I know we're not supposed to have favorites....

But I do and most likely, if you are reading this, you are one of them. I just played racquetball with Helen, which got me started along this line of thinking in the first place.

How many of you know Helen? She is wonderful. I could go on about her virtues for a long while. She is one of the very best friends of my life. She reminds me a bit of another wonderful friend of mine, Sus, especially in two specific ways. These two are the strongest, yet sweetest women I know. I love their truly incredible physical strength and wills that are competitive but always fair and supportive - and all of this paired with the sweetest voices.... You would have to know them to know what I mean. I sure do love them. And Sus, it has been far too long since I've seen you. Goodness, our babies have never even met!!

And then there are the writers and photographers responsible for two of my favorite web lounging retreats... crazysapo and midwestia. Liv and Linds also remind me a lot of each other in certain ways, and not just because they both take fantastic photos and could author very successful columns if that ambition should ever strike them. They are both stunning without even knowing it.

You know what, maybe that is what strikes me so much about all of my favorites - you are all so stunning without even knowing it.

My sister Jenny... yes she is stunning. A stunningly wonderful mother, sister, and friend. Not to mention her cooking.... :)

My mother, Dorothy Lynne Tippets Andrus. Stunning - like the sun, but humble as the smallest lamb.

My friends and sisters Kathy, Suzanne, Susie, Jessica, Amy, Beth, Hazel, April, Cindy, Michelle, Jill, Felicia, Stephanie, Johnna, Bonnie, Sarah, Meghan, Maren, Tessa... just to name a few. This list could go on and on.

But there is only once place where this list stops - and that is with Mac, aka Weston McClain Nelson. I just realized he is the only man on my list (well, excepting my Papa and brothers).. but that is how it is supposed to be. He's the only one I need.

Weston has a favorite quote by Nelson Mendela. He has me read it and reread it whenever I forget what I may have to offer this world...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

That is what you all do for me - your fearlessness is the breath of freedom. Now then, can you blame me for having favorites.

...and one of the best things about a list like this is that it will be added to and added to for the rest of my life. I like that.