My lifelong friend and fellow pilgrim, Carrie ♥️

Carrie and I met at Wardcliff Elementary School in Okemos, Michigan. We were both in Mrs. Velicer’s third grade class, which is where we became best friends. This picture from an elementary birthday party is fitting as now we are celebrating our 50th birthdays together 😊. 

Here we were, 40 years later, walking the Camino. For those of you who heard my eulogy to my mom last month, one of the things I’m grateful for is mom’s intention to maintain lifelong friendships. From mom, I learned how meaningful and life giving it is to stay connected to those dear to us, even when 1,000 miles or more separate us. 

Now our husbands and children are also great friends. We count Carrie’s sister, Kristi, and her family as some of our closest friends. Though I don’t often see Carrie’s sister, Mari, she is also very dear to me. Last month Carrie’s mom texted me the loveliest messages of how special her friendship with my mom was. We have a three generation friendship. 



I love you, Carrie ♥️. Thanks for being a pilgrim with me on El Camino de Santiago and through life 😊.