For 16 years you have been my best friend. How strange is that to say? I have known you so long that I don’t even remember those first few years of my life without you. As far as I know, you have been there my whole life. You have seen my lowest lows and experienced the highest highs. We went from playing with blocks in preschool, to gossiping at the monkey bars, to going on drives talking about our college lives. The one constant through all that change, however, was you.

It never ceases to amaze me how constant you have been in this ever changing world. I watch friends come and go all the time, but not you. No matter how much time has past, how far we are (676 miles or 10 hours and 34 minutes, to be exact) you are always there. You’ve always been my biggest cheerleader and support system. You have encouraged me to follow my dreams, to keep going when things get tough, and to be the best person I can be.

You have truly been my gift from God. Not too many people can say they’ve had a best friend since they were three years old, but I am so lucky that I can say that. I’m so lucky that I can say that in these 16 years we have never once fought. We have never once been sick of each other. We have not once said one mean or rude thing about or to each other.

All we have done is love and support each other.

So every time I am making new friends I think of you. I make sure that these people have some of the same values and qualities that you do, although none of them could ever replace you. I think that is why every friendship I have made after you has been successful because I have such an amazing model in front of me to help determine who are good people to have in my life. In this big world full of athletes, religious leaders, singers, actors, and other people that are considered role models, you are mine.

I can’t wait to see where the rest of our lives take us. For the day you graduate college. For the day you get your first big job. For the day you get married and I get to be the maid of honor right next to you. For the day you have your first baby and I get to hold it and tell them how lucky they are to have you as their mother. And I hope that you get everything you have ever wanted. I cannot wait to experience the rest of this life with you, as my best friend. This is so sappy and mushy, but you deserve nothing less. You have truly been the textbook definition of a best friend for life and I can not thank God enough for putting you on this earth. I love you.