the reason i loved college so much.

i just realized that i graduated college almost 4 years ago.

seriously people, time flies.

i went to the university of central arkansas for four, really fun years.

the school was good, but the community was the best.

following in my older brother's footsteps i decided to volunteer with k-life.

this one decision has shaped more things in my life than any other.

it's why i worked at kamp.

it's why i became a counselor.

and i could go on and on.

for four years i got to hang out with some of the most precious girls in the world whom i now call my friends. i was a freshman in college and they were freshmen in high school.

our bible studies were loud.

they were hilarious.

we laughed a lot.

we cried too.

we had a lot of questions.

i ate more breakfast with these girls in college than i can count.

they changed me.

God used them to grow me in ways i could never explain.

they are the little sisters i always wanted.

and here i sit four years later.

i am SO proud of them.

several of them will graduate from college this spring.

some of them are dating really great guys and dreaming of their future with them.

some of them are still trying to figure out their place in this world.

and you know what, i love the process they are in.

the only thing i hate, is that we still don't live in the same city.

i would give anything to set my alarm for unbelievably early tomorrow morning to go and meet these girls to laugh, talk, and pray.

last night, i read a book which explained what these girls mean to me and it is worth sharing her words:

"somewhere between going through my stuff, in between the recitals and games and phones calls, they burrowed into one of the deepest parts of my life and my heart. they became something between friends and little sisters and extensions of my younger selves. they became a central part of my world, my thoughts, and my prayers. i love them because they were mine, because we were us, because of the funny and sweet and strange things they did and said. they're smart and honest and they make big mistakes and dream gorgeous bright dreams. they fall in love hard, sometimes with the right people and sometimes with the wrong people. sometimes they tell me everything and sometimes they try not to tell me things, but then the other girls tell me anyway. i think at this point, i know almost all the things they think i don't. and i love them more than they know. they are passionate and articulate and fervent in their prayers. now they are graduating from college and dating men they might marry and moving into apartments. we email and talk on the phone. when i think about how God made us to live, when people talk about true community, i think of them, this lovely, bizarre group of teenage girls who came over unannounced and never left when they were supposed to, who let me into their fears and their secrets, and cared about my fears and my secrets. they uncovered something good in me and they taught me more than i ever taught them" (niequist, 2007, p.33-35).

i miss these girls and i miss college tonight.

being their small group leader is one of the greatest honors i've ever had. i cannot wait to continue to watch their stories unfold. to my precious small group girls: He loves you more than i ever could and i am so proud of you.

let's have a small group reunion asap.

go read the book i referenced. she is my favorite author ever!

niequist, s. (2007). cold tangerines: celebrating the extraordinary nature of everyday life. grand rapids, michigan: zondervan.