Friends are truly friends forever

I was blessed by my parents and my sister with an early birthday present - a trip to CA to hang out with my friends. We were having a reunion of the people who attended the youth group from the 80's and 90's. I didn't think I would be able to attend since I am 3000 miles away, but my family knew it was something I would love.

It was an awesome weekend. I was able to hang out with my sister and her family for the first and last night of my long weekend in Orange County. Being around my nephews during my visit was heaven. I had always dreamed that I would be an active part of my sister's childrens lives, like she was with my girls, whenever she and her husband decided to have kids. Little did I know that God had other plans for our lives which included moving us clear across the country while my sister was pregnant with my 1st nephew. Auntie T was now a person of phone calls, pictures and gifts from afar. I cherished hearing those little giggles and constant questions of "why" and "Auntie, guess what?!" during my stay. Though I will admit it has been awhile since I have been in a household with an 19 month old and 5 year old. They can be exhausting, but I loved it!

Friday we drove down to San Diego to hang out with my parents and attend the reunion which was on Saturday. I had so much fun seeing friends who shared those awkward moments in life called the teenage years with me. We laughed at memories of trips taken, cried for friends we lost both then and now and were in awe of where God has brought all of us.

During the time of hanging out, we had a video playing on the screens from a youth musical we did in my junior year called "Friends Forever," which is based on Michael W. Smith's song "Friends Forever." We did the musical shortly after we lost 4 girls within a 1 year span of time. The musical was fun and a much needed part of our healing process. That musical seem to express what we were truly feeling for each other at that time. We were going to be friends forever. Better yet, we became family.

I have seen many youth groups since and no one has ever seemed to have the geniune love and compassion for each other like we have for all of each other. We are now scattered throughout the US and world but we honestly care about each of our friends and want to keep in touch with them. We pray for each other across the miles, send notes of encouragement or congratulations for each life change and make an effort to keep in touch with one another in a world that seems to be losing the art of personal contact.

One of our friends who spoke at the reunion stated it the best. He referred to the closing line of a note that one of the leaders had written to him in high school that ended with FAFFITLTLOT. Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them. I agree...if God is in the center, anything is possible.

No matter how many years

No matter how many miles

WE ARE FRIENDS (FAMILY) FOREVER!