Feb 8

This right here, is my best friend on the entire planet. Actually, even title "best friend" doesn't really properly suit what this girl is to me. I guess the best way to put it is that she's my sister from another mister. I love telling our story because its one that many people don't have the honor of getting to tell. We met when we became next door neighbors when we were just two years old and have been inseparable ever since. The aspect of our friendship that amazes people is that even after we both moved, and kindergarden through senior year never went to the same school, our friendship has done nothing but grow. Its funny how completely ironic this picture is now that I'm looking at it. I can't tell you how many hours Lia and I spent sitting in her room when we were little playing Nintendo 64 surrounded by mounds of food. You can't see it in this picture but while we were home for Super Bowl weekend we decided to spend the night cooped in her room, playing Nintendo 64, surrounded by chips and cookies galore. Even when we were picking our our Mario Kart drivers, out of habit I gave her a little sucker punch for getting to Yoshi first and having to settle for Donkey Kong (even though "secretly" I would never not choose DK). Its moments like that night sitting in Lias room, perfectly content with a bag of cookies, a video game from the 90's, and each others company when there was a huge party going on downtown that remind me how special our friendship is. After 16 years of not going to the same school, we both ended up choosing Purdue University as our college of choice. We lived in the same dorm complex but decided not to room with each other, but with another pair of best friends from her high school which worked out wonderfully. A week into freshman year, we went through rush, during which we decided not to discuss with each other so that we wouldn't influence each other's choice of house. Sure enough we both ended up in the same one, Pi Beta Phi. The two of us have been through it all together and I can't even begin to imagine how I would get through college with out having her here with me. She's the one person aside from my family that I feel absolutely 100% comfortable with and unconditionally accepted and loved by. Its funny to think about how completely different we are as people but how close we have continued to remain. I can only hope that my kids find the same kind of friendship that I have found with Lia. I love her to the moon and back and can't wait for the day when we are 93 years old, sitting in rocking chairs on the porch reminiscing about our crazy lives. 

Lia also has a blog too! Check it out: http://liakennedy.tumblr.com/

Feb 5

I know I've posted about my friends multiple times but how could I not include them during the love theme? Aren't they precious? These guys, plus a few more, are my best friends from home and some of my favorite people in the world. Just looking at this picture puts a big ol' grin on my face and makes me all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about how many memories and good times I have shared with each of them. I love that even though we now lead completely different lives and are apart about 9 months out of the year, we have yet to grow apart. We still crack each other up, get along, and want to hang out with each other.. Despite my weirdness, awful texting skills, and occasional lack of ability to think before I act, they've never left my side. I love them with all my heart and soul and am so thankful to have friends that never fail to make me feel special and loved.

Jan 28

I love my friends. They're so stinken versatile! If you think about it, having friends is like having every single type of Barbie. They make you happy, you have fun with them, they're there if you're upset and need someone to distract you, they let you draw tattoos on them (sometimes), and you can talk to them. Not to mention, there is always at least one that wants to go work out (Sporty Barbie), run to Target or the mall (Malibu Barbie), help you with homework (Career Barbie), listen to music (Retro Barbie), eat food (Ken), shave (Shaving Ken)... I think you get the picture. But above everything there always seems to be one around when you need one. Coming to college I've made so many new best friends. Some of them I honestly don't know how I've managed without knowing them before meeting them here at Purdue. It always scared me when people told me that its rare to stay friends with the people you hung out with in high school. I always wondered why that was and I came to college determined to never let that happen. I have 5 of the best friends I could have ever asked for from high school that I am still just as close (if not closer) with as I was in high school. My friends Katy, Amy, Debbie, Lauren and Elizabeth saw me through all of high school (two of them have stuck with me since elementary school) which included some of the biggest up and down moments of my life. I just don't see how anyone who was as good of friends as I was with these girls during high school (the most "dramatic" four years of your life), could ever let that friendship die out. I'll admit that it is definitely a challenge. Between the five of them and myself we are at 4 different schools and all have our new and different lives. Its weird to think that the people that they have become best friends with, aren't necessarily people I even know a thing about. We're no longer connected by anyone but ourselves. Between completely different class schedules, work schedules, sorority schedules, project schedules, exam schedules, and daily routines, you can imagine how difficult it can be to figure out a time when a phone or Skype call time works out. The truth is though, I love these girls to the moon and back and I know that no matter how long it takes for us to get ahold of each other or see each other, when we finally do its always as if no time has passed at all. Its the same 'ol same 'ol and I absolutely love it. As always I want to make sure that I try my best to always keep in touch with these girls and never have to tell people that its impossible to stay in touch with your high school friends.