8 eggs, pink ink, and a whole lot of trust.

"We celebrate our sense of each other. We have a lot to give one another." Sufjan Stevens

Friends are such a blessing. Especially good ones. And most especially when they eat the food I make. "How am I worthy of your time?" I often wonder. This morning my little roommate, the grad that could, and I made a meal for our breakfast partner in crime, Mer. When we get together, we can eat. Croque Monsieurs, honey glazed pears, French toast casserole... we've got a good thing going. (And a hearty shout out to all my other lovely roommates who put up with the smell of those baking ham and cheese sandwiches; you all are troopers. I know you weren't able to enjoy the taste of them, but I can vouch for the rest of us and say they were excellent. Except you, my milk-spurning Kathleen.)

But why is it that we take so much time that could be ours solely to spend with others? This may sound like a no-brainer, but I definitely could have slept in this morning and left the casserole up to Laura. Mer could have decided to stay home, brew her own batch of coffee, and sit on her beige, well-worn leather couch with a Jane Austen novel. (What are you reading now, girl?) 9:30a.m. is early, Mer didn't have class today, mine wasn't until 11a.m., and Laura is a grad (that could). We all could have easily skipped out and done our own thing, but instead jolted awake a little unwillingly and a little bitter (Why is it that no matter how peaceful our alarm tune is, and however often we change it, it is still so annoying?), stretched our backs, and bemoaned the thought of head-to-pillow separation. Then with motivation that comes from God knows where, we throw back the covers, slide one foot out and onto the floor, toes hitting hardwood the first reality we've met in the last 6 hours (probably more like 9 for Laura.) We do it because our love for each other is complimentary, our lives flowing over into each other's so much so that we make what is theirs ours. And that, my dear friends, is a great gift from God. God's love for each of us, that transgresses through us all. It is a network greater than any other, and one that by His power and grace will never be broken.

Just like His love for us is never-ending, I work every day for my love of others to be as unconditional. And they for me. Sometimes I can be pretty self-centered, Laura falls asleep when I'm still talking to her, and Mer, without fail, always shows up late. But because God's love is so graceful, so is mine towards them. In fact, I laugh at sweet Laura as she dozes off for the night, and know to make a mental note that when Mer says 10, she means 10:25. When I let the Lord's love reign over my relationships, I find I cannot help but revel in the presence of those very special people in my life. Life is so good. And you know what the best part of it is? With Him, it's eternal.

Laura and Mer, our friendship is boundless. Thank you for seeing me vulnerable in pieces, yet still loving me wholly.