When I was younger, I didn’t understand the full power and importance of girlfriends.

I’m glad Abby is smarter than me.

I can’t even begin to tell you how my heart melts for these two baby girls, my Abby and my Katee.

Oh, Katee’s parents still think they own her, but I’ve kidnapped her in my heart.  Since I regularly do some of her weekend laundry and I’ve held her puke bucket in the middle of the night, I think I should get at least part of the deed to her.

Besides, when my Abby is being punky at her dance competition and will not smile for her mama’s camera, Katee steps up and makes her perform for me.

Well, she tries, anyway.

And she certainly does better than I do at making Abby smile.

Or maybe not quite so much.

Still no?

OK.

How ’bout this?

That’s seriously one of my faves.

Let’s look at it again.

Ha!

OK – try this:

Yep!

That’s a best friend for ya.

She’ll pull a smile out of you every time.

Gotcha, Abs!

And now, here’s a special bonus pic of my girlfriend, Mindy:

Did ya see her?

She snuck into that photo without the girls’ knowledge.

Hehehe.

Now I’m smiling, too.

And that’s one of the many things friends are for.