Childhood Friends Come Together

I remember reading once about a child being scared during a thunderstorm running into his parents room and jumping into bed with them. The father reminded the child that he was never alone but that God was with him...the little boy snuggled closer to his father and said "Yes, I know God is with me but sometimes I need someone with skin on!" That is what true friendship is...God's love coming from someone with skin on!



In life, we are blessed by so many forms of friendships but that deep friendship that runs true through thick or thin is rare to find...but once you experience it is something you never want to let go of...

Krista has found this so true...she has some of those gems in her life.



Kelly was and is Krista's best friend. They met when they were 8 years old. That was 14 years ago...14 years of memories, 14 years of creating a bond that even prison could not break!

I remember when we travelled as families to Frank's parents farm, the girls quickly latched onto the old farm truck...with Kelly's little sister, Sharla sitting between them they would take turns driving around the perimeter of the farm...for hours! They were two peas in a pod. Both had senses of humor that would bring you to tears, they were sweet, they were caring and they created a bond that went beyond the talk show videos they made, the sleep overs, the trips, the shopping, going to school together... they created a bond that in the worse scenarios of life it would hold.... the love they have was there for all those great memories but it was even greater through the pain.

As we werein the midst of loading a U Haul truck with the help of our friends, as we were moving down to the States to be closer to Krista, we stopped for a moment as Laurie, Kelly's mom, had brought a video out. A video of the girls doing a remake of a song off of Grease. Krista was Danny, Sharla was Sandy and Kelly was the camera man. We sat and watched laughing and crying at the same time. It was a moment I will never forget.

Kelly has been a faithful friend. She has written Krista a lot of letters that would classify as mini novels. She has sent money so Krista could call her. Just recently Sharla and Kelly made a real sacrifice, they flew down here to see Krista. We drove the 9 hours to the prison and made it in time for visiting. We went through the process of getting into the visitation room and waited for that big metal door to open. Finally, she walked through. Her eyes scanned the room for us and then she saw the girls. She began to run and they ran...tears flowing from every eye as Krista grabbed Kelly weeping and hanging on for dear life. She next hugged Sharla, she pulled back and looked at Sharla who had gone from being a 15 year old girl to being a beautiful young woman of 18 years of age. Now, she was in my arms, the tears continuing to flow...the emotional flood gates of waiting for this visit, for seeing these girls after 3 years of separation had hit the heart.

It was a wonderful weekend. Lots of laughs, memories and just plain old catching up. Krista talked to each of us alone...wanting the best for each of us. Wanting to share her heart privately to each in her unique way.

Our goodbyes were hard. Tears at leaving her behind, her tears of being left behind. I found it difficult to go. A lot of water has passed under the bridge of life since those girls made their home made videos. The last video made was sent to the Judge who sentenced Krista. Kelly poured her heart out. As Krista sat in that court room and watched that video for the first time, seeing her friend talk about who Krista is and how she deserved a second chance...well, Krista just sat there and wept...this was true friendship at its peak, this was Jonathan and David friendship...this is a friendship that walls of barbed wire, guards, keys, and guard towers can not destroy... it is sisterhood!