Love Letters.

I save all the cards and notes I get from people. Call me sentimental. In honor of Valentine's Day, here are a few of my favorites.

Jennie made me the "Friend 4 Ever" button when we were in 8th grade, 1997. Maybe she knew we would be friends forever or maybe it was just something to say, but I've saved it. The card on the right she gave me after I won the Kassebaum scholarship at K-State. That was 2001, our senior year of high school, and we were still so close. You know about Jennie...we're still besties 13 years after her prophetic button.

I have a well loved Bible that I used my four years at K-State. Inside it our two of my favorite notes. Katherine slipped me that note during "study hours" at Alpha Chi our first semester at K-State, fall of 2001. Rachel wrote me this post-it note when I was breaking up with my long-distance boyfriend our sophomore year. She stayed up with me until 2 am (on a school night!) in room H. Look at her words, "God has an awesome plan for you and He will show you!" Would you believe those are the things that Rachel says to me still today?

I found this note today when I was looking for Valentine's cookie cutters, and it made me laugh out loud. It was sad to move back to KC and away from so many of my best friends at the end of college. But Rachel and Alison had gone through my stuff and left me random little notes. In shoe boxes, my clothes, and my desk drawers, among other places. I left them where I found them, and they occasionally still surprise me five years and several moves later.

I have boxes more full of notes from friends. They are lovely. I have undeniably some of the best friends in the world. Please don't be surprised at my wedding if I have twelve or eighteen bridesmaids. I'm just that lucky.