Mr A and I were so fortunate to see some dear friends yesterday. Mr A and Luis met in an army school, they were bunk mates (aka battle buddies). I met Mr A in that same school, but didn't meet Luis until years later. We all graduated and went our separate ways. One day while Mr A was in Kuwait and running in formation he saw Luis! Turned out Luis got stationed where we were, Ft Stewart, GA. His wife, Kari, was soon going to be moving to the area, so the 2 men got us in contact with one another. From the moment I met Kari, it was an instant friendship. We bonded very quickly, and I think one of the main reasons why is that we were both experiencing something very serious and scary in our life, our men were in the beginnings of a war. Contact with the men was very scarce and so we found comfort, family, and stability in one another. I can honestly say, she was the sister I never had. I had never felt that way about any one. Having an older and younger sister herself, it was a role she did so well. We spent tons of hours together during the boys' last couple months of their deployment, we were inseparable. I am so grateful for her because she was a light during an extremely life changing time for me.
A year after the return of our men, she and Luis moved. Mr A and I remained in Georgia. In 2006, Mr A and I were roadtripping back to Illinois and stayed with Kari for the night along the way (they were stationed at Ft Campbell, Ky...where we are now! But Luis was away). She was 6 months pregnant with her first and I was very newly pregnant with my first. Later that year, our paths crossed again when she was temporarily living in Austin (again, Luis was away due to the army). I came with Mr A to San Antonio, Tx for a week while he started a new army school. I was able to spend a couple days with Kari and her newborn. It was awe inspiring to see her as a mother. Later that year we moved to Hawaii.
In 2007, baby C and I made a month long trip back to IL. With Kari back at Ft Campbell, I took the opportunity to take a visit there. It was the first roadtrip I had ever done by myself (well, C was with me). We had a great weekend of catching up and sharing laughs. My heart filled with joy watching our children meet and play together. A couple years later, Luis got out of the army and their family moved to Austin, TX. Not long after, we got stationed here at Ft Campbell, KY. We were so close to living by each other again!
And now, in 2012, those paths crossed yet again. Luis and Kari have some family in our area and had to make a short visit here due to difficult circumstances. The chances of seeing them were slim but I knew in my heart I just had to see them, even if it were for just a few minutes. Thankfully, that was able to happen and it has filled a void I didn't know was missing. We dont talk very often but keep in touch through facebook. They have 2 girls now together (unfortunately they had to stay back) and we obviously have our 2 boys. Seeing them yesterday was bittersweet. Mr A and I haven't seen Luis since 2004. I was flooded with all of these memories we shared together, of the two of us and of all four of us. For a slight minute, it was as if no years, no miles ever separated us. It was a feeling of comfort and familiarity. I am very blessed for that. I know our paths will cross again. I know we will all pick up where we left off. And I know God put us in each others' lives for a reason.
Jeremy & Luis, 2004
Luis & Jeremy, 2012
Amy & Kari, 2004
Amy (with Connor) & Kari (with Ashlyn), 2007
Amy & Kari, 2012
The day Kari & Luis moved from Georgia, my mom sent me an email with a poem in it. I didn't learn the poem's meaning until fate started bringing us together with our friends again.
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