On the first day of kindergarten, we were herded doe-eyed into the world of education. After setting our bags in the cubbies with our names on them, we sat at our little desks and shyly smiled at the kids sitting around us. Little did we know that those shy smiles would turn into giggles, mud pies, sleepovers, and a friendship that would last a lifetime.

Thank you for giving me precious memories. You filled my childhood with so much love and laughter. My heart will forever be full of happiness knowing you were with me through first goals, devastating hysterical team losses, terribly themed birthday parties, bruised knees, and broken hearts. You were as much a part of my family as I was yours and that will always be special.

Thank you for loving me through my awkward stage. You made me feel like it was okay to be weird and silly no matter what anyone else said. You helped mold me into the confident, weird, and almost obnoxiously loud woman I am today.

Thank you for understanding. When it came down to high school, I'll be the first to admit I am not proud of the type of friend I was to you. We drifted apart, had new friends, new boyfriends and lost track of how special our friendship was. But you understood and although I must've hurt you along the way, you never held it against me.

Thank you for forgiving me. After years of almost no contact when I finally realized how silly high school me was, you forgave me, loved me, and took me back into your arms like no time had passed at all.

You have shown me true friendship and I am so grateful to have you rooting for me even when I didn't know you were. You are special and our friendship is more than I deserve, but I am glad I have it.