"And friends are friends forever..."

I got this teddy bear for my second or third Christmas. I actually don't remember it, but there are some cute pictures where a little girl is trying hard not to fall into the Christmas tree, carrying a huge teddy that is as big as herself. In December, this teddy got something to take care of: bed shoes, a self-made Christmas gift of one of "my grandmas" at the retirement home.

Packing 2 suitcases for 6 months normally takes me a while. That's why I just start early enough so I won't get stressed out the last day realizing that I forgot about the charcoal pills (they help with diarrhea) or other essential stuff. And to be honest, I love packing suitcases =) There is a German saying: "Vorfreude ist die schönste Freude" (the pleasure of anticipation is the best pleasure). Why should I wait for that to the very end?

And now back to my bed shoes. My first suitcase is packed. My backpack kind of, too. Now it's time to decide what to put in my second suitcase and that's when I thought of my bed shoes. I hate having cold feet and Bolivia doesn't mean that it's warm everywhere and all year long. Cochabamba is about 8360 ft (2550 m) above sea level and during our summer (their winter), it can get pretty cold in the nights. Yeah, so I decided to take them with me. If it were some ordinary thick socks though, I wouldn't take them. But they are not! They were made especially for me and I know I'll make sombody incredibly happy, when I write her a letter from Bolivia, telling her, I'm wearing her/my bed shoes.

I like stuff that reminds me of dear friends, family members... or special grandmas! My room is full of little things that remind me of people. The little American flag on my desk, that postcard from Teneriffa, the 41 ounce Starburst bag (that is 1.16 kg of my favorite American candy!), the 3 tealight holders on my couch table, the little transparent box with the sugar hearts that says "Love" one it, the original Korean chopsticks, the pen from Jamaica, the mini cup from Canada... (you guys know who you are!!!)

Sometimes I go on a "prayer journey" around my room and mentally fly from contry to country asking God to take care of my friends. I'm about to make new friends although it's already hard to keep in touch with all my old ones. It might look like I forgot about you, but I hardly ever forget about friends! That's another reason for having started a blog. My time is limited, but I want to let you know what's going on in my life; I want to share the blessings God gave me and encourage you to seek His friendship, too. He's the best friend anyways! He doesn't forget about you and he is eager to talk to you whatever time of the day (or night) it might be.

If you want to be included in my "prayer journey" and you didn't give me something to remember you yet, just write me a nice postcard and I'll find a spot for it in my room! If necessary, I'll get all the irregular Portuguese verbs off my closet doors. You are more important! And if you also want to be taken around the world... well, the most secure place for that would be a little card in my Bible =)

Anyways, I wanted to let you know that I appreciate you very much. Your mails, messages, prayers, calls, comments... but especially in these times of very fast ways of communication, I have to take care not to cut down on my communication with my heavenly friend. I'm working on making and KEEPING this priority no. 1 and I encourage you to check your priority list from time to time, too. Boyfriends (or girlfriends...), for instance, tend to have the potential of becoming no. 1...

May my heavenly friend be your best friend, too.

Love,
maria

"And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them.
And a friend will not say 'never' cause the welcome will not end.
Though it's hard to let you go in the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends."
M.W.&D.D. Smith