S Is For Sheena and T Is for Tara

You get a double post today because the storms knocked out my internet last night and I didn't have a chance to get this post together before then.  You're welcome.

S is for Sheena.  Sheena, Crys, and I have been friends since the dawn of time.  Okay, really more like since around 2000, but that's what it feels like.  I actually have known Sheena longer than that because she was friends in high school with one of my cousins.  But I digress.  Sheena is the hyper-organized big sister that I didn't get biologically.  But our friendship was totally of God.  (How else would three girls with such strong wills have stayed friends this long?)

 I used some of these pictures the last time I dug through my picture archives, so I'm pretty sure she won't kill me because of them.  (I've only picked the fabulous ones because she has a blog of her very own and just as many oldies!)

 Sheena is our piano player when we sing, because she has that annoying combination of talent and skill.  She plays most things using guitar chords and fills in the rest with Floyd Cramer licks.  She's the one who is classically trained, and it's always fun to have someone around who actually knows what they are doing instead of just kind of making it up (like me).

 This is probably one of my very favorite pictures of Sheena, not because of the quality but because of the memory.  We had a dance party in the basement at her soon-to-be in-laws, and when we took a break, she collapsed in this chair.  I always laugh when I am with the girls, but that night just stands out.

 Sheena has a love for Hello Kitty that is almost unhealthy for someone in her 30s, but it's those kind of things that I love most about her.  Sheena is the friend that steps up when you are in crisis, does all of the things you can't think of doing, and then takes you shopping or for cookies.  Or both.

 She also has her very own business, Versatile Vocalists, which was a true labor of love to get off the ground last spring.  The building she was in what in need of an overhaul and Sheena was able to envision it and make all of her dreams of a studio come true.  (You can read all about it here and here.)

 Sheena's getting married this fall to her Precious.  They have been together since the dawn of time, too, even though their relationship originally started as a practical joke to mess with Crys.

 They are full of love and understanding and, of course, good senses of humor.

 Sheena has been the calmest bride ever, partly due to the fact that she is organized and partly because either way, she'll be married at the end of the day.  I can't wait for it myself, and I'm sure that you will be sick of hearing about it by the time the wedding gets here.  Love you, friend!

T is for Tara.  I have actually known Tara since she was in high school (that's right, I went back to the archives for you, too, my friend).

 She graduated with Crys's younger brother and that was really the extent of my knowledge of her for a while.  However, it didn't take me very long to decide that I liked her style.  There have been many a conversation had on the patio while she smoked a cigarette and we talked.  At the time, it was probably because we were the only two girls in the room who could carry on a conversation (Amber excluded), but I'd like to think it was also because we knew we were going to be great friends one day as well.

 Back in 2008, Tara offered Amber and I a place to stay as we embarked on our first road trip.  She was stationed in Charleston at the time, and we took up up on it.  I am so glad we did! 

 We had a great stay hanging out on the beach and playing with Tara's fur-baby, Spencer.  (Though I will never forget the time Amber and I let him out when Tara was at work, and then immediately put him back up because we had no clue how hyper he would be!) 

 Tara is a broad in the truest sense of the word, and I mean that as a high compliment.  She can hold her own with the boys and is one of the toughest women I know.  She takes care of business and is highly organized.  She is also very girly, and loves crafts and scrapbooking (a fact that blew my mind the first time I heard it). 

 This year has been the most difficult of her life, and the grace, strength, and faith at which she has faced it down has been awe-inspiring.  She's going to be having a little girl (Macy Jane) in a few short weeks, and I am so excited for her as she begins this journey.  She's going to be an amazing mom!

 Years ago, before Tara left for the Navy, I felt God speak to my heart that she was going to need a friend.  I wrote her letters while she was at BASIC, and thought maybe that would be the extent of it.  (If we'd only known, right?)  I can honestly say that I am honored to be her friend.  Hurry up and get home so that we can start spoiling you and Miss Macy, okay?  I can't wait!