LIFE

A four-year-old "taught" me how to play LIFE...

...and I quote: "You get in da car, and go awound till you get to da temple where dey GIVE you a husband....dey keep them in a back room...then back to da temple where dey let you pick what kind of baby you want to take home...GAME OVER"  (If only it were that easy!)

The best friends I never had!!!

It's been three wonderful years rooming with my best friends!  Enough said!!!!!  Okay, not really, but this post could end there.

I can't believe that we've reached the goodbye stage where none of us will be rooming together at all and there's no "see you next semeter" farewells.  We're all embarking on new journeys with unexpected adventures.  Whether it's a mission or finishing school, we're not going to be the same - we're not little girls anymore.  This first picture makes me laugh.  Here, you see us the very first day we met - no one is touching and smiles are a little dim and forced.  Boy, how that changed!  Anyone who sees current pictures would think we were Siamese-quints- no beginning and no end, just one group of big smiles and laughter.  Morgan's bubble shrinked, my East-coast vocab faded, Keri's spunk intensified, Ashley's wisdom deepened, and Emily's picky-eating habits slackened.   We're not the same people 2007 started with!

Morgan started everything off by leaving us to serve the people of Puerto Rico.  Her growth is evident through her letters and weekly reports.  She is doing a wonderful job reaching out to those around her and living the simple life sans fancy accessories and her sewing machine.   

Keri followed suit by accepting a call to Guatemala.  She has always been the example of spiritual strength to me and it was the last semester of us rooming together that I learned to trust my heart and realize that I need to think of myself too, not just rely on satisfying or making others happy.  Heartache happened, but so did growth.  Her example of desire and determination made me truly even consider serving a mission.  It took those quiet, nighttime moments of time with her for me to dig deep within myself. 

Next it was my turn to step beyond myself and get ready to go to Austria.  This will be a selfish time for me to grow and develop my spiritual legs.  The decision to serve was not an easy nor quick one, but it feels great to know that there are people who need what only I can give them. 

Emily finished off the mission calls by being called to North Carolina.  She'll be a source of compassion and sass for all who come in contact with her.  Her light shines through her eyes, brighter than anywhere else I have ever seen.  That's a light I hope to get through my service and teaching.  Teaching is something I love to do and have decided upon as a career, but I've never found that perfect excitement in teaching temporal subjects like I feel when I teach the gospel.

Ashley gets to be the smartypants by staying in school and finishing her degree so she can continue to be a source of wisdom and strength to us all.  All of these girls are the best roommates I could ever ask for.  I couldn't imagine my experience at BYU to be as good if I would not have had them by my side - making fun of me and pushing me at all times.

THIS will be us when we reunite in 2012 - glowing, smiling, crying, and not easy to part (until wonderful guys come and take the spotlight of our hearts).  After a long hiatus of new experiences and growth, our return to "roommate-ness" will be wonderful.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!  These girls are the best friends I never had and I'm thankful for the years that I have been able to spend with these spiritual, emotional, and (in some cases) physical giants.