Carli

A little over 10 years ago I introduced my best friends to each other. Lindsay, one of the most beautiful people I have ever met... both inside and out and Chris, who in addition to being quite handsome is hysterical, deep and loyal. They were instantly drawn to each other and through high school and college they grew to love one another in a way that is extremely rare in young people.

I give them the credit for my being so comfortable around couples today. Because the three of us were all but inseparable in high school and though they were dating (or interested in one another) for most of it, I never once felt like a third wheel. They both loved me as a friend but that love was also deep and real and always made me feel welcomed and wanted. I looked up to both of them in high school and was truly awed by their love of Christ. They are part of the reason I am the woman I am today.

Chris is the first man I helped pick out an engagement ring, which was a huge honor. They were married in December of 2004. To this day the love that Chris shows for Lindsay is one of my benchmarks for men that I date. I still remember the way Chris would talk about Lindsay before they started dating. The way he called her "beautiful" took my breath away. It was more than a superficial comment. That was one of the best parts of having male best friends (now it can get me in trouble, but back then guy-girl friendships were much easier)... Seeing the way men pursue a girl/woman they are TRULY interested in is exciting and encouraging and every girls dream (assuming she is interested in the guy as well).

Chris called me a little over a year ago and told me that he and Lindsay were expecting their first child. I could not have been more excited for them and yet I was completely freaked out! They were my first really good friends to get pregnant and having known them since we were kids ourselves made me feel so much more grown up than when friends I met in college got pregnant. I mean we were kids together... how are we now old enough to have kids?! But old enough to have kids we are... and I soon recovered from my freak out, which is good since three other friends got pregnant shortly after Lindsay and Chris.

Chris is in the army and he and Lindsay are stationed in North Carolina, thus when it was time for their delivery I was no where near. They had a happy and healthy little girl named Carli on May 8, 2008. I have wanted to meet her since that day but with graduation, the bar, and such I have not made it out to NC in her five months of life.

I was pleasantly surprised when Lindsay called me out of the blue last week and told me she and Carli were in town for the weekend! I immediately made plans to spend time with Lindsay, her family and Carli. I got to spend several hours with the them on Friday and Saturday and I am already smitten with Carli. She is beautiful and I can see both Lindsay and Chris in her. It is hysterical to watch her face. She has the biggest eyes I have ever seen and she seems to live life in a state of perpetual surprise. She is such a happy baby and so easy. Chris and Lindsay are so blessed!


While I spent time with Carli, I was struck by how deeply I still love her parents. I don't talk to Chris or Lindsay nearly as much as we did while we lived in the same city and had ENDLESS TIME to hang out (got to miss high school and college)... But with time and decreased communication our friendship has not lessened. I am confident that Chris and Lindsay will be my dear friends for the rest of our lives, no matter how much distance there is between us. I loving having timeless friendships... the kind that you could go a year without talking and pick up right where you left off. They are truly a blessing from the Lord!

I was also honored that I played a small part in Carli's existence. I introduced her parents. I am part of her story... I am sure Chris and Lindsay would still have met and gotten married if it weren't for me introducing them... but God gave me the blessing of introducing them and now they have a precious daughter. Thank you God for blessing them with Carli and blessing me through knowing them and now knowing her!