"Make new friends but keep the old...!"

As a little girl I was taught many lessons! Lessons about being a sister, being a friend. Lessons learned in the home, at school and at church. Lessons that continue to formulate my beliefs and values today! From Mother Goose to Peter Rabbit to Little Critters...these books are full of lessons! One thing my parents always taught me was to be a friend. To be open, to embrace all people. Learning the art of sharing as Tara, Hannah, and I played my little ponies! Learning the art of loving as I mothered my little sisters and invited my friends to come to our home and play! (Well, except for the times Cara and I would slam the door and tell my sisters to go away!) Learning the art of inclusion as over the years I wanted everyone to be happy and get along. Nevertheless, throughout the journey of life, I have shared laughs and tears with a variety friends young and old! Friends have come and gone with the different phases of life. All beautiful friendships that i continue to cherish! As I sat at lunch with my girlfriend Lindsey today, she reminded me it will be four years this May that we graduated from presbyterian college! WOW! cheers to the brat pack!!that means 8 years since we sported our hot purple gowns at Lumpkin County High School! GO INDIANS!! Time sure does fly by... But goodness time has been precious! The friendships God has blessed me with throughout 25 years of my life (almost 26 in April) have been the most incredible gifts! Friends in Dahlonega, friends from PC, friends from Montreat, friends in Hartsville, Robert's childhood friends, church friends, soccer friends, and new friends in Charlotte! God continues to stretch me and allow me to meet beautiful people to learn from and be challenged by! Friends to laugh with, cry with, study the bible with, and love with!

Mom always said over the years that your best friends are your family! I will finally admit, I will have to agree with my mom! (Momma knows!! wink wink!) I couldn't ask for better best friends than my precious husband, my sisters, my parents, my in laws, and my extended family. Last friday night, my cousins, Elie and Brooks, came to spend the night with us! We went out to dinner, we snuggled in the bed, we laughed, we watched goofy shows, we giggled about boys, we remembered memories past...I couldn't be more thankful for the friends I have in my cousins! This week Robert has been gone recruiting and I don't like  coming home and  my best friend not being here! (well Bailey is here to comfort me, but Robert I still miss you!!!)  

It was Summer 2007 when PC girls gathered in Litchfield...we sat in a circle and sang "I get by with a little help from my friends" as we celebrated being back together again! It's the coffee dates, the emails, the phone calls, the long awaited hugs, the renuions, the sweet cards in the mail that remind us of God's grace and God's tender touch as we celebrate our friends!!!

Lately, Dad has been really sentimental! (sorry to call you out daddy!) I have to say I have the most loving men in my life! Dad has started sending us girls emails of life quotes, life lessons! Today was "How you live your dash" - the dash being the time from birth until we enter the church triumphant! As I read over my Dad's email...I thought - how do I live my dash? Am I being the daughter, the wife, the sister, the friend, I am called to be?! May this day I embrace the beautiful friendships God has given me and hold them dear! It is an honor to call you friend!