1 of 8 has been blessed to have had a life-long best friend. These two girls have known each other since birth and decided they were the ultimate buddies when they were seven years old.
And now they are eighteen.
Their friendship has not only endured but flourished over the years and even though we moved away from our shared hometown 4 1/2 years ago, the girls have continued on, cell phones and Facebook and texting over the miles, giggling and being silly and sharing secrets and giving support.
They recently got to celebrate their birthdays together and, as always, it was simply a joy to see them talk, see them finish each other's sentences, see them hug and giggle and discuss.
And I was so touched to watch them, to think of the precious moments of shared childhood they have had. I am so grateful to reflect on the foundation of friendship they have provided each other through their teenagehoods.
And it is incredible to see them become young women.
Silly, giggly, adorable young women.
Young women, nonetheless.
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Now, it seems I promised you a little something last week...hmmm, what was that? Oh, yes! A giveaway! It is my pleasure to announce that the winner of the Homeschool Boutique Giveaway is.....(drumroll, please...)
Mamajil at M is for Mommy
Congratulations! Be sure and email me for the info about contacting Tracy at
But not to worry, Gentle, Wishful Readers. I have an another amazing giveaway coming up this Friday, one that is a thing of beauty and helps others to boot! Be sure to come check it out!
Buying Friends One Giveaway at a Time,
I love the photos. How wonderful they've been lifelong best friends. My best friend and I have known each other since age 5.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely girls! I am always amazed by the pictures you take! You capture memories so well!
ReplyDeleteWe are definitely on the same wavelength Octamom, I have just posted a piece on friendship!
ReplyDeleteThese are very heartwarming photos, I especially love the first one and the last one.
Hugs
Peggy
What a beautiful story. My best friend and I have been "together" since the 7th grade. We even had our babies on the same day, 2 hours apart (not on purpose :])! And now, our daughters are building a friendship much like our own. It's a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteVery nice pictures! I especially love that umbrella shot! and.. congrats to the winner!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat lucky girls to have one another. Having a special friend like that is an incredible gift from God.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Mamajil! I guess if I couldn't be the winner, I can't think of a nicer person to get it!
Friendship is such a beautiful thing. Your photos brought back memories of giggly moments that I have shared with friends.
ReplyDeleteGiveaways do conjure people out of the woodwork. With my giveaway, 90% of the comments were from people that had never even been to my blog before (which was neat). As soon as I get the bugs worked out of the filter on my silly computer and can get back into my blog, I have a special "gift"away that I am doing for my regular commentors, psst... you're one of them ;)
What BEAUTIFUL pictures...and what BEAUTIFUL girls! How sweet to have a best friend like that! :o)
ReplyDeleteA friend like that is completely special. I pray they are always close.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are breathtaking. How wonderful that they are maintaining their friendship in such a strong way.
ReplyDeleteLove these photos and the story. She's very lucky to have such a wonderful friend, and I'm sure it was so awesome to watch them grow up together. Although my best friend is now my hubby, my oldest friend and I have know each other since we were 4... It really is a special relationship. hugs.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, yes. I can be bought. Keep 'em comin'!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girls!! Friendship is an amazing thing!!
ReplyDeleteFriendship is definitely one of life's greatest treasures. What incredible memories....your pictures amaze me....i so wish I could do that with this camera of mine!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post! that is so incredibly special that they have such an amazing friendship! they are just beautiful! i adore the pictures!
ReplyDeleteSweet!~ And congrats to the winner :) ♥ Hugs!
ReplyDeletecan't wait to see my daughters forge lifelong friendships. That last shot is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch precious pictures! How wonderful to have a best friend!
ReplyDeleteWhat wondrous pictures...of clearly two WONDERFUL young women.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing -- not only to them to have such a good friend each -- but to YOU, as their mother to watch it evolve.
How I hope this for my children, 1 & 2! ;)
what great photos...and what a blessing it is to have a best friend that lasts through the years...you only get a few of those "true" friends in you life...so glad she has one!
ReplyDeleteWhat great photo's! And what a great story.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that is...the pictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI MISSED your giveaway? WHAT? How did that happen? #1 and her BFF are gorgeous. I LOVE their pictures together. What a blessing for both of them to have each other.
ReplyDeleteWonderful natural light. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to see two friends ham it up for the camera. I can almost hear them giggling in between pictures. :)
What beautiful pictures. Reminds me of my high school best friend. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing for your daughter and friend. Love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and a wonderful story of friendship. They are both very lucky to have one another.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are in my contest (no limit on kiddos)
Wonderful photos. How awesome that they have remained BFF for all this time and even distance cannot get in the way ;) I think 1 of 8 looks a lot like you ;)
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say that first child that reaches 18 years old is tough on the mom at least it was on this mom!! The girls are beautiful and nothing like that one excellent life long friend!!!
ReplyDeleteand i love the line about buying friends one giveaway at a time, it made me laugh!!!
Some really great pictures I am glad to hear your daughter has such a special lifelong friend.We need that in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI love lifelong friends!! Beautiful girls:-)
ReplyDeleteHappy late-ish birthday to 1 of 8! Good girlfriends are really the best. No one can understand you like they can.
ReplyDelete(I'll be your friend even with out the giveaways!)
Gorgeous girls, what a blessing to have a best friend. Wise Mom, Oh and Dad, providing a means for friendship to continue over the distance and years.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girls! Awesome photos! Wow!
ReplyDeleteLifelong friends is a great accomplishment.
Amazingly beautiful pics. and what a friendship. I wish I had a friend like that growing up.
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures. I spoke with my lifelong friend about 3 hours ago. we don't see each other enough these days. Its great 1 of 8 has this special relationship, because lifelong friends are usually the best listeners and the best comic relief on a rough day!
ReplyDeleteCourtney
Oh my 1 of 8 you are eighteen and you are beautiful. I am so glad you have this wonderful friend who you can share your soul with. I had a friend like that in school and she had to move away. We did not have the internet or free cell minutes but we wrote, called occasionally and visited in summers. I saw her recently after about 10 years and it was as if I had seen her yesterday. You and this friend will have such a wonderful time having each other in life! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteNice one. Have read a bunch - it's nice to read from a mother who has 8. I've got 5 and to often people treat families with more than 3 as something strange. It's also interesting to see the challenges we all face. Laundry...same here - never ends. Ever...Never. So much the same. My oldest daughter is 23 and married - happy, wonderful. The "trouble" starts with my next two - my older son is 21 and a soldier in the army...that's my challenge in life right now. My second son goes into the army in July...I can't imagine how I'll cope with two...so I don't think about it. The two younger ones are so similar to many of the things you describe. I'm watching my youngest daughter (8 years old) and thinking about your latest post and if she'll have a "best" friend then. She's very much connected to two girls now...from day to day, it switches as to which is her "best-best" friend vs. just her "best" friend. I've enjoyed your posts and glad you can find the time to write!
ReplyDeletePaula
I can't get over that last photo. I keep looking at it, it's so cool! What beautiful girls with a beautiful relationship!
ReplyDeleteI adore these photos! I'm sure it touches your heart to watch these sweet girls grow and blossom together.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures of the girls are so good! What a blessing to have a friend like that. It reminds me of the girls in Fried Green Tomatoes and how tight they were, only without the spousal abuse.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful friendship photos! And your daughter and friend are definitely blessed... I've lost touch with all my childhood friends, sadly, though facebook is bringing some of them back slowly.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Mamajil!! And what GREAT photos of your daughter and friend. Oh, they look so much older than 18 to me. My oldest girl is 15 and is already taller than most women. It's hard to think of her as a woman!
ReplyDeleteThat is great that she has someone like that. How wonderful for her and for you!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are absolutely spectacular!!!
They are so adorable!!! Love the picture! friendship is a real blessing!!!!
ReplyDeleteOH my goodness I was so caught up in reading your post that it took me a second to realize I was the winner of your give away....how cool!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I think life time friends are great....I was thinking of that today when I ran across a pic of my oldest with his childhood friend when they were 4 and now they are grown married men...(they still get togethe and hang out.... they now do "grown up couple stuff" like dinners....)time flies !
Those are such great pictures! And how wonderful to have a lifelong friend!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing pictures! I absolutely love the last one with them under the umbrella... stunning!! And- I have to say- I cannot believe you have an 18 year old! You look SOOO young... well, you ARE young.
ReplyDeleteI adore your photography! Amazing!
ReplyDeletethe best thing about a best friend is even if you don't talk and/or see each other for awhile, you pick back up right where u left off before.
ReplyDeleteThat picture in the rain is to.die.for!!! I love it! What a blessing to have an amazing gal pal!
ReplyDeletethat picture under the umbrella is AMAZING......!!!
ReplyDeleteOh wow... I remember when the girls were little and would run around and play together. It is so amazing to see them as beautiful young women now. And I am glad that they still get to see each other from time to time!
ReplyDeleteWhat great pictures! They look so in-tune with each other:) So neat!
ReplyDeleteI love the images you've created! The one (or ones) of the girls standing under the umbrella are simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful that she's been able to continue this friendship. How lucky the two of them are! And they are young women... Where does the time go???
Roban
What beautiful girls!
ReplyDelete