A friend loves at all times...Proverbs 17:17

My first year of teaching at Timothy Christian School (2001) I met a kindred spirit named Christy. She is wonderful. I wanted to be with her all the time. Christy is so funny and smart and she LOVES the Lord. She is/was such an inspiration to me.

She taught 5th grade down the hall, and I taught 3rd grade. She got me into creative memories (scrapbooking) and Longaberger baskets (I became a basket consultant in addition to teaching and working at The Limited.)

She was such a great teacher and I really looked up to her. Not just because I am so short, but because she has a way with her students that made them love and respect her. She had to confront a lot of hard sin issues in 5th grade, but the way she cared enough for her students to do the hard thing was really admirable. That's the way she is, if she loves you, she does not hold back. She loves you completely and is super loyal and honest.

We became fast friends! We did aftercare together and would sing silly musical songs that we made up to the kids. They all acted like they thought we were crazy, but deep down, I know they loved it! We played off of each other all the time.

Christy and I love going to the movies together. We've seen countless movies like, Lord of the Rings, Riding in the Car with Boys, The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Button, and one I will never forget Finding Nemo. Now, I don't know if you know this, but Christy has by far the best laugh in the world, and in Finding Nemo she cracked up so many times and her laughter filled the theatre. It was both mortifying and hysterical all at once. I loved it!!! She is so fun! She has THE BEST sense of humor.

Christy is also a great listener. I was struggling with some home issues at the time with my parents and she was always willing to listen and was very objective. I love how she can always see the bigger picture and give you a good perspective on an issue. God has really blessed her with wisdom. I tell her all the time she should be a psychologist or christian counselor. She is so talented.

She is one of those people that given any task will do amazingly. Yet at times she is really hard on herself, and she doesn't always see how absolutely wonderful she is.

She also has the gift of encouragement. As anyone can imagine your first year of teaching is always a challenge, no matter how much of a gift God has given you to teach, no matter how much you love it, working with parents can prove to be one of the hardest parts of teaching at times. Christy was always there to tell me that I was an amazing teacher. She used to tease me all the time and say, "I can't believe this is your first year!" She always had something positive to say. She is also the one who pushed me to get my Masters at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA. I was so nervous because it was taking 5 courses in one month for 3 summers. I didn't know if I could handle it. She was like, "Kristi, you can totally do this!" She was right...I graduated in 2005 Summa Cum Laude! It is friend's like Christy who can see the best in you and are not quiet about pushing you towards your highest achievements. She is always there when I need her.

Just yesterday I called her up to pray for me and the kids because we all have a cold, and without any hesitation she told me she was coming over after work to help me and what could she bring for dinner! Now that is a true friend. I call her my bosom friend (Anne of Green Gables said this to Diana Barry...I loved reading the Anne series by Lucy Maud Montgomery when I was a teenager.).

Thank you Christy for your love and friendship and encouragement. You have made me a better teacher, a better daughter, a better wife, a better mother, a better sister, and a better friend! I love you!

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Love your bosom friend,
Kristi