Boy Did I Luck Out... Ode to My Friends

Today I have been thinking about how great of a blessing the friends that I have made over the years have been in my life. It's as if each of my friends were hand picked for me; each of my friends have such wonderful qualities that I learn from. Every time I am with one of them, I am left pondering the things in my life that I could improve on to be more like them, I come away with a level of introspection that I could not obtain from any one or anywhere else. I feel like my Heavenly Father must really love me to put all these special people in my life, because I honestly can't think of anything I could offer them in return for the lessons they have taught me and the kindness they have shown me. I think about high school, when I foolishly thought that the only reason I had the friends I had was because they were there, I was there, it was a small school and we hung out with each other by default. But these friends were and continue to be a source of great joy for me, and I still love them very much to this day and learn from them and admire them. Then I think about college and the friends I made in those days, and I feel the same way! I am so blessed. So I want to Ode to my friends, and write a little about a few of them whom I have learned from and who have impressed me over the years. I'm not mentioning names, but I bet you can tell who you are!

Friend #1: I admire you because you are so honest with yourself and others. You have a unique gift and have had it from an unusually young age to think outside the box, to think for yourself, and be immune to the pressures of those around you who would have you think or act certain ways. You taught me to be true to myself and to do what I knew was right even though it was very hard for me. At a certain point in my life, you changed my life! You continue to impress me by the way you handle your life and the way you are so methodical and thoughtful about everything you do. You are by far one of the most unique and beautiful people (inside and out) that I have ever met! (By the way, you also introduced me to "Old Navy," and I thought you were saying you bought your clothes from "Old Lady" for the longest time).

Friend #2: In reading old journal entries, I described you as "my angel," because I truly thought Heavenly Father sent you into my life at just the right moment in time. You befriended me when no one else would. Somehow in those silly days when what other people thought was so important, you looked past that and reached out to me. I will love you forever for accepting me so fully! And what is really great about you is, I really feel like I have been a terrible friend to you over the years: over-critical, argumentative, and outspoken and yet you have not judged me for it, you still treat me with kindness no matter what. Any time I am around you, I come away wanting to better myself; treat my husband kinder, gossip less, give people room to make mistakes, just try and make things pleasant for those around me. I also learn from you to work hard at everything I do, to take serious my responsibilities as a parent, a wife, and a friend.

Friend #3: You were completely and totally there for me for what I can still to this day say was the most difficult and trying time in my whole life. I remember feeling "in the depths of despair" and I remember you showing me the scripture in D&C 122 verse 7 and 9: "...and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the outh wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." "...therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." You were there for me when no one else would or could be there for me. You continue to impress me with your strength, your service, and your determination to do what is right and be a strong person.

Friend #4: Although we hung out more in high school than we do now, I only realized how much we have in common in the last 8 years after high school! I envy your quiet wisdom. I love your down to earth logical ways of thinking and your realistic attitude and easy to be with nature. I try to be as responsible in my life as you are in yours. I want to model my family life the way you were raised and the way you are now raising your own family. I also love your sense of humor! Thank you for being such a great example to me.

Friend #5: You got me through a certain few years which if you had not been there, I would have been depressed and practically suicidal. I also would have nearly killed my husband and fully killed certain licensed professionals who somehow became instructors. Basically every day for 2 years would have been sheer hell, but instead were very very good years. I love and share your sense of humor, your incredible strength and unwaivering faith and wisdom. You taught me so much about life, about motherhood, and about marriage that I really needed to know and I still use the lessons you have taught me. You are one of the, (if not THE) strongest, smartest, and most selfless persons I have ever known. Thank you for making life bearable! By the way, no one has (or could ever) replaced you and it has been a very hard year... poor Zach...

Friend #6: You have no idea what a great example you are to me! You are so unapologetically bold, so truthful, so unwaivering. You stick to what you know is right, and no one can sway you, a quality I could definitely use. You work so hard at what you do and you put so much into serving others and into working in the church. You also have shared your time with your husband with his church callings so selflessly and without bitterness, I don't know how you do it. Now you put this great energy into motherhood and you are doing an incredible job.

Thank you to all of you and the other friends in my life who I haven't mentioned for making my life better in so many ways, you can never know how much you have influence me in my life and all for the better. I have been bawling writing this whole post and my kids think something is terribly wrong, but it is because I really mean what I have said, and you are so important to me, and I am so blessed! And also I am a bit hormonal... But thank you! Love Amy