Lifelong Friends

Lifelong friends. I read about them, watched movies about them, and gave up on them. I had friends in elementary school that were too cool for me by middle school, friends in middle school that moved away, and friends in high school that proved poor influences until my senior year. By this time my dream of a lifelong friend was gone.

Then I met the man of my dreams...and with him came his lifelong friend, Kit and his then girlfriend Jenn. We hung out together, finished college together. They were the best man at each other's weddings. Jenn and I were pregnant around the same time. We had boys first, girls second. It was what I had imagined...almost.

This week my dream extended a bit farther. I had always imagined dragging the kids on meetings with our families and things being just as awkward as they had been for me as a child when my parents drug us to see old friends. I imagined our kids playing together because there was no one else around but never having a true connection. I have been pleasantly surprised this week.

Kit's mom offered to do a Spanish camp for our boys. Each morning they would play and learn Spanish, have lunch and play some more. The return time became later and later as the week went on until the boys arranged a sleepover. I was so excited for this turn of events. You see my little man isn't always accepted by everyone his age just like most kids and to have the Con-Man, as my son called him, ask me if my son could spend the night almost brought tears to my eyes.  Everything continued throughout the week, sleepover and all and never once was there tension or fighting or spats. My son teared up at the realization that he wouldn't be seeing his friend every day next week as they return home. A similar story came from Jenn about her son. Only promises of getting together pacified the boys...promises that we must keep.

Today we had the culminating fiesta of Spanish camp and I was again amazed that the boys seemed to just click. Our girls likewise just seemed to click, playing tea party and creating music on the piano.

What a perfect day?! The joy I felt all day was almost overwhelming. Then a spontaneous and perfect picture taking opportunity prevented itself. My husband and Kit were sitting on the couch, my Little Man joined in followed quickly by the Con-Man, and the girls.

I was so overwhelmed with emotion. How perfect that two lifelong friends have had children that love each other? How perfect that no matter how long it is between seeing each other, every person in both families picks up like no time has passed at all. My prayer begins, "God help remind us to take time to nurture this relationship that Andy and Kit began, so that no matter what, our children know they are never alone. Amen."