the girl next door: Emily

My neighbor. Emily is awesome. She is such a great friend to me, and I honestly don't know what she gets out of our friendship because I definitely get more out of it than she does! I'm so grateful that she doesn't judge me or criticize me, even though I'm sure she thinks I am crazy sometimes!

Emily is talented. She is creative. She is nice! Emily is the one who helped me with Phineas' room and all the fun colored dots. She also took maternity pictures for me and spent hours and hours editing them to make me look pretty. She always offers to bring me food and sometimes she just shows up bringing me lunch, always at the right time. Emily is service-oriented and not selfish at all. She is constantly thinking of others (me) and how to help. When she says she is willing to help, she really means it and always follows through.

I really enjoy her company. When she comes over we talk for hours and it feels like minutes. Our husbands don't love it, but we don't care! Once she brought over her ukelele and taught me a few chords and a song. She was so patient with me while I tried to get the hang of it. She had to show me over and over and over, yet she never gave up.

Emily is fit. She has a rockin bod, and she works to maintain it. She's done triathalons and is always looking forward to the next race. I love/hate it when she comes over to show me the dresses she has bought to ask my opinion on which ones she should keep and return. I can't handle how awesome she looks! Makes me feel like a huge fat lard. And having kids isn't an excuse; she's had two and still looks amazing. So, I always tell her to keep all the dresses, since she can pull it off.

I love how Emily loves to educate herself. She is constantly reading and researching, and it shows. She knows so much about everything! Photography, photoshop, business, finances, fashion, crafts, etc! I love learning from her.

I'm so glad Emily and I are friends, AND that we live next door! It makes it easier to see each other and hang out. It's not as often as I would like because we are busy or sick, or I'm just being lazy with Phineas. But I love Emily just the same! She is a wonderful friend and a great person. I wish I was better at words to express how grateful I am that she is my friend. I appreciate how she has reached out to me and befriended me. She's definitely the cooler one in our relationship, and I look up to her so much!