25!

Abby and I have been best friends for over 20 years.

In those 20 years, life has changed in a hundred different ways, but somehow we’ve grown together right alongside it.

For about 15 of those years, we lived just 0.5 miles apart, even closer if you cut through three backyards, which of course we did.

At 5, we were at each other’s princess-themed birthday parties.
At 6, we rode Bus 208, sitting across the aisle.
At 9, we went to Almost There Group at church and got in trouble for laughing too much during lessons.
At 11, we went to Centri-Kid, a church camp, got stranded getting ice cream from the rest of the group, and decided we were officially best friends, and we haven’t separated since.
At 12, we sold Girl Scout Cookies together in Troop 804.
At 13, we were separated at school for the first time and acted like the world was ending, even though we were still only 0.5 miles apart.
At 14, we started high school and somehow managed to integrate into each other’s new schools.
At 16, we got our licenses and both managed to total our cars.
At 18, I left for college, but could never stay away for long and never missed a chance to visit.
At 19, we waitressed at her family’s restaurant for one very chaotic, very unforgettable summer.
At 24, we set up my classroom together.

Once in 6th grade, we sat in the same chair during a project and our favorite history teacher, Mr. Newcomb, said “Not only do they share a chair, they also share a brain.” This still feels true.

Now in our 20s, we navigate the changes of life and the plans for our future together, but we will always have weekends and FaceTime calls that pick up right where we left off.

And then there are the million in-between moments, sleepovers, Wednesday night youth group memories, sushi dates, Walmart snack runs, summer camps, coordinating Halloween costumes, and long talks about everything and nothing.

It’s funny to see our career paths now, because they feel like such a reflection of who we’ve always been. Abby, a worship pastor leading a youth and children’s group, and me, a middle school teacher, right back in the place where our friendship really took off.

We’ve walked through tough life changes, heartbreaks, moves, and the sweetest celebrations. Abby softened me, and I toughened her up. We’ve grown up together, through big dreams, career paths, and figuring out who we are as women.

It is a very special thing, to have a best friend to grow with, learn from, and lean on.

So much of me is made from what I’ve learned from you.

Happy 25th, Abby!