After we were married, my husband and I didn't wait very long before trying to start a family. We both loved children. Less than 2 years after we were married, we figured it was time. God figured it wasn't.
A year and a half later, I was finally pregnant! We were overjoyed!
Three months later our joy turned to anguish after an early miscarriage.
We were in the process of building a house at the time, so we focused on that and kept trying. By the following summer, the house was nearing completion and there was still no baby. We were happy about the house, but very discouraged otherwise.
It was springtime and the house across the street from ours was done. Our neighbors-to-be had moved in and we noticed they had a beautiful little girl! One day the mother came over to introduce herself to me. Her name was Linda, her husband was Ron and their little girl was Katie.
By the end of our first conversation, we were both in tears. I had poured my heart out to her and discovered they had struggled to have children too. I left that day feeling comforted, knowing we were meant to be neighbors.
Over the past 23 years, Linda has done so much for me.
She was always there to listen and comfort me until our first child was born 3 years later.
She rejoiced in the birth of all of my children.
This picture is from my first baby shower.
She provided much needed support and advice during the early days of motherhood.
She took care of Adam when he was a baby so I was able to go back to work part-time.
She has been a mother to all of my children. She is "Aunty Linda" to them!
Here she comforts Kerry on the first day of school in 2nd grade,
bringing a smile to a previously tearful face.
She has been my consultant on paint colors, carpet choices, and was a huge help last year when we renovated the kitchen.
She has lovingly cared for our pets, even when I knew that dogs were a little out of her comfort zone!
She has given me strength during times that I really needed strength.
She is ALWAYS there for me. I can tell her anything and know that I won't be judged. She understands how I feel, maybe even better than I do myself! She lifts me, encourages me, gives me confidence.
Everyone needs a friend like Linda and I am so fortunate.
Someone said "Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us."
I already knew. Since our first conversation back in 1988, she has been my third sister and always will be!
