Old Friends...

There is something special and unique about friends who knew you back when. Friends who know your history and your family and your life. Friends who knew you when you were an angst filled teenager and still loved you. Friends who remained faithful and forgave you more times than you deserved. Friends who you laughed with and cried with and who you experienced so many of the firsts in life with. These kind of friends:

A friend who knew you when you had braces and when you got your first kiss in those braces (and who had set you up with that guy and rode in the same van while the kiss took place after a Haunted House). A friend who you wrote ridiculous notes back and forth to and who you could fight with and make-up with all in a matter of minutes. A friend who you took voice lessons with and who you got sent to "time out" with in the choir director's office for talking too much with.

Tiffany

A friend who you attended youth group with and who you would talk to for hours about all the youth group guys that you were in love with (that week). A friend who you got to go with to the mall unsupervised for the first time. A friend who you took turns with asking each others' parents about sleepovers every other weekend.

 Emily

  A friend who you went to camp with for the first time.A friend who shared her headphones with you as you listened together to Alanis Morissette.A friend who talked to you about your relationship with God and helped you to grow. A friend who helped you through what you thought was your first heartbreak (even though it really wasn't). A friend who remained faithful in writing you letters and calling you even after you had moved away.

Marianne

 A friend who became a comfort and a joy to you in a new place. A friend who knew you when you fell in love for the first time and that was all that you could talk about or think about. A friend who drove you everywhere because she was a year older than you and was always nice about it (except in the mornings when she wasn't capable of being very nice to anyone). A friend who believed in a friendship years after it had ended and forgave the past.

  Kari

A friend who took driver's education with you and saw you crash your car into a gate when you got your gas pedal and brake pedal confused and a friend who you worked your first job with and who saw you violate the dress code on multiple occasions with your short skirts. A friend who lived through very real heartaches with you and shared her own with you.

Maryam

A friend who taught you the art of being a social butterfly and of shining your light. A friend who taught you how delicious Caramel Macchiatos could be at Starbucks and also taught you how to be vulnerable at Starbucks as you shared your life and struggles. A friend who taught you that Peyton Manning was (and is) awesome. A friend who showed  you that years apart make no difference in a true friendship.

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Ashley

A friend who had no choice because she was your best friend from the day she was born. A friend who helped you through your first heart break (this time it was for real) and rubbed your back as you cried and at least pretended to listen as you re-read all the old love notes that had been exchanged. A friend who never, ever failed you. Even when you called her mean names outside of her door for not letting you borrow her clothes and she punched you. Even when she was ignored for other friends. A friend who you could always go next door and talk to when all the other friends weren't there.

Anne

"A true friend is the gift of God, and he only who made hearts can unite them.”
Robert South