Then, one day that all changed.
You know when you meet someone and that moment in time changes you for the rest of your life? I have experienced two of those moments. Once was when I met my amazing husband.
The second moment happened 18 years ago. We were celebrating the Fourth of July on the mission field with a whole bunch of missionary families. The party was just getting ready to start when a new missionary family arrived. They had several kids, five to be exact, and my sister and I couldn't believe that there were that many kids in one family! We had never really known a family that large before.
It wasn't all that long later that I found the youngest of the five sitting on a bench. I knew what she was probably feeling, alone, scared, maybe even sad. She was living in a new country and with a whole bunch of strange people that she didn't know. Knowing how hard it is to make friends I decided that I would make things easier and I approached her. As I sat down on the bench beside her I had no idea how that moment would change my life for forever.
From the moment we spoke to each other we were friends, good friends.
Our friendship was one that consisted of hanging out whenever we could convince our parents to let us. Not going more than an arms length away when together unless extremely necessary. Creating a secret code for any written messages. Getting up before dawn during camp just so we could have a few quiet moments to talk and enjoy a sunrise together. Staying up all night until seven in the morning during a sleepover only to get up two hours later, all so we could enjoy every single moment together before we had to go our separate ways. We even came up with nicknames for each other and used them when together. We were inseparable.
Like all kids though we had to grow up. We graduated from High School and went our separate ways to college. Our relationship changed. It got stronger. We went at least two years without seeing each other and yet, when we met up again, it was like we had never been apart. We still knew each other an a deeper level than we knew anyone else.
Even now, years later, we are still friends. The type of friends who can go five years without seeing each other, barely talking, and yet still know the other so well that words aren't necessary. The kind of friends that make fools of themselves when they meet in public places because they are too excited to see each other to contain it, and don't care what others think. The kind of friends that will drop everything on a moments notice in order to be there for the other, even if it means travelling across three states.
This woman has been my friend, my best friend, for just over 18 years now and I wouldn't have it any other way. We've been there for each other through separation, joy, sadness, grief...even loss. Goodness, we are both even military wives, and no, we didn't plan that!
My friendship with this woman is unlike any other I have ever, or will ever have. She is my confidant, my fellow trouble maker, my shoulder to cry on... but most importantly, my friend.
My dear Ace. The Lord knew what he was doing when he put us together on that bench that Fourth of July all that time ago. He knew that we would become forever friends and has kept our friendship strong, and growing stronger, through the years. There are so many times that I don't know what I would have done had you not been there for me. So THANK YOU!!! For being my friend, my best friend, my once in a lifetime friend!
I love you Ace!!
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