Kindred Souls (vol. 1)

There are no words to accurately describe someone who has forever touched your life. I have spent the last hour working on a poem to reflect my feelings, but it is no where near adequate. I am going to attempt to write this blog, but know that it will never run deep enough to say what I feel.

Yesterday Kent and I were talking about comments made by an acquaintance who obviously doesn't really know him by the comments they made. I won't go into details, but it made me realize how valuable it is to have those friends who know you inside and out and love you all the same. As I have reflected on it with this blog in mind I have realized how full my life has been with friends. I write this first blog as a tribute to all those friends from high school and earlier who have known me so deeply and intimately that my love for them can not be put into words.

While I don't drink the only idea that makes sense to me is to toast each friend with a few words about them and the way they've touched me.

**First of all I would like to toast my longest running friend dating back to first grade. Jessica (Brown) Golding has been a friend for many years. While we haven't seen each other in years she is still there in my life being the "crazy" Jess that she is (as Kent calls her). She is one of those friends you never know what to expect from. She was the one who would always jump out and scare you and you could have a good laugh of it. She is also the friend who stuck by my side through out grade school and I have never lost track of due to efforts on both our parts. Here's to a great childhood friend, Jessie!

**Next a toast to my next truly close friend I gained over the span of this life. Chelsi (Cornelius) Ritter welcomed me when I moved into her ward at the age of thirteen. I have so many memories of Chelsi. She always inspired me with her ability to play original compositions on the piano. She is one of the sweetest people I know. With an all out love for nature and the outdoors you add to that her passionate flair for defending females against any sexist joker and you have a mere glimpse of Chelsi. Here's to a friend to always keep, Chelsi.

**This next toast is for the best bread making buddy around and his wonderful mechanically inclined wife. Chelsi's brother Ian and his wife Tia are two friends who met through me by means of Tia's cunning feminine wiles. When I met Ian I thought he was a big dork with a crush on me. I latter discovered he was just this friendly to everyone he meets, and also an amazing friend. Ian can be the manliest man I know as well as the best homemaker. He gets along with everyone and was the best primary chorister I know bringing Patrick (from Spongebob) to listen to the kids sing. Tia is my female friend most likely to do a hard mans work. She never lets being a girl mean that she can't so what the boys do. She's tough, athletic, and more willing to help with changing my husbands shock absorbers than I will ever be. She loves new people more than anyone I know. She works hard to impress them so they will accept her even though I know that all they have to do is know her and she would be accepted in an instant because of her zest for life. Here's to you two such a dynamic duo!

**I can't toast Ian without toasting the other boys who accepted me as an honorary "one of the guys." Jay, Josh, Joe, and Joey were Ian's friends who took no time becoming mine too. While they all have their separate lovable personalities they kind of impacted me as a whole group. While often times you would find them arguing with each other and Ian about which cars trumped another they also made me feel like more than just a female friend. They built up my confidence often. Whenever I was feeling down because I didn't get a lot of dates or romantic attention they would always remind me what a great girl I was and tell me how I didn't need some guy in my life. I can't recall high school without recalling how lucky I was to have these four friends. Here's to them.

**My last close friend to be made during the high school years is definitely not my least influential. In fact she is my closest friend outside of family. Rebecca Michelle (Wilcken) Kent was one friend that I was a little leery of at first. I knew Becca throughout high school, but I didn't get to know her well until our senior year. I think I was intimidated by her vast association with many popular people. Later I learned that while she knew many of them and had a lot of associates she didn't feel she had any really close friends who understood her. When she moved into our ward she and I became bosom buddies. It was even stated when we would call ourselves Besca from Marfleese and Marfleese from Besca. Becca is one of those people who never judges me or anyone else. She finds it rather frustrating when others don't like her and she knows it. In fact she is one who will go out of her way to be kind to them in hopes to open the door of friendship. Becca is someone I can laugh with over the silliest and stupidest of things. She has an amazing testimony of the gospel and she is very Christlike. She can find ways to love anyone. Here's to a friendship I KNOW will last forever. Here's to you Becca.

Here's to all my friends from those first eighteen years. There are really so many more that I could commend for their addition to helping me become who I am, but these are the few who had a great hand in shaping that person I am. I am so grateful for their friendship and their influence in my life. I am thankful to know how most are doing and I am lucky to get updates on many of the others often. How thankful I am for the good friends who helped me through high school and continue to help me now. God bless all of you in all you choose to do. I love you all.