she will always remember you with so much love! :D

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  4. Everyone needs a friend like that. Sounds like you are that for her as well!

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  5. Our Relief Society sometimes does those books for people who move, and I think it's the best possible gift. All of the recipients have treasured them.

    Too many of our friends are moving away as they retire (mostly to Utah), so I know how hard it is to say good-bye to the kind of friend you described. Jamie sounds great, and I hope her move goes well for her.

    (Karen better not move on you! My best friend moved, and it just about did me in. I still can't drive past her house, and it's been 10 years.)

    "/

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  6. A friendship is very important. Friends you choose, family you inherit.

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  7. Good friends moving away is always so hard on everyone. She sounds like such an incredible friend and I hope that the distance doesn't put a damper on your friendship with her.

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  8. The older I get, the most I realize how important my girlfriends are. They are ALWAYS there through thick and thin without the baggage of family at times. They carry us truly.

    Lovely post and amazing book you all made.

    Happy Thursday.
    xo,
    Tracy

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  9. The book is a wonderful idea. She sounds like a great friend. I have had friends like her that were like sisters.

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  10. That kind of friend is hard to come by. You are both blessed to have each other in your lives. The great thing is, even distance can't keep great friends apart. Thanks for sharing such a sweet post.

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  11. oh, jen, I just love that you did this for her - you're a really great friend (but of course, we already knew that!). great to back in blogland, I have so much to catch up on over here, I love the new header, gorgeous gorgeous ... now I'm gonna move backwards thru your posts 'til I reach where I left off ;-)

    Happy New Year, friend!!

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  12. So sweet...so hard when friends move away. I've had two dear ones move in the last 5 years, and it sucks. Sorry to be so frank.
    Poor little guy...hope tonight is better!

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  13. What a lovely thing to do.
    It's so hard to lose a friend to a move - I hope you'll have a chance to maintain your friendship with lots of visits.

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  14. hatin when i've got a sick kid...makes momma wanna take it from them!

    glad you found a friend like that! they are rare! hold on tight!

    as for ur new blog header! hello where have i been? it's gorgeous!

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  15. Oh bless your heart. I'm the queen of croup and it WAS a very close friend of mine when my children were younger. Unfortunately, one of my children still seem to get it because he has asthma.
    I'm sure you've done all the routine things, but just in case you haven't tried this one:
    When and if the coughing starts...sit in the bathroom with the door closed and the shower water running on HOT full blast. Obviously just sit or stand in the bathroom, do not get in the shower. Do that for about 10-15 minute, no less. Then bundle up and sit outside for about 3-4 minutes. This sounds odd because it's usually midnight or the wee hours of the morning, but after several nights of no sleep, I was willing to try anything. The cool air after the hot steam will usually break up the stridor (barking cough). Give it a try. I always try to use a natural method before resorting to pharmaceuticals, but do what works best for you.
    Good luck.

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  16. what a friend. I've always been the one to move away. I think it may be harder on the friend left behind. I'm thinking of you!

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  17. Memories are important.... especially for when we all get old and forget them.
    I have an old shoe box that has been converted into a Memory Box. I keep everything near and dear to me in it, including things my kids made 10-15 years ago. I suggest we all have them, keep what's precious inside.

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  18. What a great gift Jen! I know that would have helped me last year when we moved. . .

    Is that Evie's sweet little hand???

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  19. A lovely post to your friend! I have a good friend that moved a little while back, though i miss her, we still speak and see each other and it is lovely!

    Nice M post!

    Maggy

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  20. My bestie has always lived so far away, I wonder how we would manage across the street from eachother? Keeping in touch with technology isn't quite the same, but so much better than even twenty years ago. Good Luck. Now you have a new place to visit!
    Dana
    PS the temp was around -7.8 Fahrenheit on the pond, but the wind made it feel much colder.

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  21. love the new family photo and header ... love all of the purples and blues ... (maybe i havent visited for a while tsk tsk tsk) ... as a scrapbooker, gotta say, you gave the perfect gift!!! totally wonderful of you all to contribute! and now, you have a new place to visit your friend ... new adventures await!

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  22. Love the new look!

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  23. My two cents is just about the same as the others...it TAKES a thoughtful, real friend to BE one and it sounds like that is a two way street!! I know my own besties (I have 3) mean the world to me and fill different places in my heart.
    Hope your little guy is better soon!!!

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  24. It's so hard when friends move - change is difficult. I love your book idea - it will comfort her when she's feeling lonely for all of you. All I can say is thank goodness we're not pioneers. Back then, moving away was a permanent goodbye. At least now we have cell phones, internet and Skype!

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  25. What a sweet idea! From the one who was the mover...a really sweet thing to do.

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  26. Visiting from Alphabet thursday. My dearest friends in the whole world now live clear across the country. It is hard, but eventually you figure out other wonderful ways to keep in touch. All the best. Alex

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  27. So sad to be separated from friends.

    Teresa

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  28. I hope your little one feels better soon! It seems we are all hammered with that same cough! But it's only annoying when adults hack, hack, hack and sweet and sad when little ones have it.

    I'm sorry Jamie moved. What a sweet friend you are...it sounds like it will be fun to do a lot of road trips now, though!

    Thanks for linking your sweet post to Alphabe-Thursdays letter "M".

    I really enjoyed visiting you today!

    A+

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  29. This is such an amazing idea for someone going away. I wish someone had made one of those for me when I moved to Europe!

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