Friends we knew before we were born.

When I was younger I thought of friendship just as Anne of Green Gables. I just wanted a “bosom friend.”

“A bosom friend–an intimate friend, you know–a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul.  I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life.  I never really supposed I would, but so many of my loveliest dreams have come true all at once that perhaps this one will, too.  Do you think it’s possible?”

Anne of Green Gables

As I got older I came realize the same thing she did. 

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

Anne of Green Gables

I think Heavenly Father kept friendships in mind as He planned out this world and how grateful I am!  What would we do without “bosom friends” and “kindred spirits?”  I’ve had many times in my life where I felt a friend was placed in my life; not by chance but by divine design. There are so many but here a just a few stories. 

This is for all my kindred spirits out there, you know who you are!!! ❤️❤️

Fawn

I was at 3rd grade registration. I spotted a new girl, I had no idea if she would be in my class but I immediately knew she would be my friend. I sought her out on the play ground before class on the very first day of school. Little did I know that she had just moved from Germany and barely spoke English.  That didn’t deter me. I pointed to myself and said, “Amber” she pointed to herself and said “Fawn.”   We communicated through big smiles, then I grabbed her hand and pointed to the swings. We were completely inseparable from that day forward. I just now realized how terrifying it would have been to move to a new school without even knowing the language everyone else spoke. She probably needed me as much as I needed her. 

Vince

In 5th grade there was Vince. I didn’t know him but everybody “knew” him because he was blind. Curiosity made everyone aware of him but didn’t make everyone nice to him.  One day I came across a group of boys who decided it would be fun surround Vince and take turns sneaking up and shoving him. Vince was turning in a circle trying to get away and yelling at the boys to stop.  

I was extremely quiet and painfully shy when I was younger but watching those boys gang up on Vince made every inhibition leave me.   I walked straight into that circle of boys and told them exactly what I thought of them including how pathetic they were for targeting someone who was blind. I wanted to grab Vince’s guide stick and hit a few boys with it; instead I just grabbed Vince’s arm and led him away with me.  

After that Vince’s teacher took notice at our new friendship and asked if I would be his assistant of sorts.  When my mom found out about Vince and met his mom she realized a connection. Vince and I had spent plenty of time together in the same NICU when we were born and here we were placed together again.  He was kind, funny and easy to be around so I was grateful to have a new friend. There was also something to having a friend who didn’t care about what was on the outside though he did ask once to feel my face to know what I looked like.  I was sad at the end of the year when he left to go to a school for the blind. 

Shannon

In high school I had another friend miraculously come into my life and I told the whole story here on the blog. 

Sherry

I headed up to college 2 weeks after I graduated and made quick friends with my new roommates. We liked each other enough that we decided we should switch around our living arrangements for the Fall so we could stay together.  A list of my Fall roommates had already been mailed to me but I never saw it because it was sent to my home. When I called my mom to tell her of my new plan to switch my roommates around she asked me if I would be able to keep any roommates I had already been assigned to. I would be able to keep 2 of the 5 but I didn’t understand why it mattered since I didn’t know any of them. Then my mom said,  “There is a girl on the list that was mailed to you; Sherry Saunders from Vale, Oregon. I want you to keep her as your roommate.”

I thought that was a weird request, but okay.   My mom explained further. My grandmother’s side of the family was all from Vale, Oregon. She joked that half of the small town of Vale was her relatives and the other half was members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Early in my parent’s marriage they had moved from a hippie commune in New Mexico to Vale, Oregon just long enough to get away from drugs and get clean. While they were there my mother learned about and joined the church and received a special blessing called a patriarchal blessing from Patriarch Saunders.  She saw that Sherry’s last name was Saunders and that she was also from Vale.  “If she is related to Patriarch Saunders she is from a good family and I think it would be neat for you to room with her.”

I listened to my mom and made the arrangements but I didn’t think much of it. When the Fall came and I was able to meet Sherry I discovered this endlessly bubbly girl was the grand-daughter of Patriarch Saunders. I didn’t know if it was possible for someone to laugh as much or as loud as Sherry. It was a little weird for me, the girl who was constantly told to smile more, to be paired up with the girl who stuck a sign on her mirror that said, “If you are happy smile, if you aren’t, smile until you are!”  It took a little bit because of how opposite we were but we started to click. 

It has been 24 years and I’d say we have more than clicked. If there ever was such thing as kindred spirits, it is Sherry and I. How grateful I am to have had a friend who has been along for every tear, laugh, and eye roll of life. Do you have a friend like that?  The friend that has caused plenty neck kinks from holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder? Thank goodness for the invention of bluetooth, right!?

Sherry altered the course of my life when she asked me to join her in a business. Both Sherry and the business ended up being one of the neatest blessings in my life. Her friendship has been a defining part of my life and for that, I know it was no mistake. We’ve been friends long before we were born and in a time we can’t remember.  You’ve met her if you’ve ever scrolled down to the comments on my blog. She is there for almost every one, cheering me on.  Thanks Sher, I’m grateful my mom told me to keep the girl from Vale, Oregon. 

How wonderful it is to know these relationships we are led to in this life are all part of a beautiful plan. They bless us and we become the people we are meant to be because of their influence. Take time to reflect on on the miracles the Lord has given to you in the form of a friend. 

If you enjoyed this thank you for sharing it with your dear friends!