Dear Jamie,

{Today is my best friend since high school's birthday}

Dear Jamie,

I really don't know where to begin.  I am so thankful that you came to the studio and just tried it out.  How I wish I would've known the awesome relationship we would develop back then.

You are seriously one of the funniest human beings I've ever met.  You and your ridiculous stories {shifting your car into reverse with your "big jug" by accident and nearly causing an accident on Kimberly Road}, your random outbursts during dance class {"I brought birthday treats"}, the one-eyed gerbil, and your inability to decipher song lyrics {"Controversy"}, make me laugh every single day.

At Jamie's wedding

Although our enjoyment of dance is what brought us together - our passion for teaching is one of the things that's kept us together.  Getting the job at Mark Twain right down the hall from you was seriously one of the biggest surprise blessings of my life.  I have no idea how I would've made it through the first years of teaching without being able to walk 3 classrooms down the hall and vent to you, laugh until we cried at lunch everyday, and spend countless hours in each other's rooms after school "working". 

Jamie (pregnant with Jayden) at my Studio Shower before my wedding.  I'm holding Avery (another teacher's baby)

Finding out you were pregnant with Jayden was one of the most exciting days I can remember.  I'll never forget the look on your face at the Back to School breakfast the morning you found out, eating at Azteca that day for lunch and talking about our excitement, and lastly realizing that you were giving birth only a few weeks before I was getting married!

Jamie was one of the first close friends that Kaitlyn knew to have a baby - she adored cuddling with baby Jayden :)

Me snuggling Jayden at my family wedding shower

And as only a best friend would, Jamie bucked up and came out to party with us on the night of my bachelorette party.  I think Jayden was about 3 weeks old.  Thinking back on that, I cannot believe she really did that - and she stayed out with us until the middle of the night. 

I will never forget walking down the aisle and looking at you with tears in your eyes simply because you were so happy for me to finally be marrying the man of my dreams.  And I also will never forget dancing with Jayden during my dollar dance.  :)  {I wish I could find that picture - I'm a little irritated about that currently.}

It's been so much fun to watch your boys grow up.  I am so honored to be Jake's Godmother and I cannot wait to watch them grow!

And most exciting yet, I am SO very excited to watch our girls grow up together.  Watching your face as you realized the meaning of this card was one of the most incredible moments of my life.

The look of only a best friend - tears of pure joy because you know the pain I've been through because you've been right next to me the entire time.  Because of the years of pain, the joy of making these announcements right along with my best friend is something I consider just icing on the cake.

It is for these reasons and thousands of others that I feel so thankful for you.  So, today, on your birthday - I hope you are surrounded by all the things and people you love.  I hope you feel as loved as you truly are by so many people.  I consider it one of my greatest blessings to call you my friend.

Love You,
Katie :)