peculiar treasures + soul sisters.

Friend.  Such a simple word... such a beautiful thought.  Someone to share your heart with -- your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your favorite songs.  I love the idea of a friend.  Always have.  Until one day when I didn't have one.

And I had Jesus.  I know that.  I had my parents, too.  Believe me.  I know how exasperating parents can be and how they make stupid, irrational decisions that send you spiraling down the social staircase.  Those stupid, irrational decisions are to protect you. All they want is the best for you, even though it may not seem like it.  I promise you they do; that they're two of the best friends you'll ever have.

But I'm not going to go through the whole story of how I became friendless.  I'm going to tell you about the peculiar treasure in my life.

"...Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people..." --excerpt from Exodus 19:5 (KJV)

This verse tells us that if we obey God's voice and keep His covenant, we'll be His peculiar treasures. Notice the words peculiar and treasure aren't usually placed together.  But that's why I like it so much.  Because it pretty much says, "Look, if you follow God, you're gonna be weird to the world.  But that's okay, 'cause you're like a priceless gem to Him."

In the Christy Miller books, (ya'll have read the Christ Miller books, right? They're rad.) Christy and Katie call each other "peculiar treasures" instead of "best friends."  Because they're more than friends; they're family.  They're soul sisters.

Which brings me to my soul sis, Kathryn.  My dear, dear Kathryn.  She sends me pretty letters, writes on my Facebook wall for no reason, makes me a video just to introduce to me to her friends.

It all began with a simple email.  I decided to take a blogger-break and she just told me she would miss and to have fun doing whatever.  And I said thanks.  And then we began writing one paragraph... then two... then three... just talking 'bout life.  We just kept uncovering things we had in common!  It was a weirdly awesome thing for me, feeling friendless and all.

Her mom finally agreed to let us be pen pals... and the rest is history.  Even though we've never met, we're connected at the heart.  We can finish each other's sentences and quote the lyric the other needs to hear.  We both love Brandon Heath and have a yearning passion to stand in a little red phone booth in London.  God knew I didn't need just any friend. He knew I needed a soul sister.

"Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one that is truly reliable?" --Proverbs 20:6

Not many.  And I'm blessed to say I am one of the few.

And Kathryn (since I know you're reading this):

"Several state lines keep us apart, but don't lose sleep 'cause I'll always keep you in my heart." --Adam Young, Sky Sailing

Thanks for being the Katie to my Christy.  Can't wait till we meet... in this world or the next :)