"A best friend is a sister that destiny forgot to give you."

I talk about Brazil entirely too much on this 'ere website. It's true. I spend oodles of web space wallowing about friends I miss rather than expounding upon the wonderful friends that I have HERE. Part of this is due to the fact that a lot of my American friends read this blog. And it's somewhat embarrassing to rave publicly about your besties. I don't know why. I didn't make the rules.

I have no idea why I've been blessed with so many wonderful friends. Enough to bore you all to death. But today I will only pick one - I want to talk about my friend HARMONY.

(This is her REALLY REAL NAME. No funky acronyms today.)

Let's go back fifteen years ago to the suburbia of Detroit. I was a pretty nerdy teenager in desperate need of friendship. My prayers were answered in the form of another Mormon family moving in NEXT DOOR with SIX KIDS.

(Okay. That just doesn't happen in Michigan, for all you Utahns out there.)

Well, naturally I just about popped my zits with excitement. I made brownies and everything, and I think I raided our rose bush as well. (Hi Mom!)

I found my soul twin in HARMONY - she deserves all caps. I guess my name should have been MELODY. (Lame joke alert! Lame joke alert!)

HARMONY and I went through a lot together. Lots of crushes, mean girls, school troubles, lame-o parents, and stake dances. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, stake dances. We went on to college together. We saw each other change and mature and become who we were meant to be. We met our husbands and picked apart and discussed and overthought every little move til the wee hours every night. We got married. We have helped each other deal with sick loved ones, wayward loved ones ... and lack of loved ones.

Sprawled on a double bed, legs dangling off and balancing one arm in the air just for fun, we have grown up together.

Sometimes it's a rough road.

And the hardest, longest bump - so far - is finally over.

After years of faith-testing childlessness and countless tears, HARMONY finally has a beautiful baby girl. Read about her incredible journey here.


It is amazing to me that because I love HARMONY better than I love myself, I feel as if I'M the one who finally has little Megan in my arms. I shouted and danced three times for every tear I've shed for Megan's absence - and that's saying a lot.

Because that's what being a friend is all about. Laughing together. Crying together. Sharing every joy.

(Harms? Here's your happy note. I am so, so happy for you, beb.)