Friends till the end

Do you have people in your life that you tell everything to and who know some of your deepest darkest secrets? Are there people who you can go a while without talking to and then talk and pick right back up where you left off? Are there people who have seen you at your best and also at your worst and loved you through both? I have a handful of those people and one of them is number 8 on my 100 people challenge. Today's blog is dedicated to Rebecca Skeen Wilson.

Rebecca and I talk often and when we do, we talk about everything and our conversations go to the most random spots and they cover every emotion. Last night we talked for an hour and when I got off the phone I just thanked God for her and her friendship. She knows everything there is to know about me, the good and the bad and she loves and supports me through it all. 

When my family moved to Knoxville in 2000, I knew no one. Rebecca's dad was the children's pastor at my dad's church and Rebecca was one of the first people I met. We hit off instantly. We quickly became best friends and did everything together. My brother and her brother, Zach are best friends and our parents are best friends. We are all just one big happy family. Two people could not be any more alike than the two of us. We are both blunt, sarcastic, loud, and truly think we are amazing :) Back in the day I was at Rebecca's or she was at my house every weekend. We sat out of my bedroom window and watched random people make out in their car and we listened to the sound of the Wippoorwill. The first time I ever went to a "club" was with Rebecca and it was an experience I will never forget :) We got in trouble together, we laughed together, we cried together and we are the reason side hugs at Arlington Baptist Church exist. :) After 12 years, with a lot of good times, sad times, bad times, and crazy times, we are still best friends. Rebecca was there for me through my first love and I was there for her through her first love. We shared EVERYTHING with each other and still do. I experienced a lot of firsts with Rebecca. Coming from Hertford, NC to Knoxville, TN was total culture shock for me! I knew nothing about anything! haha. So, Rebecca and I learned a lot together. Things have not always been roses and sunshine in our lives. In fact, there have been multiple times when life flat out stunk for both of us, but we still seemed to have each other and pulled through it all. Rebecca has impacted my life in more ways than she will ever know. I learned how to be a true friend, by our friendship. I have seen the Lord work in and through Rebecca's life. She is such an inspiration to me and I truly look up to her. Life has thrown Rebecca some curve balls and she, like me, struggled to find meaning and purpose in life. During this time I have never prayed so much for a person, as I did Rebecca. I saw my prayers answered and I praise God he worked in both of our lives and made us stronger and better women. 

Today Rebecca is married to a wonderful man who loves her and cherishes her for who she is. They have two of the most adorable kids in the world, Addyson and Corbin. Rebecca is a wonderful mother and I pray I can one day be half the mother she is to those kids. I have watched her mature so much over the past few years. Her family is her world and she is raising them to love the Lord and love people. Matt is one lucky man to have such an amazing wife! 

Rebecca is one of those friends that will be there till the end. We may not ever live in the same place again, but we will talk all the time and we will always be actively involved in each others lives and for that I am truly thankful and grateful.

I love you Rebecca!