Old Friends

Big Mama's post about her college dorm days was a perfect precursor to my adventure yesterday. I drove to Birmingham for a girls' lunch in honor of the birthdays of two of my dearest friends. As we sat enjoying our childfree, grown-up meal and gabbing our jaws off, Daree pointed out that August will mark 15 years since we met in our freshman dorm at the University of Alabama.

I absolutely remember the first time I met each of them. The thought of all the life we've been through together in the last 15 years is amazing--engagements, weddings (Daree & I even went along as the witnesses when Emily eloped), pregnancies (I was in the hallway outside the delivery room when Daree's oldest was born), deaths, infertility, new jobs, new homes, successes, failures, laughter, heartache...the list could go on and on. As a result of our friendship I have experienced sushi, Nancy Griffith, Widespread Panic, lots of roadtrips, amazing memories and a sweet bond of friendship I'll always treasure.

A lot of life happens in 15 years. Yet, yesterday as I was cruising along the highway to Alabama with music blaring and singing loudly, it was like the old days. (Except instead of a zippy Acura, I was in a crumb-laden, carseat-carrying, filthy Yukon. And our conversation over lunch was infinitely deeper than Days of Our Lives and plans for Spring Break.) I wanted to go back in time and whisper in the ear of that 17-year-old me just how important those cute girls would be in the years to come.

Our time together was precious. To sit around a table and talk about life and the Lord with women you love so much is a rare and treasured gift. I am so blessed to have a handful of wonderful friends God has placed in my life who've been around for 15-20 years. Truly they are a part of who I am and where I have come from. Thank you, God, for the gift of friendship!