Third of Ten

It’s crazy how people come into your life. Some breeze in and out barely leaving a trace, while others imprint on your heart forever.

The first Sunday I walked into Relief Society, I saw a young mom with the happiest brown-eyed baby boy on her lap. Little did I know, that mom at that moment was looking around the room and thought, "I need a friend. I'm going to make the new mom my friend." That snap decision changed the course of both our lives.

I've never had a friend like Karen. Ten children between the two of us. TEN. We raised our children together. Change that--we raised each other's children together. We disciplined and potty trained and schooled and Soccer Mom-ed and piano lessoned together. 

I helped her through years of chronic migraines--I cleaned her bathroom and drove her kids and brought her meals. She helped me through months of grief--she listened and cried and listened some more. She reads my thoughts and I complete her sentences.

I'd give her my right arm if she asked me. Instead, I gave her my back yard for the wedding dinner and reception of her youngest child--our third wedding together.

Logan got married on Saturday.

Lo. Ogie. Chuckles.

Twenty-one years we’ve lived in Arizona. Twenty-one years I’ve loved this boy.

I watched Karen from across the room as her baby boy got married. I watched the tears of joy form in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. I watched a new daughter join her family. And as I waited my turn to embrace the newlyweds, I watched her hug family and friends who shared that moment. 

I wasn't prepared for the emotion that flooded through me as I hugged her that day. Words can't describe a bond like ours. She whispered in my ear, "I couldn't have done it without you." 

I can't imagine how I would have done it without her.