We first introduced ourselves on the playground swings on the first day of third grade. Little did we know that we would become dear friends for life. Today, for the first time, I?m posting from a jet (with wireless, of course). I?m traveling back to Madison, WI (my home town) to visit my friend, Vicki, who had a stroke this past week at the age of 53.
Fortunately, she reports that she?s getting the feeling back on her left side and is now home after several days in the hospital. She?s using a walker but doctors feel that it will only be temporary. However, I could tell in her voice (as good friends can) that her emotional recovery would take much longer. She doesn?t know I?m coming. My plan is to call her to see how she?s doing, then ring her doorbell, holding the card I created just for her above. It says it all.
Stamp Set: Lean On Me (Wood-Mount 122283, Clear-Mount 122285)
Paper: Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper* (125409), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Cool Tools: 2 ?? Circle Punch (120906), 3/16? Corner Punch (119871), Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138)
The Perfect Touch: 5/8″ Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319), Pearls Basic Jewels (119247), Stampin? Dimensionals (104430)
She will love the card but I’m sure she will love you even more for being there. I will pray for a full and speedy recovery.
Thank you for sharing
Your friend is so very lucky, Mary. I know she will love seeing you at her door!
What a sweet surprise from a very sweet friend! Hope that Vicki doesn’t follow your blog..ha, ha! I am sure that a visit with you will really lift her spirits and there is just nothing like a hug to really say “I’m here for you”. The card will be a bonus…don’t we always say that a handstamped card is just a hug with a fold in the middle? Bless your heart for making the trip home to see your friend..and thanks for sharing the beautiful card, too.
She is so lucky to have such a thoughtful friend at this difficult time.
Omgosh! Mary u brought tears to my eyes. What a terrific friend. Please know that you and ur friend are in my thoughts and prayers. What a kind person u r to take the time out of ur busy schedule to visit her! I so love the card and the sentiment brought tears to my eyes once again thanks 4sharing!!!
Yes, a good friend is the best medicine you can find! She will be so pleased to see you, and you being her should give her the lift she needs.
Very moving, Mary. Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to your friend.
yes, weepy…what a true friend you are & how lucky she is…have a lovely visit, one you’ll cherish for many days to come!
what a great friend…. nothing helps to heal better than laughter especially with a dean friend!! Speedy recovery and prayers for your friend!!
How sweet of you to hand deliver your card to your dear friend! I’m sure she will be more than surprised to see you. Safe travels to you and a speedy recovery for your dear friend.
Weepy … God bless you both! I want to be a friend like you. I hope I am.
Sending wishes for a speedy recovery for your friend and a hug for you. I love when friends do these kind of things!
What a great friend you are, Mary. Safe journey and prayers for your friend’s swift recovery. Having you near will help immensely.
Beautiful card and how appropriate! I wish a speedy recovery to your friend.
Mary – not only will she appreciate the card but I think the gesture will definitely will be the best boost you could possibly give her. You are such a wonderful friend and I will keep your friend in my prayers and hope for a speedy recovery. Best Wishes to both of you!
Mary, you do not know me. I am a SU demonstrator, not in your downline, but I read your blog every day and admire all you do. By visiting a faraway friend in a time of need, you have taken action on a gesture that many of us just think about. You are indeed a special Angel. You and Vicki are lucky to have such a wonderful friendship. Blessings to both of you, and prayers to Vicki for a quick recovery.
Thank you for all your support, stories and kindness. We had plenty of tears today at her doorway. It’s been wonderful to chat about old times (and new). She’s napping now, so i’m getting caught up on my email and comments. Planning for sitting around having chinese carryout tonight. Hugs, Mary
Mary,
What a wonderful gift you are giving to your friend in her time of need! And that gift is you and the beautiful friendship the two of you have cultivated. Please give Vickie my best and feel comfort in knowing that so many of us are praying for her complete recovery!
Mary,
I am so sorry to hear about your friend! I will keep her in my prayers. She is so blessed to have a friend like you!
Such a beautiful card!! You always do the nicest things!
Dear Mary, You are such a wonderful friend. Vicki is so blessed to have you in her life. What a great gift you are bringing YOU… all the way from your home to fly all the way to her home. WOW, You are indeed a great friend. I will keep Vicki in my prayers. Prayers move mountains. May God bless you both and a safe travels for you back home. Your card is so sweet I love it and I know Vicki will love it as well. I hope you share with her all the love, support and prayers for her full recovery. God bless.
Ellen Hinds
Mary, I’m saying a prayer for complete healing for your friend Vicki and for peace and comfort for her and for you and all who love her. So glad you could spend some time with her. I’m sure it will really lift her spirits and morale. Blessings!
What a wonderful friend you are! Your visit will cheer her up faster than any medicine. Yes, this is a beautiful time of the year to be in WI. I’m just down the road in the Adams-Friendship area.
Prayers for a speedy recovery for your friend–and praises sung for a friend as wonderful as you. A hug from a friend when you need it most is better than any medicine or treatment.
Small world, I grew up in La Crosse, WI and go up there every summer from SC to visit my family. So nice of you to visit your friend…and a beautiful time of year to be in WI.
Hope you have quality time with your friend. My great aunt was born and raised in Westfield, Wisconsin and my son in law lives in WI now also. Beautiful this time of year!. Loved the card, so simple but elegant. Thanks.
What a perfect card! And what a precious friendship you both must share. Best wishes to your friend for a speedy recovery.
Ann
Such a sweet and thoughtful card. Be sure and have a box of Kleenex too. This is going to be a very emotional reunion for you both. Tears can be healing.
You are right, it will be the mental/emotional part of healing that will take possibly more time.
Hugs to you and your best friend.
Friendship means so much, doesn’t it, and what a true friend you are. I’m sure your visit will help your friend unbelievably, so nice of you.
Enjoy your stay and safe travels. Oops, almost forgot to say how much I live your card!
Mary, you are a wonderful friend! I’m certain Vicki is as wonderful as you are! May she have a speedy recovery both physically and emotionally! May your friendship continue to grow and blossom during this time!
Hugs,
Terri Tosh
Nothing better than a true blue girlfriend! Wishing Vicki continued improvement – and your visit will certainly help that along!
What a wonderful surprise it will be for her! And what a wonderful friend you are!~
God Bless you, ~Cynthia
What a beautiful, thoughtful card. You are a wonderful friend.
Your visit will surely be the best medicine!
Ohhhhhhhhh, what a WONDERFUL friend you are! May God quickly heal your friend. Loving support is SO important to any health crisis and the laughter you’ll share will surely be laughter to her bones. ” ) Enjoy your time together!
As a certified herbalist, there are natural things that can help speed the healing process. If you think she may be interested, I’d be glad to share the information with you both and offer her a discount if she chooses to use it.
I know your visit and the personal delivery of the card will mean so much to Vicki. It means so much to have great friends to lean on during difficult times. Wishes for a speedy recovery for Vicki and a safe trip home for you, Mary.
What a precious friend you are Mary. Tell Vicki we ALL wish her a speedy recovery….
Faith
Mary, I’m sure that Vicki will be touched by your commitment and compassion. What a special friend you are! And what a special friend Vicki must be! My thoughts, prayers, and best wishes for Vicki’s recovery.
Mary, you have no idea how that will lift her spirits. It is so sad how fearful stroke victims become that they will not be accepted by the world because they now feel different themselves. My husband has had 3 strokes and it is sad that all his friends have gone their own way and no longer have the time to see him. You are a wonderful friend and she is blessed to have you in her life.
Mary, You are an amazing friend to her and an inspiration to all of us! God speed! Kris Fox
I got goose bumps reading your post this morning. I’m sorry to hear about your friend and pray for her full recovery. Friendship is so important. As my mother once said, “if we have one friend in a life time we are blessed”. I believe that is true. How wonderful for you to surprise her. The card is icing on the cake. I hope you’ll share her reactions with us. By the way I’m from Janesville WI and will be there soon too.
Prayers for Vicki for a swift and complete recovery and giant hugs for you, Mary. Friendship helps heal so many things.
Awe Mary this brought a tear to my eye. All the best to your BFF. The card is beautiful.
53? What a sweet card and an especially sweet friend. Your visit will be the best medicine she could receive. I will say Prayers for you and your friend. Enjoy your visit.
Oh Mary, there are tears of joy on my face after reading your message and thinking of the wonderful encouragement your visit will be to your friend. After surviving a major stroke and long recovery at the age of 39, I can tell you that seeing your face and having the beautiful card you made as a gift of love for her, WILL lift her spirits and be the emotional support she needs. I too had a best friend and will NEVER forget how much her love, encouragement, support and challenge, helped me in my recovery. Your friend will NEVER forget this visit and I can guarantee you that the card will be kept forever! God bless you Mary and God bless your friend. My prayers are with you both. By the way, I am now 68 and still have the first gift she brought me.
Oh, Mary! What a sweet, sweet friend you are! Your support will be the best medicine in the world…
Mary, I hope she gets well soon. I am sure your visit with that gorgeous card will help her recover faster!
What a lovely surprise for your friend. Your visit will be just the medicine she needs. Your card is simple and sweet. I love it’s simplicity.
Btw… welcome back to Wisconsin! Today is a gorgeous day!
God Bless you and your friend Mary! Thoughts and prayers are with you both! May your friend’s recovery be 100%! I’m betting when she sees you, that percentage will increase by a lot! 🙂
Mary, you are just what the doctor ordered right now. She does need to lean on you and your card says it all. Your friendship will mean the world to her and the fact that you’re there for her in person as well as emotionally will help give her the strength she needs. You’re one of a kind and I wish your friend a speedy and full recovery. Give her hugs from me and wish her well.
your support will mean the world to her Mary!
Brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful card, and what a lucky lady to have such a great friend as you! I can only imagine the wonderful surprise and comfort she will get seeing you again! May God bless you both.
Brenda
That is wonderful of you. Vicki will be so happy to see you and I’m sure you’ll be just the right medicine for her “pick me up!” HUGS to you both!!!
You’re a wonderful friend, and I hope Vicki is in fine fettle soon.
Wow…..I got tears immediately after you said “she doesn’t know I’m coming.” That will surly lift her up! Great friends are few and far. 🙂
Your visit will be the best medicine ever. What a wonderful friend you are.
What a great friend!! Praying for your friend’s complete recovery. Strokes are not nice.
I bet her recovery will jump by leaps and bounds when she sees you! What a wonderful friend you are. Sending thouhts and prayers.
Blessings to you all and prayers and thoughts being lifted for a full recovery for Vicki … So glad you are able to be there with her … that will mean the world to her. xo
Hope your friend gets better soon. Big hug.
Wish you were coming back to Madison on better terms, but I know your visit will help Vicki in her healing. Sending her lots of support through the Pals!
Safe travels back to AZ. Lots of love to you.
You are our heroine, the epitome and example of what it means to be BFF (Best Friends Forever). Thank you for sharing a part of your personal life with us. Want to give a shout out to people from the Midwest and that includes your parents who obviously set a good example for their daughter. Joy to you and friend. She will treasure your “Lean on Me” card, delivered to her, “in-person”.
What a special friend you are. Everyone should have someone as special as you in their life. Your card is beautiful and definitely does say it all. Have a great visit with Vickie. I can’t think of anything that would help her to get better faster than to see you when she opens the door.
You are a fantastic friend. Vicki is in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing her a speedy recovery. Safe travels.
BTW, I love the card and know she will too.
Mary, the line “She doesn’t know I’m coming” made me smile. Enjoy your visit with your special friend and safe travels.
Oh Ms Mary, what a great friend you are,and that card is also as beautiful as you, I’m sure your friend will love it , and when she see you it will make it soo mush as special , good luck to your friend,and lots of preyers for her fast recovery, have fun,and bring her lots of smiles from the your pass, give her our love !
Lots of hugs to both of you
Frenchie.
you have just displayed the true definition of a friend! Bkessings on you both!!!!!
I am sure that Vicki is going to be OVER THE MOON HAPPY when she opens that front door and sees your beautiful face. It will certainly be all the medicine she will need for a FULL RECOVERY. ENJOY your time back in Madison (makes me home sick for Mad-Town) and your special time with Vicki.
How beautifully perfect and I’m sure it will bring tears to her eyes and a smile to her face to see you standing there! {{Hugs}}
Your post made me cry…your card is as sweet as you are! Wishing your friend a speedy recovery…I’m sure your visit will provide some very welcome TLC.
Beautiful Card. I know your friend will enjoy it and will be so pleasantly surprised to see you on her door step.
That’s Friendship in every sense of the word!
Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.
What a great friend you are….I pray that she heals quickly and I am sure this sweet card will cheer her up and make her think of you each time she sees it!
I have been following your blog and gorgeous creations for a long time now but don’t usually comment. However felt I needed to today as I was so touched by your caring and beautiful comments about your friend. I know she will treasure your card and your visit will do more for her than any doctor could. What a wonderful friend you are. {From a New Zealand follower}
Mary, How beautiful is your friendship -she will cherish your card forever. What a wonderful surprise and you will be the best medicine/therapy she will receive during this time of recovery -if you feel a card shower for her would be appropriate just put the word our 🙂
Friends like you are few and far between. Your card is beautiful, but your actions can’t be beat. In reading the other comments, it’s apparant that your friend has a mighty and powerful prayer chain on her side! Enjoy your visit and safe travels.
Blessings for you and Vicki. What a special and lovely thing to do for your friend.
OMG, Mary! I’m so sorry to hear about your friend! I will certainly keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary: The best present is your “presence.” May the Lord send an angel to give
your friend strength through her process of healing. Enjoy your time together.
How fortunate for your friend and for you to have each other at times like these. God has blessed you both.
I want a friend like you! Beautiful card from a beautiful person!
Precious Mary. Now that is a good friend and you will for sure bring back some smiles. May your friend have a fast recovery. What a good start she has.
You are precious Mary.
PS: Now I NEED this stamp set. Thanks 😉
I am so sorry to hear about your friend! It reminds me of my mom’s best friend(s). The oldest one and her have been friends since 3rd grade as well. They are now 67. The other two have been their friends since 6th grade. They still talk on the phone several times a week and see each other as much as possible. I will be praying for your dear friends healing and that your visit helps! 🙂
Beautiful card Mary. hope all goes wellw ith the trip and your friend.
Mary the card is beautiful. But, more important is what’s inside…YOU! Wow – you are a wonderful friend. God Bless her in her recovery, made quicker by friends like you!
Mary, you are very thoughtful and I bet your friend will enjoy your visit greatly 🙂 Have a safe trip and a wonderful visit. Please wish Vicki well wishes from all of us 🙂
Mary, what a special friend you are. She will love the card but love you even more for being there. I pray for her speedy recovery.
Wishing your friend the speediest of recoveries. I’m sure your visit will be just the tonic she needs x
What a wonderful friend you are. A long/old friendship is something that even though you are far apart you can easily continue so naturally. Your visit will surely lift her spirits. You did a great job on the card too – so perfect. Ah, I knew you had to be a midwestern girl:)
The best medicine ever Mary. I am an RN and the mental/emotional healing is so critical and overlooked sadly. A gift like this and a visit will do more for her spirit and emotional wellbeing than a month of physical therapy.
Wonderful card. I love the bow treatment. Enjoy your time with your friend! It will mean so much to her.
~~ Godspeed ~~ tell your friend that YOUR legion of fans & friends send wishes for a miraculous recovery!
oh what a good friend you are, best wishes for her recovery!