Tributes

I just had to say goodbye to one of my best friends. I plan on seeing her in the morning, but still it was a very hard thing to do. I've decided that this post shall be a tribute my dearest friends. The semester is over and it's been a good one. I have learned so much this semester, that I am only just starting to realize. I have learned that a real friendship is not necessarily marked by how many times you see someone, but by after not seeing someone for so long, coming back together and acting like you never left. I have learned that I do know how to make friends. I may not have tons and tons of friends, but I would much rather a few very close friends than tons of superficial friends which I have a hard time talking to. I have learned that while I just don't do well and do not like small talk, when you do actually get me talking about something I like, then I find that I do like talking. I have learned that I am funny. And I have learned that I must be likable if I have so many amazing friends that love me.

Lexi

I met Lexi freshman year of high school. We've been friends ever since, but my senior year of high school is really when we became best friends. She has always been there for me when I really need it. She is the one to hold me when I cry or calm me when I have a mental breakdown. Lexi is so selfless.She used to claim that she would "corrupt" me, but really she has been so good for me. We've been roommates for two years, and it is so strange to be saying goodbye to her. I can't imagine life without my Lexi. My life would suck without you!

Ashley

Ashley and I became roommates spring term. It was complete fate. From day one we were friends. Later we found out that our mothers had grown up together in the same small town. We decided that that made us sisters. Ashley is so incredibly sweet and together we have such great adventures. Being with her is like being at home. I feel like I can always be myself around her. I love everything about my dear sister Ashley and it hurts so bad to have to say goodbye to her. She is literally my other half.

Erica

Erica was one of the first friends I made in college. She is so smart and so sweet, and I love how much she cares about other people. I can confide in her. She is one of those friends where it doesn't matter how long it's been since you've seen each other, it's like nothing has changed. She has introduced me to some great people. I am so glad we have continued to have such an amazing friendship this year, and I know that we will continue to be good friends after our missions.

Alicia

Alicia is so funny and such a joy. She is super ripped. ;) Some of my favorite quotes on our quote wall were said by her. Alicia is so easy to talk to. She gets super animated and I love it when she has to prove her strength by attacking someone. Alicia was one of my roommates from last year. Alicia has taught me some valuable lessons in confidence. I love Alicia and hope to be more like her. I wish her all the luck in Jerusalem.

Becca

Becca has taught me the value of being spontaneous. She too was one of my roommates from last year. Oh the memories I have of dancing with her in the kitchen, scream-singing from the boys' balcony, and eating ice cream straight out of the carton. If you want something, I have learned to "make it happen" as she always says. I sincerely hope Becca never changes.

Carolina

Carolina, another roommate from last year, is super funny and spontaneous also. I have learned through her that sometimes when we are feeling like we are going crazy, the best thing to do is to just act crazy, to let it out. Her expressions, her dance moves, her accents, her love of llamas, her sneezing -I love it all. I wish Carolina luck on her mission and I hope someday to be able to dance as well as Carolina or Alicia who also dances amazingly.

Forrest

Forrest was one my spring term roommates and is so cool. Forrest is such a loyal friend, so sweet and helpful, and we have a lot in common as far as movies and music and such go. As I said to you today across the table Forrest, "Forrest you light up my world like nobody else! The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed! The way you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell, you don't know-oh-oh, you don't now you're beautiful!" You seriously are beautiful.

Amber

Finally there's Amber. Such a sweetheart! She is so caring and nonjudgmental. I love when I get to work with her. She was another roommate from Spring term. I don't know if I've ever heard Amber say a mean thing. Her puppy-dog face is priceless. She is always smiling and her eyes are gorgeous. I am so glad to have gotten to know her and to come visit so many times this semester.

Oh there are so many other people I could write about, but it is seriously so late right now. But I loved every moment of being with these girls. They are all so beautiful and so wonderful. I would never trade them. You guys are more like family than friends. Although I shall not see you for 18 months, my heart is with you and I shall never stop being your friend. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love you all.

Week of Birthdays

It's been a while since I've written. Mainly because I haven't exactly had anything to write about. The semester is almost over. Last day of classes is Tuesday and finals start next Friday. Man I can't wait for this to be over. In a way I'm super sad to be saying goodbye to many of my friends for the next 18 months, because I know things are going to be very different when I get back. Some of my friends might be even be married. It's almost heartbreaking to have to end it. But I am also super relieved that this semester is almost over, that I won't have to take any tests for 18 months, that I get to go home and see my family again, and that I can finally leave for my mission.

Well this week is the week of birthdays!

My birthday was on Monday. I didn't do a whole lot, but I had a classy dinner with friends which was all I wanted. We dressed up all nice and went to Olive Garden, and I just had a great time spending the evening with my best girl friends. I talked to my Mom, and my family sang to me over the phone. My sister Kimberly and her husband also sang to me over the phone and I got to talk to them for a bit. And then I ended the night by googlechatting with my sister Allison who is in the hospital and her husband. That was my first time with googlechat and it was fun. You can make yourself have hats and eyepatches and mustaches with googlechat. So I made us all wear birthday hats and put a cake on the screen and pretended to blow out the candle on the cake to celebrate my birthday. It was great fun.

Then Thursday (tomorrow) is my nephew Hyrum's birthday.

This is Hyrum playing at the park

I love Hyrum. I miss him and his brothers so much. Hyrum can be so sweet and so fun to play with. As he gets older, his play gets more creative. I love sitting down with him and asking him to tell me a story. His stories don't always make sense, in fact I usually have no idea what he's talking about, but it is fun to see how creative he can be, since I loved (and still love) making up stories when I was little. He likes to act really tough and had the lowest voice I've ever heard a baby have, but then you'd catch him squeal in excitement or crawl into his mom's arms with his thumb in his mouth holding on to his silk blanky.

Hyrum pushing his little brother Enoch on the swing

 I am sad that I will not get to see any of my nephew's for 18 months, and at their age so much changes in just 18 months. When I get back, Ammon will have been baptized, Enoch probably won't remember me, and I'll be a complete stranger to Zion. Sigh.

My three sweet nephews, left to right: Hyrum (age 4), Ammon (age 6), and Enoch (age 1 1/2)

But back to the week of birthdays: Friday my little nephew Zion will finally be born! YAY! We are all very excited but no one is as excited as Allison. She has been in the hospital for several weeks now, and on Friday it will hopefully all be over. We are all praying very hard that the baby will be healthy and there will be no further complications on Friday. My sister is going to have 4 little boys!

Yep it's a week of birthdays, and in April, during the spring, I think it's the perfect time for birthdays!

Well have a lovely week! Enjoy the Spring weather while you can. Hopefully it won't snow again.