The gift of a friend

You know those posts you usually see on Tumblr that have fri(end)ship, boyfri(end), girlfri(end)?

Aha! Like this! :)

Personally, I do not like them. Yes, sure, friendships/relationships do end. Even if that person happens to be your BFFAEAEAEAEAE {Best friends forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever}, relationships do end. Whether they are on a good note, bad note, or a friend just makes you feel invisible. 

Unfortunately, I've been down the road many times of losing of who I thought was my "BFF". {This is why I consider my mom as my BFF, peeps} But after talking about “letting it go” and forgiveness at my youth group, True, tonight, it really got me thinking of my true {haha that's definitely a coincidence} friends! I don't need a BFF to be happy {I mean, yes, I do need my mother...}, but I am so grateful to have all these amazing friends from just my youth group. {Haha so hey, thanks Jesus!} 

¡Conocer a mis amigos! {Everything just sounds better in Spanish, doesn't it?} Madi, Miranda, Wes, Jonathan, Dalton, and Lizzy. You can ignore the old, bald dude photobombin’ in the back. {Just kidding you probably shouldn't. That's my rockin’ pastor, Mike} 

Let me tell you a little about these five peeps. {Sorry Wes, I wouldn't love to share my birthday with anyone else, buuut for now we are talkin’ about these five.} Madi, Miranda, Jonathan, Dalton, Lizzy, and I all went to California last summer for a leadership conference {at the most amazing church you'll ever lay your eyes on I can promise you that}. Not only did I learn so much about becoming a leader in my church and community, but I grew trust and an everlasting bond in these five. 

Who do you think I rediscovered my fave Disney movie, The Emperor's New Groove, with? Them. Who do you think I screamed at the top of my lungs with going from 0-83 mph on the Xcelerator with? Them. Who do you think I drank dozens of Cactus Cooler with on a warm Cali day? Them. Who do you think I boogyboarded some ultimate waves with in SoCal? Tony Hawk? NO! Because Tony Hawk skateboards NOT boogies on some boards. THEM. And because of all these things, I love them and trust them and maybe even want to watch Kronk's New Groove with them. They're that great and I thank God every day for putting them in my life. 

It's going to be especially hard for me not seeing Dalton, Lizzy, and Jonathan for we are the seniors in this {might I say awesome?} group. 

Jonathan's going to Baylor, Dalton is going into the CAP program at UTSA, and Lizzy is going to UNT. They'll all be in the same state while I'll be two states over. It's going to be weird not to see them every Sunday. My dream for these next couple of years is to Skype with them and maybe do a bible study. :) 

Jonathan Slaughter is our Gandalf on this great journey of life. Except he's not wrinkly old, he doesn't have a long, grey beard; and he's not a wizard, however, he is my mentor and he has been there since my Freshman year.  He had taught me some of the most amazing things I will cherish for the rest of my life. {Haha sorta like Feeny!} I know I will miss like crazy Jonathan, Dalton, and Lizzy, but I'll miss {this} Jonathan a whole lot more. {Lol sorry guys} For someone to be in your life long enough to spell your long, complicated, Polish last name right is a person you need to keep. :) 

So these six people are the friends I need to keep in my life. I know they won't talk unkindly to me, I know they won't make me feel like I don't belong, and I know they'll give me the giggles or put a great, big smile on my face when I need one. I love you guys, and thanks for being there for me.