I've been talking to my maddie about friendships lately.she's at the age where a "best" friend is a new thought for her.she's had a few friends that she's childishly labeled as "best" growing up...but thanks to the women in these photographs today and also with the thanks to a few other women not in these photographs,she's begun to desire deeper friendships in life.a friendship that challenges her as a person,a friendship that she can freely be herself with,a friendship that she can share life with.these beautiful women demonstrate these things to her and more importantly, to each other.I (and she) love to have the opportunity to watch these girls from a distance over the years.this group of women holds dancers, students, nurses, creatives, daughters, artists, musicians and most importantlyALL of them have an intense love for Jesus and encourage each other daily in working out their faith on their independent journeys to love Him more.I love what lynne wrote as she and another of this group headed off to other parts of the country:"...I have been blessed to call these ladies my best friends ranging from this year all the way to six years.  we are each walking into new seasons of life: engagements, boyfriends, moving states, moving away from home, and leaving high school...we are all growing up. I just want to take this moment to tell you that the memories we have made are unsurpassable and that each of you has a ginormous chunk of my heart.  as we drift apart, it is only for a moment. we will always gravitate back towards one another because friends are the family you choose - and I choose you. I am only a phone call, text, snap, facetime, letter away and will never stop loving you - ever. keep your eyes on the Lord, the One who brought us all together and everything will fall perfectly into place...xoxo, always."THIS is what I pray for my little girl as she stands on the edge of seeking a "best" friend.and I am SO thankful that these women give such an excellent example of what to look for in her journey.love, love, LOVE you, you lovely nine. :)