Allow me to introduce everyone (from left to right)…

Hannah, the sensitive, sweet, determined one.

Me, the … (I should ask them what they’d say… maybe after they read this).

Ashton, the organized, helpful leader.

Sarah, the independent, rebel comedian.

Mary Beth, the sassy, out-going, risk-taker.

We’ve been friends since our early high school days and for any and everything it was always us five. This five-some withstood guys that came and went, guys that stayed, classes that were difficult, college applications + acceptances + rejections. It withstood family drama, school events, all that was stressful and all that was wonderful.

All of my high school memories had either one or all of these women in it. And I would never trade that, because I think it’s a rare thing.

As we went to separate colleges we stayed in touch, always getting together for a Cracker Barrel breakfast or tacky sweater Christmas party.

Today we’re adventurers into all sorts of life — similar and different — but there is still a thread between us all. This beautiful, steady thread of trust, love, listening, and presence.

We may not all talk to each other super frequently, because we’re all different and want different things. Each of us desire different things for our particular lives, and it’s great. So rich.

But I bet you 500 cookies that if we all knew we’d be in the same town on the same weekend, we’d plan a way to get together.

This makes me thankful to the Lord for such a gift of relationship. And I appreciate these four women for how they’ve lived life with me — whether we were sitting next to each other in class, or chatting every other week on the phone.

No matter where each of our lives lead us, we’ll always be the “fabulous five” in my heart. And I encourage anyone who reads this to never underestimate the value of investing in friends who are near you.