{thankful vol. 9} C to the O!!!!!!

That's right ladies and gentlemen, little miss CO is who I am most thankful for today!  Yes, today in face.  And this is why: not only is she an amazing friend she is also a good listening, great understander, and the best co-worker.  I love that when I'm feeling a little "in the pits" I can just walk around the hallway and let it all out.  And, yes, this morning I was just feeling "in the pits".  

For no apparent reason.

But, that's the beauty of friendship.  I love having someone to encourage me when I'm just feeling low.

Colleen and I met two and a half years ago when I started working for my school.  At the time she was the PE teacher (and now she's the best 2nd grade teacher there ever was)!  It was love at first sight....at least on my part.  

I'm starting to notice a pattern with all of these friends, I just loved them so much and decided that we needed to be friends.

Anyways, Colleen is like a magnet.  You are instantly drawn to her laughter, sense of humor, carefree attitude, go-gettem spirit, and positive outlook on life.  I love how much she makes me laugh and see the joys in life.  She inspired me to run my first half-marathon and set goals for myself, physically.  She pushes me harder than I think I can go and shows me what it truly looks like to respect yourself.  She is the toughest woman I know.

Co has taught me to live by this.  Too often I fall short worrying about what others think about me.  I let it get to me so much so that it affects my attitude and the way I feel about myself.  We have had so many long talks about loving yourself just the way you are.  As time goes by I'd like to think that I get a little bit wiser with each year.  This past year something that I have truly had to fight with and grapple is that life is too short to worry about what others think about you.  You have to love YOU.  When you do, your confidence becomes your beauty and is intoxicating.  

I think what I love so much about Co is how much fun we can have together.  Wether we're cooking together in the kitchen, sharing our latest fav recipes, sharing a fun run together, salivating over cupcakes, swooning over a DIY project we want to do, or just relaxing and doing girl things, we always seem to have a blast.  

I've said before that when I was younger all I wanted was a big sister.  I wanted someone to help put my outfits together, tell me which eyeshadow to wear, give me personal advice, and just love me for who I am.  It is a blessing to see how much I look up to Co like a big sister, she goes above and beyond anything I ever imagined and our bond is inseparable.  

(Oh, we are also crazy Pinterest fanatics, and she passed this along to me a little while ago.  It is one of my favorite pins.  Just the simple reminder from a beautiful friend is so incredibly encouraging and heart warming.)