Friendship over the years has a way of revealing something divine: God has plans for our lives long before we ever know what they are.
I met my best friend in high school during marching band camp. She was a sophomore, I was a junior, and we both played clarinet. At the time, our biggest concerns were rehearsal schedules and surviving the summer heat, not realizing God was quietly planting a lifelong friendship that would shape both of our lives in ways we never could have imagined.
We stayed close through college and eventually found ourselves searching for teaching jobs at the same time, me in early childhood education, her in music education. Coming from southern Illinois, we sent out hundreds of resumes across Illinois and Missouri, praying and hoping for doors to open. When I was offered my dream job teaching all-day kindergarten in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, I was thrilled… and terrified. It meant crossing the Mississippi River and leaving the comfort of my hometown after two long years of searching. Still, I knew in my heart it was where God was leading me.
Then, just one week later, my best friend landed an interview in the very same district. What were the odds? I helped her prep, drilled her with interview questions, drove her to the administration building, so she’d know exactly where to go… and she got the job! Suddenly, what felt like a leap of faith became a shared journey.
We hadn’t planned on being roommates, not wanting to risk our friendship, but after apartment hunting, it simply made sense. So we moved into our first apartment and began our teaching careers together in the fall of 1996. Those years were filled with the growing pains of first-year teaching, tears after long days, late-night talks, and constant encouragement. When she wanted to quit, I reminded her of her gifts. She stayed and went on to teach general music in that district for years.
In return, she nourished me in ways only a true friend can, through amazing meals, laughter, and by pulling me back into music. I began playing clarinet seriously again, taking private lessons, performing in pit orchestras, and eventually joining the Saint Louis Wind Symphony, where we are still members today. Together, we built a wind quintet, played weddings and receptions, and even created concerts for children.
Over seven years as roommates, we supported each other through graduate school, both adopted cats, hosted dinner parties, watched sitcoms recorded on a VCR with steaming cups of coffee on Saturday mornings, and shared faith conversations sparked by sermons I heard at my church with my bestie even joining me sometimes. Somewhere along the way, we became more than friends, we became sisters. For two only children, it was an extraordinary gift.
Life continued to unfold: seven years as roommates, standing as each other’s maid of honor, marriages, motherhood. Her daughters came first, and when my “mini me” arrived years later, she became my mommy mentor, passing down clothes, books, toys, and priceless wisdom.
Even as life grew busier, we stayed connected through Sunday rehearsals, phone calls, and faith-filled conversations. Scripture and lessons learned from our individual Bible studies began weaving naturally into our talks. Then, last year, she mentioned possibly returning to work. I casually shared that my daughter’s school was always looking for preschool assistants. She applied, unsure if she was cut out for it, and was hired.
Suddenly, my “sister” was part of my school and church family. She became a blessing to our school community, beloved by teachers and children alike. Seeing her there, and knowing she would see my “mini me” at lunchtime brought a deep sense of peace and gratitude.
And then came yesterday.
I was asked to substitute in her classroom.
Team-teaching with my best friend, my “sister”, surrounded by three, four, and five year olds, was pure joy. The inside jokes flowed, the love and respect were obvious, and the kids felt it. It was a truly blessed day, one I will always remember. A church friend saw us together, referring to us as the “preschool dream team!”
What keeps echoing in my heart is this: when we met in high school, we never could have imagined that we would have been roommates teaching in the same school district, and now, 38 years later, we’d spend the day teaching preschool together. If someone had told us back then, we would have laughed!
But God knew.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
This friendship has always been give and take, composed by God’s hand. Proof that when we trust Him, stay open, and walk faithfully, even when we don’t see the full picture, He weaves something far more beautiful than we could ever plan ourselves, a quiet duet composed by God.
God is amazing! His plans are good. And sometimes they begin on that one day in band camp and lead to a friendship that lasts a lifetime!
Making Music- My husband and I are both active musicians so our daughter has grown up attending our concerts and sitting in the balcony at church while mommy and daddy play their instruments. Today we let her play. With our help she played a few notes on the trumpet and on the clarinet. Our daughter has a basket full of percussion instruments that she pulls out and plays on a regular basis. The jury is still out on what band instrument she will play but for now percussion is her favorite!
Make Your Own Instrument– Look around your house and make your own instruments out of recyclables. Make a shaker by filling something with rice, beans or rocks. Make a drum by decorating a plastic container or tub. Full glass bottles with various amounts of water, blow across the top and hear a note. How much water do you need in the bottle to make a low note or a high note? Have a parade and march around the house playing your new instruments!
Lillian and I enjoyed reading this rhyming book based on the song, “Silent Night.” The story features a bear cub and its mother as they walk through the woods on a calm winter’s night. Along their path they encounter animals living in harmony with their natural surroundings while others are deep in their winter slumber. On the last page the mother and cub marvel at the awe-inspiring beauty of a bright star illuminating the night sky. The book is a beautiful story to read with your little one.
As a musician I get the pleasure of performing the song multiple times every year with the various ensembles I perform in. But the greatest happiness comes when I sing the song at the conclusion of the candlelight service on Christmas Eve at church. It is something I anticipate every year. As the sanctuary’s overhead lights dim, the church illuminates with a warm glow from the small candles carefully held by the congregation. As the light from the candles illuminates my face and the words “Silent night, holy night,” flow freely from my lips, my heart overflows with radiant joy. For the song reminds us all of the greatest gift we will ever receive… Jesus!
Noteworthy Mommy 