Dear best friends,

You know who you are. You know I have a few of you, and each of you has helped me in so many ways throughout our friendships and have been true blessings in my life. I have known some of you my entire life, I met some of you in middle school, others in high school, and others in college, but each of you holds such a special place in my heart. I thank God for you every day, but now it's time to thank you personally.

Thank you, best friends, for helping me when I couldn’t decide what college to go to. When I was stressed out, thinking about all of the possibilities, and couldn’t make up my mind, thank you for listening to me, caring, and for talking me through the process until I eventually ended up at the best school in the world.

Thank you, best friends, for also helping me figure out what I wanted to have as my major. You really listened to me and helped me recognize my own talents and realize my own passions. You helped me discover my love for education and children, and that I would not be happy chasing after money instead of chasing after what made my heart happy.

Thank you, best friends, for reminding me of God’s presence in my life. You helped me those times I felt lost and afraid. I knew the light was there, but I couldn’t see it at the time. You stood by me, wiping my tears, holding my hand, and leading me back to where I knew I belonged. You accompanied me to mass, had long talks in the chapel, and shared your favorite Bible verses with me, all in an effort to help my soul.

Thank you, best friends, for dropping everything and coming to my help when that boy broke my heart. When I couldn’t stop crying in the middle of the night and didn’t know a way to move on, you came to me, cried with me, held me, and helped me find reasons to smile again. You let me stay at your places for a night, or two, or three. You listened with the most understanding hearts, offered your heartfelt advice, felt my pain, and made sure I knew how stupid that boy was.

Thank you, best friends, for joining in on my crazy ideas. From my spontaneous road trips, to city outings, coffee shop finds, and everything in between, you not only went along with my craziness, but you fully joined in with me. The late night trips to QuikTrip, running around in the pouring rain for an hour, going to parties at boys’ houses that we hardly even know (while never leaving each other alone), driving around blasting Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” (and every other T Swift song), mattress surfing down our house staircase, and every other crazy memory will remain in my heart for a very long time.

Most of all, best friends, thank you for the gift of true friendship. You have helped me discover more about myself by being exactly who you are. You've helped me remember how to smile, to find the good in all situations, and have challenged me to become the best version of myself. You have made me laugh until I cry (and pee…), sing at the top of my lungs, destroy my suffocating comfort zone, and have given me a lifetime of memories full of joy.

Here’s to many more years of laughter and love.

Love,

Me