To old friends.....

No pictures tonight because we were way to busy having fun to take out the camera. Tonight was the annual Dunbar chili night. Every year around this time we pick one night and have a bunch of old friends over. Well, the friends aren't actually that old but the friendships sure are. It is always so great to get together and catch up.

Tonight as I was sitting there with some of my amazing friends I started thinking about the power of a good friend. I thought about how blessed I am to have these amazing people in my life. Each one of them is a true gift who has helped me to become the kind of person I am today.

I think you are sooo lucky if you have just one friend who you think of as more than a friend. They are your family. These are the friendships that withstand time and distance. You may not see them or even talk to them for months, but as soon as you get back together or pick up the phone it is like you just left them 10 minutes before. You just pick up where you left off. Friends like these are the ones who you can count on to be there no matter what you need. They will drop everything to help you out whenever you call on them. You are a better person because they are a part of your life. (Okay, Tommy sometimes I am actually a much nastier person when you are around but it works for us!)

The reason I am so blessed is because I don't have one friend like this; I have a whole houseful. Tonight as I sat in my home full of friends who have been there with me for so many years now. I couldn't help thinking that this is what makes life good. We didn't drink as much as we used to. We wiped way more bottoms and snotty noses than we ever did before. Our college stories got retold and probably stretched a bit. Chili night now includes corn dogs and tater tots. The yelling to hear each other isn't because we are sitting in a bar, but is because there are noisy kids everywhere.

While all of these things have changed, some very important things have not. These people lift me up, make me laugh, bring out the best in me, and are always there for me. We believe in each other and love each other unconditionaly. They are an amazingly talented, caring, funny, and just a little bit dirty crowd. They are a part of my family.

As I sat tonight watching all of our children playing together I thought about how the circle of life just keeps turning. How cool is it that my kids are developing relationships and growing to love the kids of some of my favorite people in the world? I hope those friendships take off and grow into something very special.

So Alison, Jason, Chis, Jimmy, Ozel, Kristin, Tom, and all of your kiddos, thanks for coming. Thanks for being one of my special friends. Most importantly, thank you for making my life better by being a part of it.

To those of you who couldn't be here tonight, we missed you! We thought of you and can't wait until next year when hopefully you can be here as well.

If only I had a Zima right now life would be perfect!!!