Friends

Note: This journal entry was originally written and posted Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 10:53 pm. No changes have been made to it, although much has changed. Spouses have been added, the first "family" child is on the way, the gold list has new additions, the silver list has dwindled significantly, and one is already in the presence of Jesus. How much has changed in just two years.

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

As a kid I would relate this childish song to new best friends, but now that I'm older it has such deep meaning. God has blessed me with incredible friends. Old and new. But, like the song, they each have their categories: silver and gold. But each are very valuable. I've grown up with my gold friends. I can't even describe how much love I have for them. We're such great friends that we're kinda like a huge family. We all have our own lives now, but every so often we come together again to catch up. Man, do we have some great times. I love my "family of friends": Sarah, Joe, Michael, Randy, Kristina, CariAnn, Steph, Ralch, Meg, Paul, Charisse, Barta, Brian, Drew, Tom, Justin, Jordan, Elise, Ipsnitch, the list just goes on and on and on... I pray that years from now we'll be as close friends as ever and that "family" will have increased with wives and husbands and kids. I'd love for my kids to listen to Steph's stories as she tells them just as excitedly as ever about cockroaches invading cars and poodles getting stuck inside couches. I'd love for them to play basketball with Joe, Jordan, Paul, Justin, Tom, Jordan, and Drew along with their kids. I'd teach them not to drive like Kristina, but have her love for life. I'd show them that it's better to stay out of the bushes than in (RJ ). You get the idea. People say that your college friends are the friendships that are going to last a lifetime, but it's hard when you already have lifetime friends. I'm not saying that I don't have great friendships from college. They are (for now) my silver friends. I love them dearly as well. I'm so excited to see where my friendships with Alexis, Kim, Jescey, Brinton, Jonny, Brian, Abriel, Janis, Angela, Leslie, Michelle, Kayla, Tricia, Daniel, and that list also goes on, go. I hope that in time they will become gold friends as well. I love how our God is sovereign and has allowed me to know these amazing brothers and sisters while I'm still here on earth. It's such a blessing that I don't deserve. I'm so thankful that whether I'm near my friends or far I know that God is with them and that is all the company they need. They're in great hands. How great is our God!