Kelly Skovholt & Vera Bradley

Now I understand my sister's purse fetish. I've never been as proud of a purse as I am with my new Vera Bradley bag given to me by my long-time, dear friend, Kelly Jane (Lawhead) Skovholt. I totally feel flirty at thirty with this darling bag on my shoulder. I'm so careful with it and refuse to put any used Kleenex or crumpled straw wrappers in it as I would with my other purses. I strive to keep it organized, which is a huge help, actually! I am enjoying my adorable purse very, very much.

Here's Kelly and her husband, Jonathan! See, Kelly's sporting her Vera Bradley purse, naturally doused with hints of purple (her favorite color). When Kurt and I went to D.C. to visit, it was so cute how she and her friends all had Vera Bradley purses. I love that I now fit in with that east coast trend! Thank you, Kelly, for your thoughtful gift! I love it!

Kelly and I met in the 4th grade. Our teacher, Mrs. Moore, coupled us together to make up an assignment that we both missed. We sat behind a bookshelf and became fast friends as we giggled and bonded in our little private book-fort while the rest of the class worked on something else, and I imagine they were envious of the fun we were obviously having. I think it was the perfect way to meet this friend of mine.

Kelly has always been a book-lover. She inspired me to read many books I might not have otherwise read such as The Little House in the Big Woods series. She also devoured The Baby Sitters Club books, Nancy Drew mysteries, and the Sweet Valley High saga. Now, we are both members of separate book clubs in separate cities, but we still share about our story adventures.

We used to glamourously dress up and create dance routines to old country songs together and I have to say that our best performances were to "Honky Tonk Man" and "1814," both by Johnny Horton. (I know what you're thinking, "Who's that?" Google him. He's great; really.) You'd have to bribe us pretty well to do an encore presentation, but I remember a particularly hilarious move to the line, "Gulf of Mexico!"

In fifth grade, Kelly and I volunteered for something three days a week during our lunch recess: library aid, office aid, and Kindergarten aid. When we weren't helping out, we were busy building our club: PTS, which stands for Pre-Teen Sensations. You can't say that we weren't creative and busy girls! We also loved Crayola markers and made lined paper rainbows by coloring each line a different saturated color. Kelly inspired me to try band and Girl Scouts, but I didn't last in either; Kelly was a lifer in both! We each played piano and she and I were on the same softball team for a time, too.

Throughout middle school and high school, Kelly and I gravitated to a different set of core friends, but we somehow always remained close. Even in college, we did our own thing, but we thankfully managed to keep in touch.

During and after college, we would get together every few months and we rediscovered our friendship and our uncanny ability to pick up where we left off, always finding lots of reasons to laugh and a never-ending line of conversation, despite the many miles that had previously separated us. I'm so blessed to have Kelly in my life!

She introduced me to afternoon tea at Tohono Chul Tea Room and I fell in love with this old English tradition!

Kelly sweetly asked me to be one of her bridesmaids in her wedding this past April of 2008, which was such a gift. I feel even closer to her now and am grateful for the experience to get to know her, her husband, her friends, and her family on a deeper level. She and her family are such hospitable people and they treat others with such openness and warmth - like part of their own family. They are all easy to love. Kelly has such a wonderful positive, cheerful, optimistic spirit, and she's found a wonderful husband in Jonathan. Kurt and I are so happy to call them lifelong and special friends.

My purse reminds me constantly of her and this gives me reason to grin.

Friends Forever,

Dawn