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These are the classy ladies that I've come to believe are an extension of the best version of myself.  They make me laugh more than anyone else.  Whether Hil is embracing her Russian roots with my favorite accent, Kylea is regaling the latest details on the soap opera this is her life in Bako, Kathy is getting down to Slow Motion, Kougs is being the Kougar and bringing out the best in everyone and flaunting those famous moves, or Shannon is - well - groping each and every one of us...these ladies are hilarious.

Not only that, though.  They're supportive and they're honest.  We've walked through the fire together, had our share of tifts and growing pains as girls who live together in college do, and have come out stronger for it.  We listen to each other and get updated over endless cups of coffee, each of us wishing that our busy adult lives and the miles between us weren't so capable of making these "reunion" weekends so few and far between.  But we manage to preserve these friendships because they matter.  While we now come together for bachelorette parties and weddings instead of lazy Saturdays that revolve around pizza and Felicity, not a whole lot has changed.  We've been through endless crushes, heartbreaks and boyfriends; and are now beginning to celebrate engagements and weddings together.  We've supported each other through illnesses, deaths, and family struggles of all kinds.  Being with these girls is like coming home.  But with more whipped cream and inside jokes.

I looked around at Elyse's wedding last weekend thought about how long we've known eachother and how much has changed; how much I love these girls and how proud I am of the women that they have become.  In some ways it made me feel sad - a nostalgic kind of sad for the fact that we no longer live in the same city and get to meet up for happy hour to discuss the boring details of our lives that good friends really do care about.  But being with them also makes me feel so blessed.  Each time we get together it's so comforting to find myself surrounded by friendships that have withstood the test of time, by women who know the best and worst parts of me and love me anyway.  And how lucky am I that these same friends happen to match my passion for both living a Christ-centered life and singing along to every word of R.Kelly's Remix to Ignition - a rare but essential combination if you and I are going to become close friends.

Thankfully, since graduation, one person each year has taken one for the team and had a wedding to give us an excuse to get together.  Elyse's wedding was a beautiful day.  I can't think of anyone who deserves our dear Elyse more than Jesse.  She is so undescribably beautiful inside and out; the picture of both strength and humility, grace, devotion, selfless faith and perseverance.  And Jesse is an incredible man who loves her so well.  These two fit together in a way that makes getting hitched look like the easiest and most natural thing in the world. Celebrating their marriage was one of the happiest moments I've experienced in a long time, and I have no doubt that their life together will be abundantly blessed by Him who brought them together.

So here's to good friends, spiked lemonade, old and new memories, Boise 2010 and more weddings to come - sooner rather than later ;)