Eight Lights: Marla

Testing out the PhotoBooth App on the iPhone.

As I sat down over the holiday to make our New Years cards, I began going through the year's worth of photos, most of which I had not taken the time to flag, post, or even label, as the puppies became my number one priority. But as I reflected back on the year and wrote our holiday letter, I felt the desire to share a bit of 2012 on my blog. It was a very blessed year in many ways--one in which we face a calmness we haven't had in many years in the health department--not because I am well, but because we faced no major crises for myself or Mom. I spent so much of the year though, silent on my blog.

So here is a bit of a Hanukkah theme: the eight lights of 2012. I tried to do this another year, and never completed the task. :P

Pajama Girls

After Marla's last visit in 2007 we vowed not to wait another nine years to see each other again. So, in April we had a five year reunion of her last visit. I wasn't feeling super well at that time, so we agreed to have a pajama weekend. No make-up, no doing our hair, comfy clothes only. While I rested, Marla read, went for a run, or hung out with Mom (and did some bonding in the kitchen).

Marla and I continue to grow deeper and deeper in our friendship as the years go on. She has stayed faithful, loyal, patient, supportive, and loving as the years pass and works incredibly hard at being a good friend and understanding my chronic illness experience. 

Having visitors is so difficult for me because it is so exhausting, but it is also so incredibly important and wonderful to me that I won't give it up for anything! Marla and I had such honest discussions during this visit about what it is like to be the one who is sick and what it is like to be the one who is coming to visit--and the anxieties that can cause. It's a difficult negotiation for all of us involved and the openness of our friendship is a wonderful blessing.

Marla and Mom hanging out in the heart of the home--the kitchen.

What I love most about my friendship with Marla is that we say it like it is. I don't have sugar coat anything with her. Our visit this year was as exceptional and soul nourishing as our visit five years ago.

We are already eagerly planning a visit for THIS year again! 

I love you friend--you have blessed my life more than you will ever know.

Blessings,

Emily