Heartley Danielle

Sometimes you make friends when you're young that you never lose touch with.

Sometimes you make the best of friends later on in life. 

Sometimes you lose touch with those you used to be very close with.

All of the above, I'm sure, make up chapters in all of our lives.
 The reality is, the people around us are what shape us. I love and feel so lucky waking up to my best friend every single day, and I know he makes me a better person. I love the fact that me and my two best friends since Kindergarten have seen each other through every walk of life - childhood, awkward-hood, high school, college, and now our 'big kid phase.' I love the fact that I've successfully gained great friends through taking risks and putting in the effort that great friends deserve.

We have to work to keep these relationships alive. So call up an old friend who you haven't talked to in a while, shoot your bestie a text just to let them know you're thinking about them, or at the very least think about how lucky you are that so many people love and care about you. It's Monday, why not?!

It was ironic when I applied for the job I have now, that one of the references I put down was one of my friends from our hometown, whose coffee shop I worked at right out of high school - actually now worked in the same building at the company I was applying at (was that a super long sentence? you get what I'm saying, right?) I hadn't really been in touch with or seen her since I had worked for her, years prior, since I had gone out of state for school. Luckily, she gave a good review! :) 

I got the job, and she became my go-to gal pal in this time of transition for me. When I say transition, I mean, I used to be a fisherman. An office job was different for me, and we'll leave it at that.

She worked right across the hall from me, and fortunately didn't seem to care too much that I'd sneak into her office for lunch EVERY DANG DAY. She probably doesn't know how much she helped me through that first year working this 'real job' of mine - and how much she helps me now, just by being there for me. That was more than three years ago, and our friendship means a lot to me.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to get to know my home town friend all over again. 

I'm also happy every time she asks me to take pictures for her :) This is her daughter Heartley whose got just about too much cuteness going on here!!! She's one tough Alaskan baby, because it was a COLD October day when we took these....

Cheers to friends and those who make us...well, us. **