To my dear friend Christi,

My life has changed in such a monumental way since you have come into my life and become my friend.  Before I met you Christi I was very angry, hurt, resentful and borderline depressed.  Well, to say angry and hurt really doesn't begin to describe how I truly felt and how deep the pain really was.  I have talked with you and told you my story, about being adopted and how my father was an abusive alcoholic who molested me when I was 10 years old and that my mother was not emotionally there for me and chose to let us live through this hell rather than face my father or take the chance of losing face to all of her religious friends.

She made the way, and I unknowingly followed.  We kids kept the family secret, as much as it hurt, that was what we were trained or brainwashed to do.  When I told you all of this, you made me feel safe to come out of my shell and truly allow myself to feel and acknowledge all of my buried and suppressed feelings.  You helped me to understand that if I did not do this, it was only going to bring me down more and hurt my family, my kids and my husband.

You worked so unselfishly and very patiently with me on an almost daily basis to help me learn to acknowledge my fears and what was holding me down.  You had me sit down and write letters basically to myself, but about each person or situation that had hurt me.  I did this to acknowledge the pain, make it real, and to accept that it did happen but that I didn't have to let it control me or keep me down.  Once I saw my pain right there on paper, it felt different, there was something different about it.  I looked at my pain differently then.  Accepting that I could not change the past was a huge step for me.  After I finally was able to accept that, I also learned to take the good from the bad, and then understood that there really is always some good, no matter how bad things seem.

You have truly been a blessing to me Christi, you have made such a positive impact in my life.  I do not know how to thank you, except to give back to you the friendship you have given to me.

We do not come across people too often who whole heartedly give to others so unselfishly and lovingly as you are giving to me and so many other people.  You give of yourself and your wisdom and love in hopes that others may learn to heal.  You have challenged me and taught me to be accountable for myself and my actions, now that I realize I do have control over them.

I have come to understand and appreciate the person you are Christi.  You are not perfect, none of us are, but YOU ARE SPECIAL!  You have many special gifts and you choose to share them and use them to help others in need.  I love you for who you are.  I have never even met you, but I cherish you as a sister, and I honestly and truly mean that Christi.  If we are not able to ever meet, that won't change the relationship that I have developed with you.

I will always love you and cherish you.  You use your power for the good of others (I know that sounds silly) but it’s true.

Love,

Heather