Day 1 — Best Friend

Day 1 — Best Friend

I don't have a best friend; I have a handful of them that I trust and love. 

To start it off would have to be my husband, Zak.  When he and I met our freshman year at BYU-I, I had already been there for a semester.  I had great roommates, but I was missing my friends from home, who were in Utah or California.  Luckily, Zak and I met and things instantly clicked.  He was like my best friend Amy, but a guy.  We talked and hung out all the time and then started dating.  Unfortunately, we ended up spending about a year and a half apart (going months before a visit), but we survived because we talked all the time.  That obstacle really forced us to talk about everything under the sun and made our relationship stronger.  You know those corny stickers or signs that say 'Today I married my best friend'?  Well last August, I really did marry my best friend.  Zak has been there for me through everything these past three and a half years and I am so lucky to have him as a husband and a friend.

Next is my best friend Amy; we have been BFFS since about freshman year in high school.  The reasons I love Amy are endless: she's funny, smart, sweet, kind, patient, nerdy, and we totally have similar senses of humor and get along so well.  I have so many great memories from high school, hanging out at her place, watching Degrassi or the Discovery channel...playing Guitar Hero, Battlefront...going to movies, making food, being goofy teenagers.  The last couple years have been more challenging, as we're in different states, and our lives have changed in different ways.  But when we have the time to e-mail each other, we quickly fall back into our old routine of silliness.

Anne is another great friend of mine that I love.  She is fun and so full of energy, and is a great listener.  She got married this summer and I wish I could've been there.  She is smart and independent and is always ready with good advice.  Our senior year together (with Amy) was awesome; we went to the guys' volleyball games, including going three hours north to Chico for their tournament.  That was so much fun!  I also love our hot tub nights at Amy's place where we would sit and talk about everything.  She and the other girls were so great to talk to when I was bummed out about being away from Zak.  Anne was also crucial in my wedding last year; she styled my hair, helped with flowers the night before, and was the main photographer for us.  She was absolutely awesome with all of the wedding stuff.

Mary (Mari) is someone I just adore.  She is so kind and sweet and I just love her!  I'm so glad we became friends when she moved to CA from Brazil (I like to brag that one of my best friends is from Brazil).  And even though she graduated a year after me, Anne & Amy, we all still hung out and had the best time.  I loved the summer when Anne & Amy were in UT (we missed them a lot, though!), and Mary and I hung out all the time.  We'd watch movies at her house with her big, white, fluffy cat and eat onion dip with crackers and Diet Coke.  Or that one time we went to Rasputin's and bought 10 silly romance novels for $5.  It was awesome.  And every time I watch 'Love Actually', I think of her and wish we could be together!

One of my favorite people I met from my years at BYU-I is Sarah Grether.  She is hysterical and so creative, I wish I could be more like her!  We met in a Zoology class, and quickly found out we also had the following Art History 101 class together as well.  That year, Zak was in CT and I needed someone to talk to.  Sarah filled that spot and has since remained one of my favorite people.  That next semester, we would almost always meet up on Fridays to have lunch and talk for an hour or two.  Sarah is a great listener and I could tell she cared about what I had to say.  She is just so much fun and I love being around her, because her energy and silliness is contagious.  Plus, she is also into gypsy punk rock music or whatever and the Ukraine.  I really hope she gets to go someday!

Last but not least is my baby sissa, Jenna.  Although we are 6 years apart, we share a brain.  However, she got more of the sweetness and patience than I did, and for that I love her.  She has always been so sweet, and has been the perfect baby sister.  It's been fun/scary to watch her grow up because we share a lot, plus I am constantly trying to protect her sweet soul.  I don't like that she is 16 and driving, but she is a smart kid and I trust her.  Jenna is smart, talented and super funny.  She makes me giggle all the time, and when we're together, forget it.  We are always laughing and goofing around.  Plus, we are 'piggy sissas', because of our mutual love of the Beatles' song, 'Piggies'.  A few summers ago we were really into the Beatles, and that song made us happy, and since then, ... we just love piggies and  it's hard to explain, but it has to do with that 'sister vibe' we have.  I love being around Jenna because she is so sunshine-y and happy and I love her so much.