flashback...

Fourteen years ago I got to know the Riley family and I have never been the same. It was my last summer as a camper at Camp Wo-Me-To in Jarrettsville, Maryland. I grew up spending a week at a girls camp from 1991-1996 and owe so much of my personal and spiritual growth and development to that small slice of heaven on earth.

Every year I would go with a friend or two from my church and we would meet a cabin full of girls... I always fell in love with the counselors hoping I could be like them some day. After camp ended, occasionally we would exchange letters a few times for a few months, but we would fall back into our routines at home and we most I never saw again. 

Fast forward to 1996 and my friend Nicole and I were in lucky cabin 13. We were listening (barely) to a missionary speak but evidently I was not impressed. The girls were all seated in cabin order and Nicole and I were next to Laura and Sarah from another cabin. I tried to keep us all entertained with some humor at the expense of Rose (sorry Rose!) and for some reason we all clicked. We spent as much time together as possible over the next couple of days before camp ended on Friday. On Friday you would have thought someone died. We all cried and cried when we were forced to say goodbye. I was so afraid we wouldn't see each other again... what if we didn't keep in touch... we had only known each other a few days, but we had bonded quickly. We wrote a ridiculous poem, synchronized our watches and recited the poem at the same time every day to feel like we were closer... crazy I know!

Over the next few years we battled high school together... 68 miles apart. For the first year or two we cried every time we had to say goodbye. I think at some point the goodbyes weren't so teary as we learned to trust we'd see each other again. I am so grateful for my parents, Nicole's parents and Laura's parents for shuttling us back and forth before we could drive. At least every Christmas and summer we planned a trip usually spending a couple of days together. I got to know all three of her sisters and felt welcomed and loved by her parents.

College made me nervous... I was set on going somewhere in North Carolina and Laura considered it for a little but followed Kim to Mt. St. Mary's in Maryland. We didn't talk as much... but we always found a way to pick up where we left off. My friendship with her sisters Kim and Sarah grew as well and I always felt like I was keeping up with their family one way or another. Eventually we finished college and became adults... The best thing that could have happened was when I came back to Maryland after grad school. Laura asked me to be her maid of honor, Kim asked me to be in her wedding and I was able to be in Maryland for all of the festivities during the summer and fall of 2005.

Their family keeps growing and they still make an effort to include me. I've been invited to their summer vacation the last couple of years and always love the time we spend together. I can usually only do a couple of days and this summer was cutting it close with my work responsibilities, but I was determined to make an appearance. I had a flashback to 1996 yesterday when it was time to leave... crying like a 14 year old girl not sure when I would see everyone again. I trust our friendship, my place in their family, but life just keeps moving faster and I definitely cherish my time with family and friends. I am so grateful for the Riley family and our friendship that began with laughter and tears that never seem to stop.