Sunday, December 7, 2008

Best Friends


This is me and my best friend Jody. My hubby took this picture of us and did a surprisingly good job. Our beauty does help make a great picture though, right? So let me tell you about Jody. We've been friends for 18 years now. We go all the way back to our cave days, seriously, we became lifelong friends in a cave. We went on a mission trip together when we were 15. On the trip we all had a buddy and she was mine.

She's more than I could have ever hoped or dreamed for in a friend. She has been so faithful, even in my ugliest moments. And believe me, I can get ugly! We have laughed together, cried together, played together, prayed together, we have fought, forgiven each other, griped about our husbands to each other, then rebuked each other, then encouraged each other, been pregnant together with the two most amazing little girls, been birth coaches for each other, moreover we have shared our lives together.

Jody is beautiful, funny, outgoing, confident, passionate, strong, dependable, LOUD, loyal & caring. She loves God. She loves her family. She is a fantastic mother. She loves RED. She makes the best chicken 'n' noodles and coleslaw. She loves to have fun.

OK, really this post is not about Jody. It is about our beautiful girls, Sophia Grace and Claire Ellen. So here they are.



Two peas in a pod. Sophie is 2 months and 6 days older than her best friend Claire and she's probably one of the only girls who can say she was present at the birth of her best friend.


























This picture reminds me of two little grown-ups. They look way too mature here.


No that is not a stuffed animal. It's our puppy Beasley.



This was our last family outing together before Claire and her family moved back to Smallville, Illinois.



The Robinsons moved to Dallas two years after we did. Nine years later they decided it was time to go home.





We drove home for a visit 3 months after they moved. Home for them is home for us. We all grew up in don't blink or you'll miss it, Central Illinois.


Good old fashioned pin curls......these girls were stylin.


Lake Storey Park where we spent many summers swimming is now iced over for a fun day in the snow.



Claire and her Daddy came in April for Sophie's birthday.
Club Libby Lu had these girls all decked out.







Back again for a fall visit, my Mom taught the girls how to embroider.



Here are their beautiful hand embroidered pillows.
Thanks Mom!



Till next time.......

9 comments:

Shipra Panosian said...

oh my gosh, this post is wonderful. Made me all teary-eyed. The love lives on through your daughters!
The photographs are perfectly perfect, such a great visual chronology of the girls growing up together. They have so many memories together already. What a gift to have...a friend.

Kelly said...

Very sweet! It is so nice to have life long friends. They don't come along very often. What a wonderful story about mommies and daughters doing life together through good times and bad. Tear, tear, sniff.

Mark said...

I'm . . . speechless. I actually don't know what to say for perhaps the only time in my life! I've been sitting here for at least 10 minutes just reading it again and looking at the pictures that have marked the milestones in our girls' lives.

It is such a wonderful, personal, special,
tribute to us and our daughters. Along with you, I pray they will continue to find and unlock the treasure within each other as we've done. You bring out the best in me, and for that I am truly thankful. I love you always.

mommy4 said...

OK, you have to post a kleenex warning before you post something like this again. What a sweet post. Thanks for sharing your pictures of these two sweet friends, and two wonderful families.

The Clark Kids said...

So sweeeeet!! Claire and Sophie look so young in almost all those pics?? My girls LOVED the sleepover pics. So cute!

-Ginger

Anonymous said...

Great pics, and what an amazing story of friends! I'm curious: what kind of pup is Beasley? He's very cute!

Anonymous said...

What a legacy ...friendship! I've had many friendships in my life, and, I count them dear, but I can't say I've had one so nourished with time as the beautiful picture journal you've shared. Each of you, Gretchen, Jody, Sophia and Claire can count this a GREAT GIFT from ABOVEand "home sweet home ..Central Illinois!"

Evelyn

April said...

They grow up in a blink of an eye. I know! When are you coming home to Smallville, Gretchen???
Love,
Mom

Edward and Gretchen said...

I love having a friend like Claire. hopefully forever


SOPHIA