Miss halfway.

I've had Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer stuck in my head all day long.

Woooaahh, we're halfway there. Woooahhh, livin on a prayer.
Because we are halfway there. The countdown is finally on.
Because in [about] 365 days, my best friend will be home. 
You don't realize how long a year is until you're counting every day.
You notice every weekend, every holiday.
You keep track of the emails, the letters, the packages.

You find weird ways of measuring time [only ____ more Friday nights! Only ____ more finals weeks!].
And as the days pass, you learn a lot about yourself. You do things by yourself, or for the first time. You change.
In the last 365 days, I have:
Moved four times.
Worked two different jobs.
Gone on three vacations.
Taken eight finals.
Mentored 35 freshman.
Dyed my hair five times.
Joined a sorority.
Made dozens of new friends.
Written and received over 100 letters.

Things have changed--but not too much.
I'm in my second year of college, and I study by myself in the library--but I still have an alarm set for Monday morning emails, and the mailman is my best friend on Friday afternoons.
I can drive the canyon [at night and in the snow] by myself without freaking out--but I listen to Rascal Flatts like it's a bad habit.
I still can't pop my own knuckles--but I've learned how to change a tire and a brake light.
I've made friends that are more like family--but I still wish he was with me on all the crazy adventures we go on.
I've learned a lot about who I am and how to stand on my own two feet--but I still miss my best friend, and I can't wait til he's home. So finally, after 365 days, 52 weekends, 36 letters, 12 Fast Sundays, and one incredibly long year, I can say...
See you in 365, Elder! 

My lucky day.

It's my favorite missionary's birthday today, and to say I was grateful for today would be the understatement of the century.

It's not everyday you meet somebody who knows every detail of your life and still loves you. Bronson is the most patient, forgiving, entertaining person I know, and I honestly don't know where I'd be without him. 

When my Grandma passed away, he kept my head above water and made sure I was okay--and let me know it was okay if I wasn't. 

When I was working late, he'd wait up and make sure I got home safe; and would drive home with me because he knows how much I hate driving at night. 

When we had finals last fall, he bring me food when I'd been in the library all day; and he even came with Jon and made sure Paige and I got up on time for our psychology final when we'd been studying all night the night before. 

When my birthday came around this year, even though it had been almost 7 months since we'd seen each other, he sent me a package of my favorite things--and on Valentine's Day he had Jon surprise me with a dozen roses, because he knows how much I love flowers. 

He knows me better than anybody else. He gets my irrational fears, supports my crazy dreams, and even laughs at my stupid jokes.

He eats the peach jelly beans, green Dots and gummy bears, and vanilla Frosty's that I hate. 

He understands what I mean when I say, "I HATE cancer." 

He stays with me when we snowboard, even though he's much better than I am and could easily leave me behind. 

He laughs at my jokes. 

He shares my disdain for BYU. 

He teaches me how to be a gracious loser--and does the same when I destroy him in bowling. 

He's completely honest with me, 100% of the time. 

He knows everything about me: he understands my worries and frustrations, acknowledges my dreams, and knows my fears. 

He never fails to tell me I'm beautiful; whether it's at 3 am during a stressful finals week, on the ski lift after a massive crash while snowboarding, in the car on a date, or while I'm in tears for some random reason. 

He's patient with me--more so than just about anyone I know--even when I won't decide where we should go for dinner, whose car we're taking, what movie to watch, or who to hang out with, he's patient and eventually makes most of the decisions. 

He keeps me focused and motivated.

He always knows what to say. Even though he's 1,500 miles away and I only hear from him twice a week--Friday's letters are always full of exactly what I need to hear, and Monday morning emails never fail to make me smile. 

He's the reason I love hockey, go to Aggie basketball games, and can tolerate driving. 

He makes me laugh harder than anyone else, smile when I'd rather cry, and can drive me crazy in a matter of seconds. 

He's the patient one when I'm stressed, the forgiving one when I'm judgmental, and the grounded one when I'm day dreaming and unfocused. 

He keeps me sane, motivated, and constantly surprised. 

Some days, I miss him so much it hurts...and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'll drive the neighborhoods of Logan by myself, listening to Rascal Flatts and talking out loud trying to figure out what he'd say in the present situation. 

Long story short, he's my very best friend. And even though I miss him like crazy, I know he's exactly where he's supposed to be. Michigan sure is a lucky place. 

He's been gone almost a whole year, and that means in just over a year, he'll be home. And everything will be okay again. 

Happy Birthday, Elder! 

Long story short.

I'm just missing these two a whole bunch today. 

Paris and Michigan better be taking good care of my favorite missionaries.

Gone too soon.

Friday night, we had one final dinner as roommates before Kelsey leaves on Wednesday. While we were sitting at Zupa's, someone said something about how the next time we'll all be together, there'll be wedding rings involved. Just about blew my mind. 

For the last nine months, I've spent just about every waking moment with these five girls. We've cleaned, cried, yelled, slept, cooked, and laughed together; and they've become my very best friends. 

Kelsey goes into the MTC next Wednesday, and then we'll have 21 months before we're all together again.
Gives a whole new meaning to "see you soon."
I'm so excited for the people of Knoxville [not Nashville, contrary to popular belief] to get to know Kelsey. She's one of the most Christlike people I've ever met, and she's got a stronger testimony than just about anyone else I know. She's a ridiculously hard worker, and more motivated than I'll ever be. And those traits alone are going to help her work wonders in Tennessee. 

Yesterday was Boston's farewell too. Our mom's have been friends for a ridiculously long time, and we kind of got thrown together. That led to sleepovers every day of the week, daily homework sessions, and bike rides to our favorite swing set in Kaysville. Being a year old than me, Bost was always one step ahead and acted as the perfect example for me to follow. She heads to the MTC on the 5th of June before leaving for Spokane, Washington...and I feel like I'm losing a sister. She's taught me so much, and I look up to her and admire her more than anybody else.

Basically, I've been ridiculously lucky when it comes to my friends. They're incredible examples of Christlike lives, and they have testimonies that help mine grow every single day. I'm so proud of each and every one of them and their decision to serve, and I can't wait to add to my list of letter-writing buddies. Missionary work is such an amazing thing, and I'm so glad I get to see it happening on so many levels.
I went over to Bronson's house yesterday since it had been forever since I'd seen his family. After four hours of talking about everything under the sun, a snapchat conversation with Jonnynog, and updating them on everybody's lives; I realized just how lucky I was to have not only amazing friends, but to have  good relationships with their families as well. The Kunzler's are some incredible people, and I'm so glad they're a part of my life.

Last, but certainly not least, today was email day! Emily's been eating some freaky foods in Paris (rabbit, goat cheese, escargot, and pureed celery--whatever that means) and Hailee's companion knows next to no English (the word of the day was "sketchy" and her companion lost no time telling her, "Sister Henson, you look sketchy today." Oh the joys of a foreign language). Bronson's loving Michigan. (He also said a bunch of ward members had found my blog via Facebook...so hello to any new readers in Michigan! Take care of my best friend, alright?) And he sent me this picture saying, "I think this will make your day." He's changed so much in the last four months, and yet he hasn't changed at all. What a goof. 

Life is good, kids. So good. 

Once each year.

Sometimes, just when you don't think you can handle one more emotion being thrown in your face, life hits you like a figurative brick wall. 

I thought I finally had everything under control after moving all week, working all weekend, and finishing finals; but I hadn't really had time to process what month it was. I've never been a fan of May, it's windy, it's AP week (or finals, now), and the anticipation for summer is getting the best of everyone. 

So when I got a letter from my best friend on Friday that said, "I know your least favorite day of the year is coming up. And I want you to know that I'm thinking about you, that the Plan of Salvation is real, and families ARE forever." I was caught a little off guard. 

Then I realized what he meant. It's been three years since my Grandma passed away; three years since the hardest day of my life. 

Even though I miss her so much it hurts to breathe somedays, I've learned so much over the last three years; things I wouldn't have learned otherwise. 

The night she passed away, after I'd told my friends good night, turned off my cell phone, and my family had gone to bed, I turned to my scriptures, desperate for some kind of comfort. 

Opening to a handout in the New Testament, I turned the page to 2nd Corinthians 4:17, which reads: 

"For our light affliction  which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. " 

Even though I wouldn't want to go through any of that again, I know that I wouldn't be the same person without that trial. I've learned how to rely on my Heavenly Father for comfort, and how to apply the Atonement to my life. I learned how incredible my family truly is, and I think the sealing power we find in the temples is even more amazing now. I know how much it hurt to lose my grandma, and at the time, that seemed like the worst thing in the world to me--and it might have been. But I do know that that trial will be worth it in the end, when I get to see her again in the spirit world and be with her for eternity. The pain of that loss is nothing compared to the glory we'll experience after. 

In the meantime though, I'll do my best to follow her example. To love without hesitation, and serve without a second thought. To focus on others more than I focus on myself, and set goals that will help me in a celestial sense. I want to be the kind of mother she was, and the kind of relationship that she and my grandpa have. During her fight with cancer, she adopted a motto of sorts, the phrase "You can do hard things" and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't applied that in my own life. I can do hard things, and I will keep doing hard things--because I had a nearly perfect example of endurance to follow. 

I love you, Grandma. 

Just a minute.

It's no secret that I despise Mondays. And I have yet to find something [inanimate, at least] that I hate more than Monday mornings. Yesterday though, was way different. I rolled over, and picked up my phone because it was freaking out while downloading emails. First name that pops up....Bronson Kunzler. I sat STRAIGHT up and bed, more awake than I had been in days. Between him figuring out a nice way to tell me to stop talking, learning what a "Michigan minute" was, and making me laugh like he was right here, I discovered that there's seriously nothing better than starting your day off with a "talk" with your best friend (if you can call it that) and yesterday was wonderful because of it.
In his email, he told me about an investigator they're teaching and he talked about the Atonement. As I was reading his testimony about this incredible event, I remembered a talk that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave in General Conference a few years ago.
He spoke about the Atonement, and the sacrifice that it was for our Savior to suffer and atone for our sins like He did, and ended with what is probably my favorite quote in the history of General Conference.

"...may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in world only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ "at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death," for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone." 

Today? Take a little extra time to be grateful for our Savior and his sacrifice. Because I'm grateful.
Grateful that there's someone who understands how I'm feeling when I can't sleep at 3 a.m.
Grateful that there's someone who understands how I feel when I ace a test.
Grateful that there's someone who understands what it's like to miss someone so much it physically hurts.
Grateful that there's someone who understands how excited I get when I get to see my little sisters.
Grateful that there's someone who not only knows how I'm feeling every second of every day, but someone who has felt it exactly like I have.
That's what the Atonement does for us. And it's just one of a million and a half reasons why I love this gospel.

Happy Tuesday, folks.



[p.s. If you want to read/watch/listen to Elder Holland's whole talk, go here. I promise, it's worth it.] 

Just hold on.

Having all your best friends gone or in the process of leaving gives you a new perspective on life. 

I used to spend every day trying to figure out ways to spend time with them and keep them happy, and now? I've got all the time in the world to make me happy. Rather than driving home every weekend to be with friends, I spend my weekends doing my best to make sure I make something of myself while they're out changing lives. 

And it's been wonderful. 

Wednesday night, I spent a solid 8 1/2 hours in the library. Studying, writing my English papers, and actually doing my homework. I took time to really think about what I was doing and put effort into the research I was doing. I wrote in my journal for the first time in a week and a half. Wrote way too many pages of missionary letters. Emailed some high school seniors about the wonders of USU and answered way too many questions about graduation requirements and on-campus housing. Looked over my runs for Ragnar and died a little inside. Did a whole lot of soul searching. 

I realized a few things. 

1. I'm much more productive when I'm by myself. I hate every second of being alone, mind you, but I can focus and the distractions are limited to making sure I like the song playing in my headphones and finding more ice to chew on.

And 2. I'm a very, very, very lucky girl. I have parents who love and support me in everything I do. Siblings who make me smile everyday. Roommates who I love like the five extra sisters I never had. Boys who go out of their way to make me happy. Two jobs that I love doing, keep me busy, and allow me to do whatever I want. I'm going to school where I've always wanted to. I'm studying something I love.  

  And as weird as it may sound, I'm glad I miss these kids. Because it means I have some incredible examples and amazing friends out there. 

I have a quote on one of my pinboards that says "...I learned a lot about being a friend when I was alone." And it's so true. My friends are just starting out on their 18-24 months adventures, and I can already tell how much they're changing, and I can see myself changing too...all in such good ways. I've learned to take more time for myself, and focus on what I need; all while making sure I'm not missing a single opportunity to do something kind for those around me. It's changed my perspective on a lot of things. I'm more grateful for what I have, that's for sure. And more excited to have everyone home again in a couple years because I actually know how lucky I am now. 

I guess the moral of the story is...my life is great. And it feels good to finally be content with where you are, what you're doing, and who you're becoming. 

Too much too soon.

You can only see so many sunsets before it becomes just something that happens at six o'clock every night. 

You can only hear your favorite song so many times before it becomes just a sequence of notes. 

Your favorite meal can only be eaten so many times before it becomes just another serving of food. 

You only have to do something 23 times (give or take a few) before it becomes habit. 

But I don't think I'll ever get used to saying goodbye. I don't think it ever gets easier, I'm certainly never going to look forward to it, and I'm not seeing any good in goodbye. 

I said goodbye to Hailee tonight, for a year and a half. 

At the same time, I decided that my heart is officially being split into pieces and headed to various places. 

A very large part of it leaves for Detroit at 7:30 tomorrow morning. 

Part of it lives in Alabama. 

Another part of it enters the Provo MTC this Wednesday, and will head to Paris, France in roughly 8 weeks. [That piece will be joined by another in April. Two of my best friends serving in the same mission. There is no justice in the world.]

A piece of it will head to Hong Kong April 3rd. 

Another part will find out where it's headed the second week in March. 

I guess you could say that for the next 18-24 months, I'm going to be a rather heartless individual. OR you could say that for the next two years, I'm going to learn to love like I never have before. My mailbox is going to become ridiculously international, and there's a good chance my hand may actually fall off from all the letters I'm going to be writing. 

I'm so sick of saying goodbye I can hardly handle it, but I'm so proud of my best friends I can hardly contain it. 

Good luck out there, Hailee. I'm going to miss you like crazy, but you're going to be the best missionary Paris has ever seen. See ya in 18. :)

I love love.

It's Valentine's Day! Probably one of my favorite holidays in the whole world...I mean what girl doesn't love flowers and chocolate and the words "I love you"? No one sane, that's for sure. 

Valentine's Day isn't just about being in love, it's about love in general. 

My favorite kinds of love?
The way my mom makes my favorite food when I get home, or finishes my laundry for me. How she buys a carton of orange juice for me to take back up to school because she knows how much I love it. How she doesn't argue when I drive home from Logan just to pick up my snowboard and a few other things, and just tells me to make sure I drive safe. 

The way it feels to get a sincere compliment from complete stranger.

The way my dad sends me emails out of the blue that always say exactly what I need to hear. How he texts me before he goes to bed just to make sure I had a good day. How he spends hours making sure my car works okay, or doesn't laugh when Ryan and I head to In-n-Out at midnight....again. 

The way it feels when you listen to your favorite song, watch your favorite movie, or read your favorite book. 

The way Hailee drives from Bountiful to spend the night with Emi and I and stays up way too late talking to me, and making sure I'm alright. The way she listens to all my irrational fears, and then offers a rational alternative and sound advice. The way she gives me music suggestions not because she knows I love music, but because she knows how much I love the lyrics. 

The way it feels to find a scripture that answers the question you've had in your head all day. 

The way Bronson snowboards with me all day, and even though he could be with Jackson and Jared and Jon and Paige, he stays with me and doesn't laugh (too hard) when I spend most of the time on my face. How every May 5th for three years, I've had a bouquet of flowers delivered from him, because he knows it's a rough day and how much I love flowers. How he comes to ColdStone with me and Jon even though he hates ice cream. 

The way it feels to fill a whole page in your journal with your favorite memories. 

The way my little sisters yell my name when I come home, and how Mary begs to have a sleepover with me every single night. How they fight over who gets to run errands with me, and who gets to go through the bank drive thru and get suckers. 

The way it feels to get a hug from someone you've been missing. 

The way Jon looks out for me like a big brother. How he fixes my car (far too often), and takes me out for ice cream when I need a break. How he and Bryan take me to lunch with them. How he's letting me and Lauren dye his hair to cease our boredom. How he offers to drive me home and makes sure I get home safe wherever I go. 

The way it feels to get a really big tip on a long night at work. 

The way Emi can make me laugh at three in the morning with another off-the-wall comment. How she gets my love for unattainable movie stars and band members. How she's always up to shop with me or make me egg-drop soup. How she finishes my sentences and can choreograph a dance to Stronger spur of the moment. 

The way it feels to wrap up in your favorite blanket and watch TLC. 

The way my roommates and I have dance parties at 1 in the morning to Stronger and 22, and how much we rely on each other for everything. How they have a Dr. Pepper waiting for me at the end of a long day. How they listen to my stories and don't judge me when I start crying for no apparent reason. 

The way it feels to drive around in the middle of the night with your best friend. 

Love, in all forms, is wonderful. I love my friends. My family. The gospel. My life.

"Be in love with your life. Every minute of it." -Jack Kerouac

I am. 

Happy Valentine's Day from Snow 102 [and Dallin of course]! Have a lovely day! 

You don't understand.

Sometimes, you meet someone, and you just click.

You like the same music, have the same fears, and do the same things. 

You'd go to the ends of the earth to help them, and you know they'd do the same for you. 

Heart to hearts until 4 am just don't seem to be long enough to cover everything, and the inside jokes would take years to compile. 

Meet Hailee [Jane] Henson. 

Morgan started working at a dry cleaning place, and would not stop talking about how I was just like this girl that she worked with. We both loved Jimmy Eat World, had a passionate hatred for cancer, and were slightly obsessed with the word "hope." 

Fast forward eight months, and I finally got to meet her in person, and we clicked.

She became my confidante, my volunteer buddy, and my listening ear. We saw each other once every couple of months, and mainly just stalked each other's FB profiles and blogs. 

Right before senior year started, Emi and I started hanging out with her more and more...until we hardly went a day without doing something. 

Some reality show characters once identified their best friends with the phrase "my person." And that's exactly what Hailee is. 

She's the one I call at two am when I have a migraine and can't sleep, or something dramatic happens that only she will understand, or when I found a great YouTube video. She understands how much I despise cancer, because she empathizes with the hurt it causes on those affected. She gets my weird obsession with fonts, and is the only one who doesn't think it's bizarre that both of us can identify a majority of the fonts used not only by name, but by size and tell you what kerning was used. She shares my love of Katy Perry, Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, and Jason Lancaster. She's the only person I know who frequently drives an hour and a half out of her way just to check on her two best friends, and drive home the same night--because she knew we just needed to talk. She's the first person I ask for advice from (second only to my parents) and will listen to me complain for hours...and then talk me out of my rants before I go crazy. 

She's my older sister-she puts me in my place when I mess up.

She's my confidante-she knows everything about me, and I'd trust her with anything. 

She's one of my best friends-she's one of very few people who can take me from laughing to crying and back again in minutes. 

She's my person-she's all of those things, and then some. 

This girl leaves for the MTC on the 20th, and the people of France have no idea what's coming their way. She's got a testimony and a heart that are going to change so many lives, and a love of this gospel that will inspire hope in so many. Even though I'm tired of saying goodbye and I know that the next 18-24 months are going to be some of the longest of my life...I'm okay with it. I'm so proud of them, and today, so proud of Hai.
Bonne chance, Souer Henson. L'amour le plus. 

Lead me, guide me.

How's my day going so far? Well. Right now, I'm sitting in my apartment checking outside every few seconds to make sure Jon's not losing his mind. Because my window needs fixing, and he got that job thrown at him on Tuesday at approximately 8 o'clock. [Really, it was earlier. Bronson hadn't even left yet and I was having car problems. C'est la freaking vie.] Took my first physics test today, and turned in my first college English paper ever...after sending off my first round of missionary letters to Elder Kunzler, Elder Gerber, and Elder Anderson. It's been a day of firsts, let me tell you. 

Anyway. Last night during our roommate scripture study, we read 1 Nephi 4:6. 

"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." 

Reading that, I started thinking of all the things that had happened just that day that were examples of people listening to the Spirit, whether they knew it or not. 

Yesterday was long, and I was exhausted before it was even noon. I got home, made some lunch, and checked my email, where I found a message from my dad. He basically spoke directly to everything that had happened that day. 

"I realized that nothing I say will make the hurt and loneliness magically go away, but I also realize that it is nice to know that someone cares and feels for you." 

Add that to my roommates and their texts and just a million other little things that made me smile, I realized how grateful I am for parents that are in tune with the Spirit enough to know what I need to hear, even when I'm an hour away. 

I went to my A-Team class, a physics review, and then the five of us girls headed over to the library to study some more. As I was going through my notes, another email came through; this one from Bronson's mom, making sure she had my email address, that I'd still come visit, and finally making sure that I was doing okay. 

Now, none of these people knew what I'd been praying for and hoping for that day, and yet every single one of them spoke directly to a specific plea that I'd had that morning. 

My point is...we have a Heavenly Father that knows us. Individually, uniquely, and completely. 

Remember that. 

So it begins.

Sometimes, the window on your car breaks literally seconds after pulling into the parking lot, and you have to use every form of restraint you possess to not let loose a stream of not-so-nice words. Sometimes, you get the last text for two years on your way to Taco Tuesday at Cafe Rio, and lose it, right there in front of your five roommates and the person in the car next to you. Then you get into Cafe Rio and run to Bryan Tew for a hug, because he's the first person you see. [I apologize for ignoring you Blake, Ben, and Bradley. Next time, I'll give you a hug too.]
Sometimes, the only way to keep yourself in check is to curl up in a chair in your family room, turn on Pandora, and lose yourself in the world of Pinterest. Because you know your phone isn't going to be ringing as regularly, and no matter how many times you check it you're not going to have a text, and you don't have the mental capacity to do the homework that is staring you in the face.
Sometimes, your roommates start a scripture study group every night at 10:45, and you start the Book of Mormon over again for the fourth time this year--and no, I have yet to finish it since I moved out. We're working on that. And sometimes, this scripture study suddenly has a more profound impact on you because of all the missionaries you're saying goodbye to. So when you read 1 Nephi 3:6, "Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured," you can't help but be completely overwhelmed with not only the truth of the gospel that your best friends are teaching, but you can't contain the pride and gratitude you have. Because you know that your best friends are favored because they haven't murmured, and you know that they are going to be just fine out there.
Sometimes, the only thing that makes everything okay is the fact that this church is so true. And that makes it okay that you're not going to see some of your friends for a year and a half or two years...because you know that this gospel is worth sharing--worth sharing your friends with the world, and worth them sharing their testimonies.

[Sad story time: This morning, I woke up late and while hurrying to try and make the 7:30 shuttle, I put on mismatched socks. I was the only person on the bus, so naturally I pulled out my phone...and was halfway through a text to him about how he couldn't judge my socks...when I realized that wasn't going to work out so well. Dangit, kid. Now the rest of the world has to learn how to handle my stories. Poor things. The end. This is a happy blog.]

I guess the moral of the story is that even though today's rough, and I'm still figuring out how to spend my time...life is good.
I have some incredible roommates. They have Dr. Pepper waiting for me when I have a long day, and they know how to make me laugh. They make the gospel a priority, and are the best friends and substitute sisters a girl could ask for.
I have some incredible boys in my life. Like Bryan, who makes sure I'm doing alright every time he sees me. Or Jon, who comes over at 11:30 to see what he can do to fix my car, and promises me that he'll make sure I'm taken care of. Or Max, who talks to me until way too early in the morning some nights and is more excited than I am when I make A-Team. ["I can only freak out for so long by myself, Max!" "I'm coming, keep freaking out!!"]
I'm a lucky girl, in every aspect of my life. That's all.

   

I'm gonna miss you.

Goodbyes suck. Like cry-your-face-off, not being able to talk, and shaking hands suck...but sometimes they're for a good reason. Sending my best friends off around the world isn't what I wanted to be doing over the next six weeks, but I couldn't be more proud of them. Be prepared for some sappy stuff from here on out, but I'm a little bit emotional tonight and you get to deal with it. 

Tonight, I said goodbye to my best friend. The kid that since New Years of our sophomore year, I've hardly gone a day without talking to. He knows every single thing about me, and still loves me...and that's a whole lot to be grateful for. :) He held me together when my grandma passed away, came to my lacrosse games, and attempts to help me study biology, even though I fail. He makes me laugh harder than anybody else I know, and he's the one of two boys I know who would drop everything to change five flat tires in a matter of weeks. We've been through a lot in the last four years, and I'm not excited to face the next two with him 1,500 miles away.

And I'm going to miss him. 

I'm going to miss midnight car rides, game nights, bowling dates, and Coldstone runs. I'm going to miss that blue Mazda, vanilla air fresheners, and a million phone calls at any point in the day. I'm going to miss having a go-to flat tire changer, biology tutor, and ski-lift buddy. I'm going to miss hockey games, Aggie basketball, finding deer and Christmas light judging. I'm going to miss watching way too many NHL videos on YouTube, and the familiar CD's that he keeps in his car all the time. I'm going to have to figure out how to pop my own knuckles, drive in the dark without getting a migraine, and make my own decisions. I'm going to miss movie nights and listening to him laugh while I fall asleep on the couch in the middle of the show, yet again. I'm going to miss beating him at bowling, and wrecking his sister at Rook. (Sorry Nicole, but we're the reigning champions for the next two years.)  But most of all, I'm going to miss having someone there to call when I'm bored, have some dumb story to tell, or just need to talk. I'm going to miss knowing that someone who knows everything about me is only a phone call or an hour's drive away at most...and would drop just about anything to help me. 

But on the flip side...

I'm so excited for the people in Detroit to get to know and learn to love my best friend. I'm so excited for him to be able to serve those people, and to learn and grow as missionaries do. He's got a testimony that will change more lives than I have time to count, and a heart that loves like no one else. Detroit doesn't know what they have coming. And mainly, I'm excited because every day he's gone is one more day for me to learn and grow, and one day closer to him coming home. 

So here's to my best friend, for being everything a girl could want. I'm so grateful for him and his testimony, his example and his willingness to serve. 

I'll see ya in two, Bron. Love you.