Rebuilding the tribe

In college, I had this great group of girlfriends. I feel like it's the kind of thing I'll always be trying to replicate: this amazing group of women all supportive of each other and praying for each other and going after God together. Anne Jackson, whose blog I read regularly, talks about searching for your tribe - this feeling that we're always looking for that group where we belong, for kindred spirits. This group of women is the closest thing I've ever experience to my tribe.

Since I graduated in 2004, I can't remember a time we've all been together.

A little over a year ago, four of us got together for a sleepover at my friend Sarah's house. She was married, Ashley was engaged, Simon and I had been together for almost three years, and Emily had just started dating Rusty.

Now, we're all married. It's pretty exciting. It's been a big year for us! Emily has married this guy named Rusty Angell (is that a great cowboy name or what?) and has pretty much melted into his family, who all live on a huge farm outside of Winston-Salem. Thursday night, the Angell's had a massive party in their barn - and we all went. There was barbecue, bluegrass, and hay bales by woodstoves. Only in America. (I love you North Carolina)

Left: Sarah and me on a hay bale. She's a teacher and she's married to Steve, who's in medical school. They were high school sweethearts, and she's the kind of girl who would actually do anything for you. I miss her madly.



All the girls. Clockwise from top right - Me, Courtney, Ronnie, Emily, Ashley, Callie, Sarah.











Us waiting for a couples photo, and Emily yelling at Rusty to hurry up.








There we go. I like how all the couples are clinging to each other, but Sarah is clinging to me. We love each other.