My friend Carrie

My friend Carrie and I have been friends for a long time – 20 years in fact.

{Here’s an oldy-but-a-goody taken at an OU/TX game.  Judging by how skinny we are and how high our shorts come up, I’m going to guess it was around 1995.}

It’s pretty remarkable when you consider how random it was that we even met.  And then when you throw in the fact that (except for a very short time) we’ve never lived in the same city…well I’d say that it’s something really special.

In all these years that we’ve known each other, our families have shared a lot of fun memories.  I specifically recall one time when Bryan and Carrie still lived in Dallas.  Tripp, Kelsey, and I had driven down from OKC so that the men could go to an OU game in College Station.  Carrie and I stayed home, but it was far from boring.  She and I packed up the kiddos in her mini-van and drove into downtown to a wholesale floral supply shop.  For a couple of craft-junkies like us it was total nirvana.

With our kids in tow, we loaded up our baskets with all sorts of dried flowers and grapevine wreaths.  On the way back home Carrie and I brainstormed all kinds of ideas for our crafty stash.  Once the kiddos were fed, bathed, and in bed asleep (which was no small feat I assure you), we unleashed the craft monsters.

For the rest of the night and into the wee hours of the morning, Carrie and I stayed up and made all sorts of wreaths and arrangements.  And once we ran out of the stash we bought, we started hot-glueing dried flowers on anything and everything in Carries house.  Nothing was safe.  Not even Bryan’s poor wooden duck.

I often think about that night.  How fun it was and how inspired I felt just being with Carrie.  How she gave the freedom and confidence to just play and be creative. 

It’s just one of the many things I love about her.

Today is my dear friend’s birthday.  I cherish her friendship so much.  And I look forward to many more years of wonderful memories.

Happy Birthday Carrie.  I love you.  Kel