I first met Cathy when I was 17 years old. It was at that time when I had to leave my father's house, as I wasn't getting along with my stepmother at all. Cathy gave me so much - she gave me warmth, she gave me the security and she welcomed me to her home.  It was there that I found family - a family that I never had after my mother has passed away.

With her amazing ability to share, she taught me an important thing - the value of communication. It’s her that I learned from how to open up to the ones around me, and how to talk about everything - the good and the bad.

Putting in words what was on my mind might seem trivial, but before I didn't know how to grow from conflicts. With Cathy and her family, one can find roots, grow and climb even at hardest times. She has a unique ability to evaluate the situation and to find an elegant, and yet necessary solution. She showed me how to find traces of hope even when they seem to be covered with dust and dirt.

It would be impossible to define our relationships. She was not a mother for me, she was not a guide, not a best friend, not a consultant - she was it all.   Friendship stones reflect the mere essence of Cathy's soul; the stones are the embodiment of her character and her uniqueness. Every time I hold Cathy's stone in my hands, I remind myself that our life, just like the stone, changes colors when we change our approach. Light becomes dark and then dark becomes light again. When I seek for solutions, I hold the stone and I can feel her presence around me - I imagine what would she have to say and it helps me to find the way.

When my 5 year daughter first received her friendship stone, she knew immediately that this was a very special and valuable gift.  It made her feel connected and grown up. Though she was excited in a childlike way, I knew this was an important realization and helped plant a seed for future development.

The friendship stone enhanced her capacity to develop and sustain friendships as she kept it in pockets and purses reminding her of the friend and sense of connection she has with her. She even would take it out carefully and tell people that this was from her friend with pride.  She also takes such good care of it which is incorporating responsibility and respect for precious things.  The lessons that came from this seemingly simple shiny gift have been numerous.