*<center><h1>" FOREVER FRIENDS "</h1></center>*

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*<center>Our Christmas 2024 bonding with the teens.</center>*

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The beauty of life is somehow unpredictable in some cases.  And a solid example of that is the little details of how we meet the people we now call friends.  Some get a lot of friends to keep and some choose to keep their circle small.  In our younger days, we love to keep everybody our friend.  But later on in life we realize, having a trusted few is enough to make us sane in giving us deep and sensible conversation, hang-out with over good food or just a latte with pastry; travel and see other corners of the world; kneel alongside us in professing our faith; truthfully correct us of our misleading; and the best - when they just simply hear out the screams in our head.
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*- Left Photo: Younger us photo in one of the events at work.*
*- Right Photo: Taken after giving birth to my first born.*
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When you find that one true friend, his/her presence is enough to make you quiet the unnecessary roaring of your mind.  Blessed is the one who find such kind of friendship like this that would last a lifetime.  Many would have asked, "how do you get such kind of friend?"  The answer is simple.  Are you the kind of friend that you're exactly looking for?  But the truth is, a FRIEND is a GIFT.  The universe provides a friend for us, an expression of its love for us.  Ever wondered the kind of magic in meeting your best friend now?  The universe paves the way for you to meet.
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![IMG_1272.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nicolebanilad/EoCfdZi7p5jiSvAQYXbrNaJ3VzUnujPjfM49LnoUFrJxzTsAkBf4aidmeLJeU87PvGT.jpg)
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Left: Photo with my infant son. 
Right: Photo with my infant daughter.
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*<center>My true friend enjoying her cherished moments in memorable milestones of my children.</center>*

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*CROSSING OUR PATH WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT*

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Anyway, I am glad that @asean.hive is bringing up this challenge so many could offer a good content for their best friend, and I have mine too.  This friend used to be my colleague and I wasn't really fond of her at first.  We just go to work and greet each other as we normally do to our colleagues.  One time, we were both sent to a seminar which we found ourselves getting bored in the afternoon session.  While I was busy yawning and my mind was wandering into the neverland, I started writing little notes to her expressing how bored I am and the little hopes on what to do next when the session is over.  I was really bored to death that time.  Not knowing she felt the same way, she replied and that was our way of conversation, and the first ever.  Eventually, the session was over and we were able to hang-out as what we had hoped to do.  We discovered we had the same outlook in life.  We share the same hobbies.  And the most common ground is, we have so much stories about life to share under the sun.
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Photos with my kids in their memorable childhood days.

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*SOUL SISTER IN THE FACE OF A STRANGER*

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Fast forward, she is my solid rock to lean on everytime I get weak in all of life's pain and pressing times.  Thus, she is also my best go-to in all of my small wins that need to be celebrated.  When I cried she just listened.  And when I celebrate, she rejoices with me.  
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Enjoying our endless little chitchat while waiting for my teens enjoying their rides at a themed-park.

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*DISTANCE NEVER KEEP US APART*

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As life continues onward, I had to stop work during my pregnancy, and a year  later she chose to go back home in her province and work there.  We were not sad.  The communication went well.  She is still the very best friend I cherish.  I meet a lot of new friends in my new work place but she remains irreplaceable.  And she will be for the rest of our lives.  Why?  Because she is the very godmother of my two kids who are very fond of her.  We continue to visit each other each year.  We never forget special occasions like a family by blood does.
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Many events and people in our life we thought we do not need until the universe hands it to us making us say, "Oh, I am so blessed I have this/you!"  Below are more photos of our bonding moment in different times of being together as long as the time permits us to.  Enjoy!
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As my kids have grown taller than us and miles in life keep us apart, we never miss to bond now and then catching up on our little stories, laughter, and hopes.

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How nice it is to be surrounded with teens making our lives feel a lot younger than our age.  It seems like only the waistline has unstoppably grown while the heart keeps abreast with our youth. Bear with me, hahaha!
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Wrapping this up, many have said that a true friendship is never measured in distance but with a heart that remains truthful even if you do not see each other often.  I believe that line is very real in me and I am forever grateful to be blessed with such kind of friend.  This is why I am confident to say at this very moment that I have a friend I can call my bestie in the coming years for we had a heart that stood out in the test of time and distance.  Before I close, I would like to share my favorite line with you when it comes to a give and take friendship.  I hope you like it too.
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*<center>"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow
Just walk beside me, and be my friend."   
-Albert Camus</center>*

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Thank you everyone for reading this blog until the very end.  I hope you are also blessed with a true friend.  I hope to see you again in my next blog.

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