ok, after reading bj's entry and thinking the same thing myself, i decided to not talk about myself on here and write about someone else instead.
there's this girl whose name is bethany. she's been my friend for like 13 years and my best friend for like 9. and she's simply one of the the coolest, most kind, creative, funny, spontaneous, top notch people i know.
she loves jesus with a burning passion, and that passion is contagious and inspiring. she loves her family. she loves her friends, even though she is very selective of those few people. this is not to say she's not friendly - she is. her friendliness, however (her favorite word), is very genuine. she really is interested in your answer to her question "if you could be anywhere else in the world right now where would you be?" she is slow...she eats slow, walks slow, is slow getting out of her car, etc. she takes forever to answer when she is asked a question because she knows that words are important. she analyzes everything.
she is beautiful. i don't use that word often, because i believe there are few beautiful people in this world. in order to be beautiful, one must be as beautiful on the outside as he/she is on the inside. and bethany is. she has a heart for the lost as well as those who don't have as much as she does. she will give money to every homeless person she sees without hesitation. she hurts for those who are hurting and will do everything in her power to help them.
she is intelligent because she loves to learn. if she's interested in something she will research it. she can have an intelligent conversation with anyone because she knows what she's talking about, and when she doesn't she does a great job of convincing you that she does.
bethany is a walking juxtaposition - stubborn but humble, strong - willed but gentle, and calm but incredibly silly. she laughs at you when you're not funny and loves you when you're not loveable.

i am lucky that she is a part of my life. i am lucky that 9 years ago this month we bonded over silly adolescent girly stuff (read: boys). i am lucky because she pushes me, encourages me, listens to me, laughs with me, and is truthful with me. Most of all, though, i am lucky because i can call her my best friend.