My 20 year high school reunion was last weekend. I had mixed emotions about going but had been looking forward to seeing my friends from Vegas and catching up with people. I had lost touch with so many people over the years and was not even sure who would show up.

After having kids I became a bit more introverted and did not take the time to make lasting friendships. Being at home with the kids seems to limit the amount of time that I have to meet new people and make new friends.

Kris and Spencer, from Vegas, have been dear friends since around 1993. I went through a lot and they were always there for me. I have not found friends like them and, honestly, I hope never to need a friend as much as I needed Kris.

Life has been very busy and I consider Joe my best friend, everyone else that I have met is wonderful but there just isn’t the time to get that close. Talking 2-3 times a year and seeing each other once a year seems to be enough for Kris and I to still be close.

I reconnected with a few very special people and am grateful for the time that we spent talking. I will keep in touch with them and continue to grow our friendships.

This reunion came at a time in my life where I am happy, feel good about myself, my relationship and my kids. People seemed more grown up than they did at the 10 year reunion and it was refreshing to hear about their lives, families and changes. It felt good to see so many happy and successful people and hear that most of their happiness was due to their families.

At the 10 year reunion it seemed like status was important but at the 20 year it was more about life. Talk about jobs and career was secondary to conversations about family, kids and how we spend our time.

Many of the women were at home moms like me and it was nice to hear so many of us talk about family, kids, school and things that were totally Mom related. Amazingly, the age range of kids went from 22 years old down to a few months; some people had a kid in high school and some of us waited until our thirties.

It was fun to talk, share stories, and find that time and distance does not change real friendships. People that I did not expect to be excited to see me were and it made me feel good and happy to reunite with them.

I was happy to introduce Joe to my friends from the past and he was a trooper. He’s such a good man and it was wonderful to hear comments about what a nice guy he is; all that I could do was smile and say "I know!"

The best part of the reunion was a small comment made in passing. Joe looked over at Spencer and said, "Doesn’t it feel good to be with the best looking women here?" Spencer looked at Kris, got a big smile and said, "Man you’re right, we’re pretty lucky!"

Joe still finds me beautiful 8 years later and that fact made more of am impact on me than any comment that anyone else could have made. There was something about hearing my husband tell a buddy that he thinks that I am beautiful, it made my heart melt and I fell in love with him all over again. We will be married 7 years on the 18th and I fall in love with him more every day.

I see him with our kids and I fall head over heals with him because of his sincerity, openness, and love for all of us. He is the love of my life, has brought me joy, a family, and now a reason to dress up a little more often.

Seeing everyone, renewing friendships, cherishing existing friends, and rekindling my love for Joe was more than I could have hoped for from a 20 year reunion.

What a surprise to find that it would make me appreciate, love and respect Joe more than I did before. Who knew?

Off to make another Mommy Milestone.