The Best of Friends

I feel to blessed to have many long-time friends in my life. You know, those friends who really know you and you can totally be yourself around. In the past week and a half, two of those best friends came to visit me here in Portland.

 

At the beginning of May, Hannah came to visit me for the 5th time! She was really here for work (Baylor MBA had a great partnership project with Nike), but she added an extra day before and after her work trip to just hang out with me. This time she brought an extra little person with her: Baby VanDyke that will be born in just a few months! Hannah has done it all in Portland, so we were able to just hang out, enjoy some good meals, nice walks, and great conversation. Hannah and I have always said that we’re each other’s “special friend” – we just get each other. Hannah is one of the most devoted friends I have and I am so grateful and amazed at how we’ve been able to maintain such a close relationship even though we’re 2,000 miles apart. Thanks for coming to visit, Hannah! Can’t wait for Baby VanDyke to have his first real visit to Portland someday!

 

hanging out watching an exciting Blazers game

yummy brunch at Tasty n Sons

apparently we took more pictures of our delicious meals than we did of ourselves

 

This past weekend my friend Anne came to visit me for the 4th time! Anne is my longest-time friend – we went to elementary school together and have been close friends ever since. She now lives in Denver and she popped over to Portland for a weekend getaway. Anne has also done it all in Portland, but we somehow still found fun adventures to fill our weekend. We enjoyed great meals, went to the farmer’s market, hiked in the Columbia River Gorge, spent an afternoon in Hood River, went to the Trail Blazers vs. Spurs playoff game (the highlight of the weekend, even though the Blazers lost and I was surrounded by Spurs fans), went to church, kayaked on the Willamette and just enjoyed hanging out in the sun. We had wonderful conversations and being together felt like being home for both of us. Thanks for coming to visit, Anne! I’ll be out to Denver soon!

 

Anne enjoying the sights, smells and tastes of the

Portland Farmer's Market

hike to Horsetail Falls in the Gorge

GORGE-ous!

 

enjoying the sun and a taster tray at Full Sail in Hood River

#ripcity

such a fun game (besides the fact that the Blazers lost)

Sunday morning coffee date before church

Anne kayaking out on the Willamette - look at those arms!

 

Forever Friends

My family members will always be my closest relationships.  We're related and kind of stuck with each other for life!  But I am so grateful to have such amazing friends who are pretty much like family to me.  The older I get, the more I realize how lucky I am to have such amazing friends in my life.  I am truly blessed with friends who challenge me, speak honestly to me, give me their true opinion and value mine as well, get my sarcasm, like my quirks, encourage me and honestly make me a better person.  And the best part is, since they are my forever friends our relationships can only get deeper and better!