The greatest sap I know.

I have decided to dedicate some of my posts to the great women in my life--a privilege and blessing to be able to write about those who have influenced and changed me with their love, passion, and character. I wrote about some of them generally a couple of posts ago, but I realized that they deserve their own sections and introductions to the blogging world.

So the first person I am writing about is my beautiful sap of a friend, Victoria Lama. Now, some people view the word "sap" in a negative light, but I assure you I only mean it in the most positive and affirming way. This girl loves everything even slightly romantic, artistically moving, or moderately inspiring. You know those girls who go to a wedding and complain about being single or make gagging noises at the gushy displays of love? This is not Victoria. She eats it up. She lives for it. Truly, her appreciation of the good things in life is so genuine that she can be nothing but endearing to those around her.                   

This is only part of the reason I love her. The second reason has to do with her incredibly insightful wisdom and deep understanding of emotions. I cannot even count the number of times I have gone to her with my issues--be it boyfriend troubles, stress at work, or just day to day emotional funks. She always knows exactly what to say. Better yet, I know that she emphasizes and does not judge me for what I am feeling. She is always honest and never complains about how much I talk. If anything, she encourages me to process more and makes me feel very validated in whatever it is I am rambling on about.

Victoria is also an adventurous cook. She loves looking up new recipes and isn't afraid to try less typical things. I often come home to find her baking or chopping or frying up food. And the best part is, she always shares with me!!! So not only does she inspire me in her culinary endeavors, but she also challenges me to be generous with my gifts--and one of her gifts is definitely cooking. She makes the best pumpkin cookies and is very invested in her burritos--two things that might possibly make her my favorite chef. She is proof that putting time and effort into food is a necessary part of healthy living that no one should be too busy to include.

Finally, I have to say that Victoria loves people well. She recognizes the good parts of everyone, and always tries to find a way to make those around her comfortable. She is content to enjoy a person as he or she is, and this makes her rare indeed. I have learned so much from her desire to include people, and I have been so blessed to be one of the people included in her life. I will miss her next year as I move to VA Beach, but I know she will continue to change lives as a teacher (just one more year of school)! Thanks for being a part of my year, Vicky!!