Dear A.D.,

This letter is to let you know how you showing up for me when I needed someone the most immensely changed my life in the best way possible.

I remember the first time I met you back in August of 2014. You gave me a big Allie hug and told me how excited you were to finally meet me. I didn't know it at that moment, but you would become one of the biggest influences in my life, and I am forever grateful for that.

Coffee shops and your living room couch became our thing. We would talk boys, school, God and everything else in between. I came to you when I really needed someone to listen, but more than that I came to you because I knew that no matter what, you were always going to tell it to me straight. There was no sugar coating when it came to you, and I loved that.

I remember when I had experienced my first real heartbreak and the one person I wanted to talk to about it was you. We were sitting on your living room couch, and you told me the story of you and Adam, and it filled my heart with so much joy. I remember you telling me not to get too discouraged about my ended relationship because God has an Adam for me out there waiting to get to know me! I never forgot that day, and when my friends are feeling like they will never find the love of their life, I tell them your story!

When I decided to leave for a summer and go to New Mexico, you were the first to support me! You were the first to ask me the hard questions and the first to pray for me as I started my next Grand Adventure. When things got hard that summer I called you, and you assured me I was where I needed to be and you would always pray for me before we ended the call, and I will always be forever grateful for the constant support you were feeding my way.

You showed up for me in HUGE ways. You showed up for me when I was relapsing with my eating disorder. You showed up for me and asked me the hard questions when i started dating my boyfriend. You showed up for me when I graduated college. You showed up for me when I made HUGE mistakes and gave me the talks I so needed to hear but didn't want to hear. You laid out consequences for me that nobody else was going to say. You shaped me into a better person because you showed up for me when nobody else would.

You showed me what it meant to show up for someone, for your girls, for my girls. I looked to you for leadership and how to truly invest in the lives of my girls. You made me a better leader for my girls, you made me a better leader in life. Because you showed up for me, and still show up for me, I have learned the value of showing up for others.

Thank you for everything you have done for me, and for teaching me the hard stuff when no one else would. But most importantly, Thank you for showing up when I needed you most!

Love,

The girl you showed up for at the right time.