By Katie Revai LeFevre 
To my lifelong best friend, well, pretty much—the one I’ve had in my corner since high school. Thank you for building me up. In the good times, the in-between times, and the hard times. Especially in the hard times.
Thank you for building me up way back when. Way back in 11th grade gym class when everyone else (and let’s be honest, those ruthless volleyballs) seemed to be out only to take me down.
Way back at the ice cream shop on the river, at one of our very first jobs. When our boss surely didn’t care for me, but you vouched for the fact that I really was a worthwhile, trying-her-best (even when frazzled by that darn Blizzard machine) employee.
Way back in college when the miles kept us apart, but we kept up with each other’s shenanigans as if video messages and phone calls were a not-to-be-lost form of fine art. By the way, those video messages and phone calls full of laughter were the highlight of any ordinary dorm life day.
To my lifelong best friend, thank you for building me up. Thank you for building me up through our everything-seemed-so-major-at-the-time 20s. Back when we were finding our footing and figuring out who we thought we were. Back when I was in Memphis dating “Mr. He Seems Right for Right Now” (but wasn’t really right for me at all), and you were in the Carolinas, somehow keeping your classic cool while calling off a wedding with the wrong guy.
Back when we were just starting out in our careers with wide eyes, pre-children and pre-the-rest-of-our-lives—me as a kindergarten teacher, you as a nurse. When I needed someone to talk life with, when life as I knew it was part wild adventure, part what in the world is coming next? and part pure bliss.
Back when road trips were easy and your door was always open (I know it’s still always open). Back when I had nowhere to go but your pool house, as a live-in summer guest while I figured out all the rest. Back when your babies were the total pride and joy of my heart–all while we swiped dating apps optimistically (and sometimes a bit tipsy) in search of the one who could, one day, give me my own.
To my lifelong best friend, thank you for building me up. Thank you for building me up through the settling-down phase of life. When I got married at the worst of COVID and you couldn’t be here for the small ceremony, but you made sure to make it for the best big party. When I became pregnant with my first and wanted to get the whole motherhood thing all right, when I lost my angel and you celebrated and remembered him, when I delivered my rainbow baby seven weeks early, you were there.
When my world crashed down and darkness swept in as I watched my preemie take a turn for the worse with RSV, and you mustered up the strength to drive across states just to hold him. To hold me. To hold us together in complete chaos and frenzy.
When I was adjusting to life as a mom of more than one and needed reassurance that I could, in fact, get it all done—the learning, the growing, the endless multi-tasking, constant worrying, decision-making, and life-rearranging.
When the heaviest curveball to date was thrown at me and my dreams for the future inevitably changed. When I needed to know that I would, indeed, be better off one day, and maybe even more than just okay. You reminded me of my unending strength. You still do, each and every seemingly impossible day.
To my lifelong best friend, thank you for building me up. Your example is a shining light on this ever-surprising journey of life, and I’m so glad we’re on this journey together. You’ve always been there (or shall I say, here) even from afar, and I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. I’m so grateful to have you.
To my lifelong best friend, thank you for building me up through it all, especially in the hard times. I hope you know how much I look up to you.
by Brianna Baranowski 
by Whitney Fleming 
by Krystal Sieben 
