First there is my beautiful sister Sommer. She has been my best friend since September 3, 1989. (That's my birthday for those of you who didn't put that together.) It is interesting though because we are nothing a like and exactly the same at the same time. She is the smart and athletic one and I'm the "I'm really good if I get a C" and artistic one. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and Magna Cum Lada from UNT and has lived in Missouri, Oregon, and Washington. She is engaged to a great guy and will make a wonderful mother someday. She is that person I can be completely weird with and it's okay. I can be so mean to her and it's fine. And vice versa. I don't know how many times the phrase "I hate you" is muttered between the two of us. But it's all in good fun because I know she loves me and I know she would do anything for me. She understands me in a way that no one else does. We have that "sister thing" going on. If you have a sister and your close you will understand. It's unexplainable really. It just works. The hardest times I've ever had was when she moved away because there is something that makes us so close that having her away was almost like having a part of me gone too. I'm SO happy she is back and not going anywhere anytime soon! We have a wedding to plan anyway so she can't go anywhere. :)
Then there is Ericka. We met in Sophomore English in 2006. She had just moved to town from Michigan and she started hanging out with me and another girl in class. Our Junior year we had Algebra and English together. The first day of school we were both relieved to see each other in math because that meant we had someone to talk to. Little did we know that class and our English class would form a bond that still has not broke. Ericka was there for me in my darkest moments in life. She was my anchor and my light. She helped keep me going. And even though our Senior year we grew apart for a time we still had each others backs. I was afraid that when she moved back to Michigan to go to school that we would loose touch but we didn't. Our friendship could be the poster for making a long distance friendship work. We both had to put in effort. We would talk on the phone and Skype as much as we could to keep in touch. When she came home it was like nothing had changed we just pick up right where we left off. And I got the honor to be one of her Maids of Honor in her wedding last June. She has turned into this beautiful women who is now going to be in grad school at ACU! Which means she is coming home!!! I don't care that it's Abilene because Abilene is a whole let closer than Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I don't know how much longer I could have gone with her living there. She has always been there for me when I needed her. Even in the middle of the night she is there for me.
Then there is Rob and Caroline Carmack.
I've known Rob since I was an awkward 13 year old. It wasn't until the summer before I went into high school that I feel our relationship really started. I knew him, he was my youth minister, sometimes we would talk but I didn't really know him. That summer on the way to Jackson, MS, while we were there, and on the way back I was in his van. I sat in the middle seat on the front back row. It was a really fun trip because I spent most of my time talking to him and getting to know him. The more we talked the more I realized what we had in common. We both love music and reading. He has given me many wonderful book and music recommendations over the years. On the way home from Jackson he was practically the only person I talked to (or really wanted to talk to). After that he wasn't just my youth pastor he was my friend. And although we hit a rough patch my junior year we managed to repair our friendship and it is still fully intact today. I have heard him preach for 10 years and every time I hear him I learn something new. He has helped me in my relationship with God and helped me keep my faith on many occasions. The older I get the fact that Rob was the person I asked to baptize me has become more meaningful. He is one of the most influential people in my life. And yes, I know that can be a little scary. :) He has a wonderful way with words whether he is preaching onstage or writing it down. It has been such a privilege to see him go from a college student/ youth minister to a teaching pastor at a church. And from a bachelor to a husband to a father. I'm proud of him and honored to call him my friend.
I met Caroline when I was a Sophomore. She came to be a small group leader at a youth retreat called Overtime and then was a sponsor at Impact Camp 2006. But I didn't really get to know her until after her and Rob got married. She likes to say that I hated her when we first met but that is NOT true at all! So if she says that to you don't believe her. She started meeting my friend Kaitlin and I for coffee, lunch, or dinner about once a week. We would talk about our weeks and the more we got to know each other the more I loved her. She is sweet, compassionate, caring, kind, genuine, and hilarious. She is also a wonderful mother to the two most precious babies in the world, who also happen to be my favorite kids on this planet. Through the craziness of having a baby and a 3 year old she manages to still make time for me. Whether we go get a cup of coffee (which I actually drink now), grab lunch, or go to a movie I love hanging out with her. I've never thought of her as a preacher's wife. She has always just been my friend Caroline. And I am so happy she is my friend. The summer of 2010 was easily the worst summer I have had. My parents separated and I lost my job all in the same week. The nigh I lost my job I texted her and she met me so we could talk. She is my big sister when Sommer is away living in cool places like Washington and Oregon and she always makes sure I have a wonderful birthday. I've said it many times but I'm going to say it again because it is very true. I am incredibly happy that Rob married you Caroline. Our coffee/lunch/movie dates are some of the highlights of my weeks when we get to do them.
Rob and Caroline, you are wonderful people and parents. I say it all the time but it's true Sawyer and Delia are so lucky to have you two as parents. And I am lucky and grateful to have you as friends. You guys have helped me through so much in my life and I look up to you both a lot. I hope you know that I love both of you very much and I am happy to babysit and watch your dogs whenever you need me to. Thank you for being my friend.
So those are a few people that matter to me and that I can be completely myself with. They are wonderful people and I am so blessed to call them friends and most of all family.
