“There is no possession more valuable than a good and faithful friend.” Socrates

Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a young girl who left home and went to Bible college.  She was shy and quiet, with dark brown hair.   On her first day, she noticed another young girl, who was small and cute, with long brown hair.  The shy girl wanted to get to know cute girl right away.

One day, shy girl was eating lunch when cute girl sat down beside her at the same table.  Shy girl found out that the cute girl’s name was Joanna.  Joanna started making conversation and somehow, very soon, found out that Shanda (the shy girl’s name) had a boyfriend.  Joanna also had a boyfriend (her future husband) and this became their #1 common interest.  Shanda was asked many questions that day about her relationship with Rich (who was her future husband). . . . . . . . . . .

In fact, when I look back on the year I spent in college–and remember my conversations with Joanna–I think most of them were about Steve and Rich.  We were both convinced that we had met the men we were going to marry.

And we were right!  After we graduated (from the 1 year Bible program), Joanna married Steve in July and I married Rich in September.

My firstborn, Jacob, was born the next year and that was when I wrote to Joanna for the first time.  To my delight, she wrote back and our friendship was continued.  Now we could write about marriage and babies.

I don’t know how these passed 13 years have gone by so quickly.  Lots of changes have occured in our lives.  But through it all, we’ve had 13 years of writing lots and lots of letters, then emails, some phone calls, sending packages in the mail, and some visits.  Along the way we became the best of friends. 

“Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit.”  Aristotle

There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about Joanna.  There is something special about a friendship that grows slowly through letter writing.  We share our hearts.  Because I write and read her letters in private, the relationship is more personal.  Each visit is a monumental one, something to look forward to, and something to celebrate with non-stop chatter, hugs, and photos.

We got to see each other this summer, on August 7.  We met at a Crackerbarrel.  I was so excited because I had not seen her in 3 years.  I got there first and was writing on the “front porch” in a rocking chair when I saw her walking quickly up the sidewalk toward me.  She looked so good.  We hugged each other and immediatly started talking–and did not stop for 6 hours.  After lunch we drove to Barnes and Noble and sat in the cafe.  We looked at a magazine together, I had coffee, she had tea, we laughed and talked and looked at our cameras.  We went over to look at the journals–and I discovered that she really really loves a good journal–we browsed through them for quite a while and we both bought the same one.  We will use them as our nature journals.

still cute!

Taking her back to Crackerbarrel to her vehicle was sad.  The visit was over.  As we both drove out of the parking lot, I cried.  I felt totally drained (in a good way!) and very satisfied with our visit.  We still had chemistry–our friendship was still everything I thought it was.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that Joanna and I will always be friends, always.  I will always love her.   She means so much to me. . .by the way, she’s the reason why I started blogging.  I didn’t even know what it was until she started her blog here on xanga and begged me to join in on the fun. 

The best thing about the story of “us” is that there is no end.  We will dance through life together and then share eternity together in heaven.  Our friendship has a “happily ever after”.  And maybe my mansion will be right next to hers.

(Shanda, Christie, and James)

The only bad thing about visiting an old friend is having to say goodbye again. (spoken like a true pessimist)

Christie and I met each other 7 years ago, when we lived in the Pittsburgh, PA area.   At that time, I was a mom of 3 little ones 3 years old and under.   It was hard for me to get to know new people back then, but Christie showed me by her actions that to have a friend you must be a friend.  We met through church and discovered we lived in the same neighborhood.  She did so many nice things for me–she was the one who would call and ask if I wanted to take the kids to the park with her (she had 2 little ones then).  She paid my way so that I could attend MOPS at church.  She invited us over to her house.  She lent me books and cute clothes for Grace.  She asked me to go to Barnes and Nobles with her–the VERY first time I went there with a friend was with her.  I was all nervous–didn’t know how or what to order at the Starbucks cafe.  We went to the movies together one time, too.   Another time, on a gorgeous fall day, we loaded up the van with the kids and we drove to a lovely park together.  Because she wanted to be with me and do things with me, I felt like I was someone special.   Friendship is a beautiful thing.

(Christie’s baby boy, James)

(our kids together–Jacob w/Caleb, Cameron, Ethan, Grace, Katie w/James, and Sophie)

When I think back to that time I just thank God for her friendship–it really stands out in my mind.  My family only lived in PA for about 8 months but what a blessing to have made a lasting relationship with her.  We’ve kept in touch all these years through emails and occasional phone calls.  She encourages me and has helped me through some little bumps in life. . .just like any good friend would do.

(Christie’s oldest daughter, Katie)

I have five children now and she has four.  She and her family have been vacationing in Canada and stopped here yesterday on their way back home to PA.  We had not seen each other for about 5 years–and I was so excited as I waited for them to get here. 

(David and Sophie)

It was nice to reconnect–to sit and talk and watch our kids play together.  

(Grace and Katie)

(Christie’s son Cameron and my Ethan–with one of the frogs they caught)

They couldn’t stay long, though.  This morning they packed up and left for home–(they have about an 8 hour drive today).  It was a wonderful little visit.  But now I’m sitting here sad that she’s gone.  A true sign of a good time! 

Thanks for being my friend, Christie.