Anna
It really doesn’t seem possible that we’ve spent 30 years living life together. We definitely aren’t wearing dress up clothes and playing on the swing set in your parents backyard - and thankfully I no longer pee my pants - you don’t have to hide your sleeping bag when you come over for my birthday party because we’re allowed to spend the night together anytime we want - even though now we’d probably BOTH rather sleep in our own beds - but I still love dreaming with you - I love texting late into the night and hearing your heart even if it’s not written in a diary with a janky golden lock and super bendy key. I love that you know me, all the way, deeply and truly, and you love WHO I am without question or hesitation. I know that if anything big ever happened you would be there in an instant. You’re my lifelong best friend and you’re not going anywhere. Not ever. The history we share is irreplaceable and I am forever grateful for the ways we’ve grown together and chosen to stay close. You’re one of the most incredible gifts the Lord placed in my life and I am truly so blessed to know I will get to walk beside you in each and every age and stage. That is truly priceless.
Jennifer Leigh
Any time I have a hankering for a donut I think of you and that birthday party when mom and dad didn’t let me spend the night at your house and your sweet dad went and got donuts the night before JUST so I could take one home with me. THE CUTEST. It would be IMPOSSIBLE to list out all the memories we have together - from showering together in Carlsbad to playing that awesome dream phone game, to the Singing Christmas Story Tree, and your wedding day we have had some amazingly good times. You are hilarious and silly and never fail to make me smile on the inside - you keep life light and bubbly and I am so grateful that we’ll forever be family friends and have shared our entire lives together. OH and I can’t wait to start planning your baby shower with Anna and holding your rugrat this year is going to be the most tremendous JOY!
Sara
I cannot believe we have known each other for over 10 years and that we’re embarking on our 30’s together. We spent an entire decade eating cinnastix, driving that golf cart, wrangling teenagers, and changing the world - it was the BEST! Thank you for teaching me to be confident and reminding me that I am beautiful and shine from the inside, for the amazing packages and all the happy mail that came from Alabama, the countless hours of phone conversations during our “free nights and weekends”, the graduation cruise and week at the beach house, for listening to me sob and laughing with me until we literally couldn’t speak anymore. God knew exactly what He was doing when He had Shawn Doss bring you to Shreveport, Louisiana that first summer - I needed you in my life then and I need you now! You’re amazing and iloveyou!
Emy
YOU are my WC SISTER. We spent that first glorious summer together and shared an experience that literally no one else understands. As we traveling through New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Canada, and then the SCARIEST RIDE EVER back to Georgia, you got to see pieces of my heart (and my insides) that were exposed only because we were serving together. The foundation of our friendship was built as we shared Christ with students and poured ourselves out wholly in hopes that others would come to know Him. What a beautiful beginning. I love that over the past 8 years He has continued to allow our friendship to root deeper and blossom, that we get to talk almost everyday, that we share the most meaningful and desperate moments with each other, that I was by your side as your walked down the aisle. The words could not be more true, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
Carrie
You really are like my sister. You moved into my house for just the briefest period of time and you totally changed my heart and my life. I adore you. I love you. I think you’re the greatest thing ever and I can’t imagine my life without you and I pray I never ever have to know what that would actually be like. You’re beautiful and amazing and SO MUCH FUN. You choose me and have taught me that I am loved and wanted. You listen to my heart in moments of deep sorrow - you affirm me and make me feel so much less crazy. You bring so much joy and laughter into my life, reminding me to just enjoy things and not stress out quite so much. You have this amazing ability to just live fully - to let it all go and be present for whatever is happening. You teach me so much just by being you. Thank you for letting me be part of your family, for letting me love your littles and calling me aunt shell, for celebrating me always and making space for me in all seasons and stages of your life. I am truly blessed and honored and grateful to call you my best.
J
No one has ever made me feel more wholly accepted and perfectly loved JUST AS I AM than you. I learn more from you literally every time we are together. You teach me to be brave and confident in me and to find my voice and use it. We have the best conversations with great depth and meaningful nuggets of truth and revelation. There is nothing better than an evening cuddled up on your couch just being together. You make life feel easier and more breathable and give me motivation to keep going. You have been present for some of the ugliest head moments and always show up with cherry 7-up at just the right time. Thank you for always celebrating my life choices and letting me live life with you - it is truly a great honor and joy!
Shanzie
When we started life group I would have never thought I would get to call you my closie. I thought you were so wise and had so many amazing friends and yet the Lord had something different in mind. I have loved the myriad of conversations we’ve shared over the past few years, talking about the Lord and the work He is doing in our lives and hearts, watching Him take you from a wife to a mama and getting to walk beside you through the transition. You’ve done it so very beautifully. You have a heart for the Lord that inspires and encourages me to seek Him and love Him more. Thank you for introducing me to Filling Station blueberry pancakes and being up for a frozen mojito on mama’s night out, for letting me be a hot mess on the comfiest part of your couch and truly believing in me. I think you’ve been rooting for my dreams loudly from the very beginning and that means more than you’ll ever know. I remember the very first conversation we had about CHOSEN and how excited you were for me - I was scared and you didn’t have any hesitations - you knew I was made for this and YOU WERE RIGHT! The Lord gave me a great and wonderful gift in you!
Gan
11 years of laughing and adventuring and living the crazy life. I have done more with you than I ever dreamed and I am so incredibly glad. We lived the single life to the fullest and made our weekends count that is FOR SURE. Thank you for teaching me to love coffee to the max and shop like a pro, for the frequent trips to Happy Feet and the total lack of judgement when I order feta fries for lunch, for dancing with me at Kenzie’s wedding, honey boo boo drinking games, watching every movie regardless of how questionable, for revealing you can convince me to do anything by putting the word “friendship” before it and the amazingly hideous “friendship romper” I still have in my pj pile, and for the many conversations that have molded and shaped who I have become. I am so thankful for you and blessed by you and love our adventurous adult friendship. We did it - we grew up - and pretty darn well - and we did it together in all the best ways!
Kenz
When you started working at EvFree (and let’s not count that first summer, because we both know you vacationed a lot more than you worked at the beginning) I had no idea that you would be SO MUCH MORE than just a co-worker. Coffee breaks at 10 and 3 and pizza fridays were fun, but I am so glad you’re a forever friend. You’re one of the kindest people I know and you would go out of your way to care for almost anyone. You have done airport duty more times than I can count and you’ve done it with a smile every single time! You’ve taught me a lot about compassion and always being up for the adventure. Your wedding will forever hold some of my very favorite memories - we laughed so hard and you were so incredibly happy. Our lives look a little different now, but I love that we’ll always have Christmas adventures and dinner dates to keep our hearts close.
Shalina
I just gave my little sister that polka dot shower curtain for her new house in Oregon and it felt like a significant loss, ha. I remember being roommates and the joy of coming home to you each day - you were one of my absolute favorite housemates of all time. I remember the day you got engaged, your bridal shower and bachelorette, and helping you with your makeup the day you got married. I remember crying the day of your baby shower and you coming back to hug me, and then getting to come see you the day you had sweet Liam. I’m so thankful for all the days I can remember and look forward to making millions more memories in the years to come. Thank you for loving me headaches and all, for being there to pray for me in the dark nights. Thank you for all the lunches, all the words of encouragement, all the moments you’ve faithfully rooted for me and cheered for me and reminded me it’s gonna be ok! You’re a gem!
Joy
Who would have thought being bridesmaids together would spur us on into this great friendship - I could have NEVER guessed, but I also could not be more glad! I adore you. Our heartbeats are so similar and your joy is insurmountable. Thank you for letting me be a mess and for crying right along with me. Thank you for the glorious escape to San Francisco when I just needed to run away, and for making me feel so ridiculously loved and overwhelmingly blessed that weekend. Thank you for the ways you show up in my life in text messages and voicemails and the cutest packages. For the hope you inspire as you speak truth and remind me that success is not measured in marital status and that being a bridesmaid is a sign of a wonderful and tremendously blessed life because we are RICH in friendship and get to be present to love on and celebrate others. We have gotten SO GOOD at that (even if we’ve worn some ugly dresses)! You are one of the brightest spots in my life and I can’t wait for our next escapade! COME VISIT!
Mands
God knew exactly what He was doing when He brought you into my life. I didn’t realize how desperately I needed you, but He surely did. I am so thankful for you - my gorgeous and radiant friend in this same season of life. Oh 29 and single. Sweet friend, you love the Lord with every ounce of your heart and truly seek to serve Him with every bit of your life. I have learned to love deeper and lean in more just by walking beside you. Processing and navigating this season of celebration and sorrow is bearable in a whole new way because we’re in this together. I am so thankful to have you beside me, cheering for me, praying for me, loving me and seeing my heart. You say I sparkle and I (almost) believe you. You hold my heart in the most cautious and extraordinary way, you listen intently and hear so much more than just the words I say. You show up in my phone first thing in the morning encouraging me to be brave and keep going and somehow give me the inspiration to actually do it. I am deeply touched and forever changed by who you are and the love you’ve so generously provided. Thank you for being my mirror and reflecting for me the best pieces of myself when I just can’t see that girl. You’re a beautiful and amazing treasure. #psiloveyou
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