Lets start with some memories....Sophomore Year. Klein High School. Mrs. Cox's class. Need I say more? I knew you were the "new girl" in our seminary class, but you sat across the room in that prison...I mean biology class, so we never spoke to each other there. Why didn't we talk in seminary? I don't really know. You ran track with Natalie, but it wasn't until a year later when the boys came into the picture that we really became friends. Adam and I broke up. Scott asked me to homecoming. Adam asked you to homecoming. Adam hated me for the year. Scott and I broke up. You and Adam broke up. Then we each got back together somehow and doubled to prom...yay! It was so fun getting ready with you and going together.
We graduated, had our Canyon Lake adventure (where Adam and I angrily lunged at each other across Scott's suburban--he was defending your honor/curfue) we went to college (to different schools 4 hours away) but it was when we came home back to Houston the summer after our freshman year that we truly became great friends. It wasn't about the boys anymore, it was about us. Your hair was really short and my hair was really long. Adam and you helped cut my hair to look like "waterfalls." Actually I think Adam cut it and you cringed that he was ruining my lovely long locks. It was then that I really noticed the artsy in you--that chair that you got at a garage sale and painted so cute...the cupcakes you decorated for my birthday delivered on a Mary Engelbreit tray...I loved your artsy style.
6 months later, I was joining you at BYU and enjoying taking Family Science classes with you. I remember, you, my sister in law Alayna and I in the Maeser Building in the balcony. You and Alayna would comment in class, thought provoking, while I sat there and listened and wished I had something intelligent to say. You were missing Clark from miles away and I had my own dating dramas with those brothers (one of which I married). Then you threw my Bridal shower at your home and explored many conversation topics with me:) You were there through it all and always had such sound advice for me. That is something I think about with you, always something to say that comes from a place of such assurity. You have confidence in who you are and what you know and I love that because I feel it is something I lack.
I am grateful I was able to be there on your wedding day...then the miles got the best of us. When you moved back to Houston and we both had our little ones, and I needed cute children to photograph besides my own...well that's all history. You helped boost my confidence with my photography at a time when I doubted myself.
In the past few years I have felt so much closer to you as we discuss more important issues. I feel like you are the one person that handles life most similar to me. I'm so grateful for the advice you've given me when I've been sad and for not always talking about the happy things so I can connect with you even more. You are REAL, the ups and the downs, and I appreciate that in our friendship. I feel uninhibated talking to you, and that is such a relief. I hope your 30th birthday is everything you hoped it would be. You helped make mine great and for that I'm so happy. I'm so excited to come to your home in just under 2 weeks! Love you, my friend.
Kristen Joy
