Day 2: Someone I Used to be Close With

Continuing with the 30-day photo challenge, I go way back!

DAY 02: A PICTURE OF YOU AND SOMEONE YOU USED TO BE CLOSE WITH


This picture was taken by my mom at my dance recital at UALR. I was 12 years old. No, I didn't normally wear that much makeup. And who knows why my mom let me wear those jeans?! Not the most flattering picture by any means.

However, it does bring back great memories. The little girl on the left is my little sister, Christa. She's 19 years old now and is a student at the University of Arkansas. She's grown into a beautiful young lady. We've always been close and I treasure my relationship with her. Here's a current picture of her:


The girl in the middle is Sisi "Linda" Shen. She's the one I used to be close with. Have you ever had one of those people you just automatically clicked with? Who you had a lot in common with? Who you felt like you could completely be your crazy self around? This is one of the few people I've ever felt like that around. She was my absolute best friend in junior high (7th-9th grade). The first week of junior high, we realized we had almost all the same classes. We decided that meant we should be friends.

We shared our love of Backstreet Boys and, of course, Leonardo DiCaprio and Titanic. She and her family moved to Minnesota before high school started. That was really a difficult time for me. To start out high school can already be such a difficult time to begin with; but to do it without my best friend was rough, for sure! Thankfully, I made some other wonderful friends in high school, who I'm sure I'll write about in future blogs!

But Sisi and I have somehow managed to keep in touch over all these years. Other than my siblings/family members, she is my oldest friend (the one I've kept in touch with the longest). Granted, we don't talk every day or even close to that. But when we do talk, we catch up and it's like we start right where we left off! She came to my wedding and I'm so happy she did. It wouldn't have been the same without her. Here's a picture of us from my rehearsal dinner:


Although Sisi has always looked good, I'd say we both outgrew whatever awkward stage we were in in the previous junior high pic, wouldn't you? I hope we continue to stay in touch as we grow older and begin our families.

If you have a friend like Sisi in your life, my advice is to be intentional to keep up with them and maintain that friendship, even if you can only talk every once in a while. These friendships are priceless and can never be replaced.

Just as a reminder, here's the schedule for the 30-day photo challenge:

DAY 01: A PICTURE OF YOURSELF WITH FIFTEEN FACTS
DAY 02: A PICTURE OF YOU AND SOMEONE YOU USED TO BE CLOSE WITH
DAY 03: A PICTURE OF THE CAST FROM YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW
DAY 04: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE DAY
DAY 05: A PICTURE OF ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES
DAY 06: A PICTURE OF A PERSON YOU'D LOVE TO CHANGE PLACES WITH FOR A DAY
DAY 07: A PICTURE OF YOUR MOST TREASURED ITEM
DAY 08: A PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH
DAY 09: PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER
DAY 10: A PICTURE OF THE PEOPLE YOU DID THE CRAZIEST THINGS WITH
DAY 11: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE
DAY 12: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU LIKE
DAY 13: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY
DAY 14: A PICTURE OF SOMEONE YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT
DAY 15: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE.
DAY 16: A PICTURE OF WHERE YOU WANT TO LIVE OUT YOUR DAYS
DAY 17: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE SUPER HERO
DAY 18: FIRST 10 SONGS ON YOUR iPOD SHUFFLE
DAY 19: A PICTURE OF YOU AS A KID
DAY 20: A PICTURE OF SOMEWHERE YOU'D LIKE TO TRAVEL
DAY 21: A PICTURE FROM LAST SUMMER
DAY 22: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE FOOD
DAY 23: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU WERE BETTER AT
DAY 24: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOK
DAY 25: A PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS
DAY 26: A PICTURE OF THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN THEATERS
DAY 27: A PICTURE OF A TRADITION YOU HAVE
DAY 28: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP
DAY 29: A PICTURE OF WHERE YOU LIVE
DAY 30: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE SPORT