My glass is half full.

Okay, not really but for today (I can't make promises for tomorrow) I will be THANKFUL! for the brief time I shared with BFF. Here are a few of my thankful memories I have of Karin:

The one that comes to my mind first is us in the car at the DT at Starbucks, her ordering her high maintenance drink (3 times she had to repeat it) and laughing so hard my sides hurt. I just have to flash back to that day and I get a smile on my face. Thus, the name for the Blog.

Next thing I think about is the day "Jack Jack" (now almost 3) was born. Karin stayed up ALL night to watch him come into the world. Part of the time she waited in her car in the parking lot on a cold February morning. Only a good friend would do that.

While I am on the subject of the very spoiled Jackson, one of my favorite things (I sound like Oprah) is a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Moses basket that she bought me as a shower gift. I have always wanted one but would have never bought it for myself. Boy, was I surprised when she showed up at my shower with it full of more gifts. I still treasure it now. I told her about a year ago I would save it forever and I meant it.

My son Cole (whom Noah calls his brother, and means it) loved to spend the night at the Carters. He loves Jeff because he is such a crazy fun dad (remember the sleeping bags down the stairs, Jeff?) but he loved Karin because she let him eat chips, and only chips, the entire time he was there. Is that like a fun Aunt or what?

Here is another sleepover memory for you. Once, Cole packed the kitchen sink to spend the night at Noah's, including his Playstation and all the games. When it was time to come home he mistakenly left it at Noah's. Karin, in one of her clean-up binges, thought it was theirs and THREW it in the garbage. A couple weeks go by before we realize Cole left it at their house. Karin starts looking through the house for it and then she remembers throwing it away. So funny. I have a couple stories like this one!

I have lots more where these came from but I need to save some for later. My kid's favorite memory of Karin is the time we all went to Disneyland. That was fun. She got me at 5 months pregnant to ride Indiana Jones. She could talk me into things. ;)

While our time with her was not enough, for today I want to remember the times I had. I look FORWARD to seeing her again in Heaven. No disease can take that from me.