Do you have a best friend you just want to do everything with and love to be around all the time, never becoming tired of them? Do you get jealous when others want to hang out with your best friend? I’m sure we all have friends like this. I know I have a lot. Best friends are the ones you can call when you have good news to share, are infuriated with something or someone, need to tell a secret, need a shoulder to cry on, and are aways there for you in any other situation. For me, a best friend is someone I can always rely on. This is someone to return my calls, keep my secrets, make plans to hang out all the time, and wants to be with me as much as I want to be with them. Best friends are special because you remember them and keep them in your heart always. They mean the world to you. If something sad and tragic happens to your best friend, you’re the first one to know. You feel the pain just as much as they do. A best friend is one who is there for you always.

Being twin sisters, Amanda and Rachael have been two of my best friends for as long as I can remember. We go to church together and if given all the time in the world, could never stop talking. Having not known anything about Vera Bradley, they were the ones who shared with me what it was and is. Whenever a new pattern comes out, there’s a sale, or a special event going on, that’s the first thing we talk about when we see each other. We are three, crazy teenage girls who run around The Outlets with out parents screaming, “Mango Melon Twist,” posing with Disney faces, and who love to shop jewelry and clothes. All three of us having read Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson, hope to see the movie together very soon. Back in September, the three of us (and our moms) went up to the camp I go to and our church supports, for a ladies retreat that weekend. Everyone we met kept asking us if we were sisters or cousins. It was sad to say no because we wished we really were sisters. We decided after a while, that the next person to ask, we would tell them yes. Sadly, no one asked after that. As time goes on, our friendship continues to grow stronger and stronger. I love these girls!!

Zoe Katherine now owns the name of my God sister and practically also has our last name. Having known Zoe since third grade, we didn’t become friends until seventh grade. I invited her to church for the first week of our AWANA program. She came and continued coming every single week. It was so much fun to have her there with me, meeting new people and becoming stronger in her faith. Because Zoe started coming to my church, she got to know Amanda and Rachael and is also friends with them. She has been to my house and slept over more times than I can count. Something I love about Zoe is that for birthday and Christmas presents, we give each other unique and special gifts. She also was able to come to camp with me last summer for the week and was in my dance class all last year. We have so many other special memories together and I love her so much.

Cameron Christine, a tall beautiful blonde, is also one of my best friends. We have the same name but different spelling. Meeting her in 7th grade was amazing. The two of us love each other’s company and love to share our talents. She, like Zoe, has also slept over multiple times. When she slept over on my birthday last summer, it was crazy. When she got there, I knew the party had arrived. There were two of my other friends, Joy and Katelin, who were also there to spend the night. Between the four of us, we shared two half gallons of ice cream. We didn’t finish them that night, so we decided to have them for breakfast. What fun that was!! Joy and Cameron were sharing one half gallon, but Joy didn’t want any for breakfast. Cameron had it all to herself. Never give that girl sugar, for it’s a big mistake. She was hyper and crazy the rest of the day. Earlier this week Cameron and I tried out for our school talent show. I sang while she played guitar and backed me up during the chorus. It was so much fun for us!! We can’t wait to hear the results. I love Cameron so much and hope our Kameron2 (Kameron (Kamryn+Cameron) squared) memories continue to form over the years.

Carmen Michelle is like a pearl in a room full of diamonds. She’s a beautiful girl and fun loving person that everyone wants to be around. If you don’t know Carmen, get to know her. If you don’t like her, learn to love her. I didn’t know Carmen until 8th grade, the grade I am in now. When she walked into homeroom on the first day of school, I was super excited. Now I could finally get to know this person!! I had always seen her in the halls in 6th and 7th grade, hugging everyone she knew on her way to class. I always thought, “She’s so pretty. I want to get to know her to see if her outward appearance reflects her inward appearance.” Yes, it does!! She’s a smiley person on the outside for all to see, and when you get to know her, you’ll get to know that it’s also like that on the inside. I had always heard her laugh and seen her never ending smile. Few times, though does she not wear a smile on her face and that’s when I step in to hug her and say it’s going to be okay. I may not always know what’s wrong and what’s upsetting her, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be there for her. Only meeting her this year, we haven’t been able to do as much as I have been able to do with Amanda and Rachael, Zoe, and Cameron. I hope that will definitely change. I love this girl and want to be best friends forever!!

These four girls are all special to me because I make different, meaningful memories with each of them. I didn’t stay up late with Zoe on my birthday, eating ice cream out of the carton and watching old Disney princess movies and I didn’t go to camp last summer with Cameron. There are special memories made for each of the friends that I have. They’re different personalities make them fun and interesting to learn about everyday. I love seeing them every chance I get. A best friend is one who is there for you always.