The next person that deserves recognition for niceness is my friend, Amy. I purposefully didn't put her first because most people know that she is my BFF, PSM, soul friend, and I knew her being first would have been expected. I like to do the unexpected!
Amy is the nicest person that I have ever met. Literally. EVER. She is the one that is always picking up someone else's kid from baseball practice, or the bus stop. She has a random neighborhood kid, or five, making themselves at home in her house at almost anytime , and she doesn't even complain!
Amy is generous. She has purchased school supplies for her kids' friends without ever expecting to be repaid. She would buy her whole class donuts, or pizza, and would always make them holiday goodie bags and wouldn't think twice. She gives the loveliest teacher appreciation gifts and she gives them to all of the teachers, not just the homeroom teacher. I remember one year she gave them each a bracelet!! Bracelets? I am lucky to get a candle or an apple mug!! When we decided to go see Brad Paisley in concert, in what Amy deemed "the best night of our lives" (and she was right), we had awesome seats, and Amy bought our tickets. She wouldn't let me pay her back. She also always buys me my favorite birthday presents...a Pandora bracelet and charms, Vera Bradley tote and school supplies, a lovely lunch and pedicure...I could go on!!! But they aren't just things that she buys. They are thoughtfully chosen reminders. The bracelet came with a boy and girl charm to represent Taryn and Trevor. And the Vera Bradley stuff wasn't just stuff, it was stuff that I would need to feel organized, and professional at my new job...without her...for the first time ever. She knew I was freaking out about that. The cards that she picks out are perfect too! Always funny. Usually with pictures of old ladies and explanations of how that will be us one day. She knows my heart craves laughter, and she always delivers!
When I started my new job, and Amy took a break from teaching to tend to her busy family, she didn't even bat an eye when I asked to use the furniture from our old classroom. That was so nice of her!! It was all hers, and all lovely. I told her I would do my best to keep it nice, but you know how classrooms can be, with students milling about acting like they own everything...but she just said sure. I have been sitting at her desks, and offering my students a chance to read in her club chairs for two years. I love that she shared. I love that I have reminders of her around me every day. Teaching with her was the best time of my life, and looking around a room that is full of things from our room is one more reason to smile.
Amy does lots of big, generous, nice things for me...and others. But my favorite things that she does are little, and infinitely meaningful. She texts me things that she finds on Pinterest that make her laugh and they ALWAYS make me laugh too. She calls me when our favorite TV show is on so we can laugh over the phone together. She sends me a message when she is going out of town so I will not wonder when I try to call or text and she doesn't respond. She is there for me every single time. Whether I need to laugh, or cry, or vent, or question, or have a pitty party for myself for a minute. She never judges, never dismisses, and always makes me feel better.
It is so rare for me to find an "everything friend." I usually have my funny friends who never see my heart, or I have my "deep friends" who I am always there for but who seldom get to laugh with me. I knew right away that I had found a treasure in Amy because I can laugh with her and in less than a minute we can be crying, and sharing our hearts. Then, generally, in another ten seconds we are cracking up laughing again. How special of God to give me Amy. She is my sister. Born to another family, in another state hundreds of miles away, and placed carefully in my path seven years ago when I needed a sister, and a friend more than ever.
Besides being generous, Amy is thoughtful. She came to visit me in the hospital when I had Taryn. She was the first born, and for me it was a big, scary deal to be a new mom. She brought a gift card for dinner, and told me not to worry if I couldn't handle breast feeding (which I am proud to say I did, amazingly). And she has spent the last five years,actually six, making me feel like I'm not a horrible mother. The first time I needed her calming presence was when I was about 6 months pregnant and I had the realization that I don't really like other people's kids. This brought on worry about whether or not I would like my own, and Amy didn't waste a moment to reassure me that no one likes other people's kids, but I would love my own :). Then,for a long time, when our girls were little, she gave Taryn Nina's clothes that she had outgrown. It was such a help when things were not the easiest, financially. Plus, Nina's clothes were darling, so it was always exciting to get them!! One would think I would not still be needing the mothering assistance, but the most recent assurance came earlier tonight when I was ashamed that Taryn still has no Halloween costume. What kind of mother waits this long to get a costume? As usual, Amy was there to talk me down from the ledge.
I guess I am just thrilled to have a friend like Amy, and to know that people like her still exist. People who help just because it is the right thing to do. Who don't need a prize to be kind. They don't need to be paid back with interest, or even paid back at all. If they have the means to provide, then they do, knowing that what they have is not really their own anyway, and blessing others whenever possible. Sharing their hearts, and their talents, and their smiles. Making the world happier. That's what Amy does, for everyone she meets.
And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew- you would see the biggest gift would be from me, and the card attached would say, "Thank you for being a friend".
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