Walker Elementary Ten Year Reunion

...well it was actually eleven.  minor detail.

When I think back to this six year time period (2000-2006) of my life, I have the warmest, fondest memories in my heart.  SUCH good times, dear friends, and special special moments.  Getting back together with these girls is like picking up right where we left off.  I LoVe them.  On my forever list of true friends.

We opened a school together.  Many of us were first year teachers.  Our principal was a first year principal.  We bonded.

This snapshot shows a good many of them.  This was at one of our many FUN nights playing Pokeno together.  They threw me a baby shower for AnnMarie.  So sweet!

Another shower for her at school.  My team that year.  Denise, Mandy, Shelly, Summer, and Manda.

That summer before my first year of teaching, I met this teeny blonde named Holly.  She turned out to be one of my best friends.  I was talkative, she quiet.  I introduced myself at a teacher workshop because I knew no one, and she looked my age.  :)
That October she invited me to go on a cruise.  Funny funny trip.  Here we are in the year 2001.  Had NO idea where our lives would take us...

We had many a girls night, we met our husbands, we loved teaching at Walker, we had babies, we moved back to our hometowns and said goodbye to Mckinney life.

...fast forward TEN years...

It felt like no one had aged.  Like we'd just all been at a staff meeting together last Wednesday.  I love these people.  They were my family when my family lived three days away.  They were there to tell when I went on my first date with my husband to be.  They were there to see me try on my wedding dress for the first time.  They were THERE.

And these two, I'm not gonna lie, are at the top of my list.  Precious, precious teaching sisters.  They're also two of the MANY  Debbies/Debs/Deborahs/Debras in my life. 
Debbie on the left---taught 4th and I taught 1st so we were always "buddy" classes.  I love being around her.  She is so full of life, smiles, encouragement, humor.  I love her.
Deb on the right---like another mother to me.  She hired me sight unseen (over the phone) and shepherded me through my (bless those first students' hearts) early years of teaching.  She offered a shoulder to cry on and gave me many words of wisdom.  I love her dearly.

I just love Deedy.  We shared TOO many laughs in those days!  And still!  We can crack each other up about some crazzzzzzzzzzzy students and parents.  Love this beautiful sweet woman.

Sweet Marea.  Really she embodies this word.  We were two of the first year teachers in 2000.  Didn't know what we were doing! :)  Both got married around the same time and had babies around the same time.  She is a Walker veteran and is STILL there!  wow

Holly and I now.  After many fun summers---days by the pool, shopping, going out to eat----that all changed, and then we were talking about getting married, moving to Craig Ranch subdivision, getting pregnant, having GIRLS!, dressing them, taking them to the mall playareas, going to church together, growing in our faith, and then....shedding tears together---when we both moved back "home". 
The neat thing about friendships like that is that it doesn't matter how far apart you live!  I love you, Holly Hannalee! :)

And finally, all but one of my original first grade team.  We missed Donna! 
Alli (again, first year teachers together, got married around the same time, had babies together), Emily, and Denise.

Now Miss Emily deserves her own paragraph (and old picture, but I couldn't find one! sheesh!) too.  Another one of those lifelong friends God put in my life at just the right time.  We are kindred spirits.  One of those people I could spend every day with!  Really wish she was my next door neighbor, but again, luckily it doesn't matter how far apart we live.  We share a love of all things old, vintage, old fashioned, wholesome, and "trash into treasure". Can't say enough about this lovely friend. I love you , Mrs. Martin! :)


It was a very quick trip and reunion, but SO worth the time that I got with these ladies. 

Here's to the next (hopefully soon) reunion!!