Cool Things My Friends Do

I have some seriously amazing friends.  I wanna give a shout out to a few of the most inspiring ones that I know.  Here goes, in no particular order of course.
Emmylou is a super dynamic and hilarious woman that I know from our Cleveland Anthropology-Physics connection.  (I realize the weirdness of this association, and we're all fine with it.)  Emmylou is originally from Darwin, Australia.  When Annika first met her, she asked, "Do you know a kangaroo."  Emmylou said, "YES," and it was love at first sight for Annika who is filled with wanderlust and wonder.  Emmylou's husband graduated with his PhD, and they decided to celebrate.  How?  With a trip around the world!!!  How amazing is that?!?!?!  I've so enjoyed following their adventures on Facebook.  I only wish she wrote a blog about it, though her stories are always better in person.
Speaking of world travelers, there's my friend Amy who I've written about before I believe.  She's a native Hoosier who's been living in New Zealand for the past two years while her husband has been doing a fellowship (or was it his residency? hmmm) in neurosurgery.  Yeah, she's married to a brain surgeon.  Oh yes, and did I mention that they moved there with 3 boys and are coming home with 4?  She's also a work-from-home mom who runs and is impossibly gorgeous and sweet.  She inspires me all. the. time.
Then there is Kelli who also went to high school with me.  She is also beautiful and sweet and has 4 kids.  She's a runner and a nurse, and cans food like a boss!  I LOVE following her adventures in taking 4 kids to the grocery store alone, and her grace and appreciation of the little things in life inspire me to be a better mom.
Keeping with the awesome mom theme there is Emily.  Emily and I ran cross-country and track together in high school.  She is now the mother of 8 children...yep 8...AND their family just adopted 3 little ones under the age of 3.  That's 11 children if you're keeping count!  She is one of the most patient people I have ever known, and I know that is coming in handy now that she has 11 people's needs to fill.
What can I say about my friend Kristin.  First she has a blog that I love to read.  Second, she has 2 fun boys that I love to snuggle.  Third, she is a sarcastic pain-in-the-ass just like me.  Fourth, she and her business partner own Eli Rose Social Media, which she basically does while standing on her head and juggling flaming rocks...aka: while also being a work-at-home mom.  They even hired me to do some contracting work for them, which I'm loving by the way.  This woman keeps me sane here in Eville, and I don't know what I would do without our playdates...seriously!
Finally, for this post anyway, I want to give a big round of applause to my friend Maggie in Berlin.  She let me stay at her house last year when I went to visit, and helped keep us sane while we lived there.  She is a tri-athlete, a very serious one, and a mom to two adorable girls the same ages as ours.  Their family moved to Berlin not speaking any German, and they are making it work there!  She's even going to start working as a lactation consultant there now that she speaks better German and can get her qualifications recognized.  Mags, you rock! She occasionally blogs, and you can see her get interviewed around minute 15.
I think I'll save the anthropology friends for another post, especially since these 6 ladies certainly deserve much applause for all they do.  So ladies, I tip my hat to you.  You are AMAZING and I hope you know that I admire you for all you do!