I met her at my sister’s wedding. I was the maid of honor and she was the guest book attendant. I was immediately drawn to her just as my sister said I would be. By nights end, we had agreed to be roommates at Columbia International University the following year. She was a year older than me so she already had a year of college behind her which somehow gave me confidence by association going into my freshman year.
She was fun and funny, playful and vivacious, blond and gorgeous. She was dramatic, jealous, passionate and, by the standards of our small Bible college in South Carolina, she could be downright scandalous.
It was little things that bonded us at first: we wore the same size shoes and could share clothes and both had an unnatural love for our favorite musicals. But we shared a lot more than just a room during those years in college. We shared dreams and drama, heartache and heartbreaks as well as a love for the Lord.
As the years have passed, we have graduated and grown up. I have watched as she remained fiercely loyal to those she loved, even the ones who weren’t so loyal in return. She has taught me to play more, laugh harder and not take myself so seriously. She is beautifully human.
These days we only get to see each other about once a year. Four years ago we went to New York and ate pizza in Brooklyn and saw Wicked on Broadway. The year after that, she came here for a weekend (with me and my 3 kids…not exactly a walk down 5th Avenue, but still). We keep in touch fairly regularly and always pick up where we left off no matter how long it’s been.
She is one of my favorite people and today, she is getting married. In normal life, she is on her end of the country and I am on mine. She has people there, I have people here, and our lives have continued seperately. But this weekend, I am meeting her people. I am meeting her man. And we will celebrate the fact that she has finally found her someone.
wow Emily, what a great post
goosebumps.
So glad you get to go…that will be so special to you both. Have a great time!
That is so exciting! That has been one of my favorite things in life – watching girls I love–and with whom I’ve shared all the highest highs and lowest lows of life–get married.
I hope you both have an incredible, magical day. 
Beautiful!!!
Steph
Love this post!
Awesome! I am SO waiting for this day for me and my BFF! Very similar circumstances…
What a small world! I had no idea you attended CIU. We listen to WMHK all the time.
Isn’t it grand to have a friend like that?
So bittersweet – only getting to see each other once a year!! Have fun and relish your time together!!
I LOVED this post. You are lucky to have her and she is lucky to have you!
I too, am on the way to see my BFF today, as the kids and I board a plane bound for Massachusetts! Your post is beautifully written…and captures just what I am thinking today.
Traveling mercies…
Ahh loved that!
that’s just so beautiful
& i don’t know why, but its making me all teary too.
what a blessing to have a kindred friend
xo
ps–was wicked the most wonderful, ever!?!
pss-my hubby went to columbia too, a gazillion years ago. i’m sure he’d be flattered by that comment!
I know you will be having an awesome day today.
…isn’t life wonderful…all this and heaven too…
it’s a good thing that ur still in touch
have fun at the wedding ! and cry a lot !
I love those friendships where a year can pass, but when you are finally together again, it’s like you’ve never been apart. How wonderful you have that somebody.
this gave me goosebumps… i have some very old friends that live three states away and I love it that we only see each other once maybe twice a year but we always pick up right where we left off.
i had a hunch you were alluding to her earlier this week…now off to facebook to see more deets…enjoy!!
She sounds absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I hope she (and you!) had a wonderful day!
Emily, when exactly did you see Wicked? My sister-in-law was Glinda for a stretch. I wonder if you saw it when she was in the show??
How sweet?! I hope it was a day as beautiful as your friendship.
Hey Emily! I loved reading this post…I can picture you two together! I bet you had a wonderful time, thanks for writing this.
Sweet post, Emily! Those kinds of friends are the best ones! You may go months or even a year or more without seeing or talking to each other, but when you do, it’s like time stands still and you just spoke yesterday!
Oh my goodness…I want to be her (well, not really, but just so you write that about me
. I know she was so blessed to have you by her side this weekend. Can’t wait to hear about it.
What a beautiful photo and person.
I don’t even know her and I want to cry.
Blessings,
Sandy
What a sweet tribute to your friend. My bff sent me a link to your site and I’m so thankful she did!
I hope you don’t mind me commenting on an old post, because I want to say thank you for this post – it’s BEAUTIFUL!