Today I had the chance to catch up with some of my oldest and dearest friends. 

We were friends through thick & thin, all through JR & SR HS... We were misunderstood, we were rebellious, we were determined to live our lives as we desired, despite what other people thought -sometimes TO spite what other people thought...

The years have flown past, some of us have had good fortune, others have had horrible misfortunes. Some of us had kids way too early, another has an autistic son tearing their family apart, one married a millionaire, another's husband had cancer at 29, several of us own businesses that run our lives... Over the years most of us have lost touch with each other...

Through it all, one friend, who has been "Auntie" to all of our children, has remained in contact with everyone. Today, we celebrated her little girls 1'st Birthday!

It was so awesome to reconnect. I can't even begin to describe what it was like to see my old friends reflections in their children... 

We all live within 25 miles of each-other. Talking with them today, I see how much we all have in common now, how much we all need friends & other parents to relate to, and how much fun we have together - I have not laughed that hard in years! There is no excuse for us not to see each other more often - and I am not going to let it happen any longer!

The women are coming to my "infamous" candle party in 2 weeks, and are staying after the whole candle part, so we can catch up some more, and make plans to get everyone together more often!

how cool!!  When I was reading your post I thought you could write a book about all the journeys! 

LOL! I realize now that the post I wrote does sorta sound like the inside of a fiction book sleeve! 

Hmm... But maybe, if I used a Ghost writer, and changed all of the names to protect the innocent... LOL!

I am so happy to be reconnecting with Nat though - she is the who has the autistic son - 3 other children - 14 yr old daughter (who is so insanely smart she has a full Academic Scholarship to the Elite private school here) and 9 year old twin girls. She is also the one whose husband had Cancer at 29. Now, 5 years later, we are all praying it is a permanent remission...

Whoever coined the phrase "God only gives you what you can handle" must have had her in mind. She is the strongest, most centered person I have ever met in my life - just knowing her gives me strength!