“
I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT TRUE
FRIENDSHIP WAS, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL
I MET AMANDA THAT I REALLY
understood what it meant to have
a geniune best friend
“
Both Brent and Bradley were in the nursing program as well. One day,
as they were exiting a class, Holland grabbed Amanda and introduced her
to Bradley, immediately setting up a double date for both couples. Holland
knew what she was doing, as Amanda and Bradley hit it off and eventually b ecame engaged. Once their wedding day arrived, Holland was overwhelmed with tears of happiness for her best friend. “It was awesome to
ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST BLESSINGS IS FRIENDSHIP. Furthermore, if
stand beside her as her maid of honor on that special day and know that the
you’re truly fortunate, some friendships expand into the even greater blessing
dreams we had been talking about for years were finally starting to come
of family. While Amanda White started out as just a classmate of Holland White,
true. I think I cried more that day than I did at my own wedding!”
these two ladies would go on to develop more than just a friendship - a sisterhood, to be exact.
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
Holland didn’t have a sister growing up, so it was exciting to gain a new
sibling in a sense. “Amanda and I share everything. There is never anything I
Holland first met Amanda while they were registering for nursing classes at Flor-
don’t tell her. I thought I knew what true friendship was, but it was not until
ence-Darlington Technical College. Holland and Amanda signed up for the same
I met Amanda that I really understood what it meant to have a genuine best
anatomy class, although they didn’t sit together at first. Once all of the other stu-
friend. We are there for each other no matter what. We have each other’s
dents who sat at tables with Holland and Amanda dropped out of the class, the
back no matter what. I know at the end of the day she will always be there
girls became seat-mates. As Holland shares, “We have been inseparable ever since.”
for me.” To Amanda, Holland is a sister and a mother-figure as well. “She
According to Holland, Amanda - coming from Dillon and not knowing many
is very protective of me, and once you are in her circle of people she loves,
people in Florence - was quiet and kind. Despite Amanda’s shy demeanor, how-
there is nothing she won’t do to stand up for you or help you.” When Aman-
ever, Holland felt certain she was unafraid when it came to speaking her mind.
da and Bradley moved to Columbia, the girls were faced with some lengthy
Holland admits, “I am not the kind of person who you have to wonder about in
time away from one another. They remained close, however, as Holland and
regard to what I am thinking. Amanda seemed to be the same way.” Holland, on
Brent would travel to Columbia on weekends when Amanda and Bradley
the other hand, was outspoken, driven, and knew many people in Florence. Once
couldn’t come home to visit.
their second semester arrived, the girls had formed a bond, strengthened as they
Having conquered many things together, the girls now approached the next
would often go to lunch together. Amanda lived approximately 45 minutes away
item on their plates: motherhood. Once Amanda and Bradley moved back to Flor-
from school, so she would stay with Holland when the girls had early classes or
ence, Amanda became pregnant. Holland was going to become an aunt! Amanda
nursing clinicals. While they weren’t expecting to be more than just classmates
became an aunt as well, with Holland now being the proud mom of four children.
at first, the two quickly discovered that despite their differences, they had some
Holland shares, “Amanda and I travel together all the time. It is nothing for us to
commonalities - the biggest, of course, being the nursing program. Amanda
pack up the kids and head out of town to the lake, the beach, or wherever. We have
shares, “We are total opposites on paper… But, we both wanted to be nurses,
always supported each other each time a new child came into the mix. We always
and we ended up at Tech instead of USC like we both had planned. Looking back,
try to love and treat each other’s kids like they are our own. When I was talking
it makes me see how much God is in control, and He has a perfect plan. His hand
with my husband about adding another baby to our family, I felt like I needed to
was in every decision that I made, even though I thought I was in control. This was
also ask Amanda’s permission and to make sure she thought we could handle an-
the start of my new life, and just as I used to pray for my future husband and life,
other baby and keep going with the kids like we always have. When I found out I
He was also planning my lifelong best friend.”
was going to have twins, I was so scared that it would be the end of us being able
As time passed, the girls grew in their friendship. In less than a year of
to go and take the kids places, but Amanda assured me that we would still be
knowing Amanda, Holland knew her new friend would be the perfect match
able to go. We would just have one baby apiece now!” Amanda adds, “True to our
for Bradley, who was the brother of Holland’s boyfriend, Brent. “As I got to
friendship, especially after all the kids we have had, we put on our ‘big girl pants’
know Amanda and Bradley better, I knew it was going to work. I just knew we
and just did it together without letting anything stop us. Holland truly made moth-
were all going to be family one day.” Before she had even considered setting
erhood easier for me because she was always on my side, and she didn’t let my
up Amanda with Bradley, Holland told her that she felt certain they would be
having a child bother her when we went somewhere. We are still like that today.
sisters-in-law one day. Amanda exclaims, “I thought she was crazy! Holland
We help each other with the kids, even if none of our own are involved or around.”
always has a plan, though. Once she sets her mind to it, nothing is going to
Holland and Amanda still make time for each other, going on an annual weekend
stand in her way. I thought it was a great plan because I loved hanging out
shopping trip to Charlotte each year for their family’s Christmas gifts. “We take this
with her. Just like fairy tales, though, I didn’t put much thought into it, but
weekend to shop but also to just spend time reconnecting, laughing, and watch-
Holland had it all planned.”
ing just what we want on TV as late as we want.” CONTINUED
JULY 2016
67