{Roy}

So. Many of you probably know this, But I have the most amazing Best Friend in the entire world. And, guess what? We didn't know each other existed until we were 20 years old.

I spent a lot of my teenage years wondering if I was going to find that "Best Friend." You know, that one that is truly "BAE." Don't get me wrong, I have had a lot of amazing friends in Junior High and High School that I still consider my Best Friends to this day. But, being an emotional teenage girl, I never felt like I had that friend that I could always count on or that would continue to be a connected friendship even when our paths separated for any period of time. 

I often times wonder why I was so immensely blessed to meet Michaela. Have I ever shared our friendship story? My mom worked for an ear nose and throat doctor. At the time I was working at Moore's and desperate for a friend. My mom had mentioned that she worked with a girl that she thought I would get along with. Basically, our mom's set us up on a date. We went to the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo and we have been besties ever since! 

We love movies, french dip sandwiches from Moore's, the  Gospel, Supernatural, cheesecake, rodeos, Harry Potter, zoos, and deep conversations. That whole phrase "Every blonde needs a brunette best friend," or vice versa, we are the epitome of. 

We also have a slight problem with keeping our rooms clean and often need to skype while we clean so that our rooms. We also both have hulk stuffed animals and just genuinely love to be with each other. I realize that I am speaking for Michaela a little bit. But, I think that I am safe to say that she would agree.

Our friendship has been able to stay strong and solid through a lot of challenges. We lived a little ways apart and then we lived a lot of ways a part, and then we lived a little ways apart, and then we lived quite a ways apart. But this distance has never changed anything. I think it goes to prove just how much we needed each other's friendship. 

I'm sure that you all are wondering why I have entitled this post "Roy" if it is all about my girl best friend. Well. We have nicknames for each other.  Back in the day, we took an institute class from Sister Seamons. She used to always say that her favorite name was Roy and that she hoped her husband would have that name also. So I started calling her that one day. In a different class, Paul was up on the projector and the name was highlighted and bold. Since then, Michaela has called me Paul. There are times when it gets a little confusion, but for the most part we can keep each other straight. :)

There are so many reasons why Michaela is awesome. I feel like I could talk about her for hours, explaining how awesome she is, and no one would understand. It's like, have you ever tried to describe what salt tastes like? Whenever I try I can mostly describe it by what it isn't. Sometimes I feel that way about me and Michaela, she is my best friend and I do not adequately have the words to express why I hold her so dear to my heart. 

If you haven't guessed it by the pictures, Michaela served a mission for 18 months and I could not be more proud of her. She was "my missionary." She was always so strong spiritually before she left, so it was hard to imagine that she could grow any more, but she did. I have always leaned on her a little bit because she is able to live a righteous life so easily when I have struggled at times. I am so grateful to her for that. She always reminds me what is important in life, even if she isn't saying it with her words. She will always say it by her actions. 

I prayed for a friend like Michaela for a long time! And sometimes it felt like I wasn't meant to have a friend like her, or that I was asking for something that wasn't realistic. Growing up and having friends is hard! Being a friend is hard! There is so much give and take and a medium is constantly needing to be evaluated. I had a couple friendships in my past that felt like I was putting in so much effort in that dwindled away. I know that this won't happen with me and Michaela. I genuinely feel like we were supposed to meet each other. I feel like we were meant to impact each other and help each other grow into the women that we are meant to be. On a side note, as a bit of advice. If you are struggling with the same thing I struggled with for years. I can attest to the fact that you will find that friend. That person does exist. Just wait with faith and trust and it will happen, probably when you least expect it.  

I know I have spent a long time talking about this girl. But I just love her so, so much! She definitely needed a special post on my blog because she means that much to me! She is so kind, honest, faithful, loving, nerdy, funny, and genuine. She was, is, and will continue to be one of the greatest blessings in my life!

Michaela, thank you. Thank you for always helping me be my best. Thank you for loving me for who I am. Thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the tears. Thank you for the matching Spock bears. Thank you for the trips to the zoo. Thank you for remembering the Savior in all things. Thank you for the late night Pride and Prejudice or Easy A movie times. Thank you for the matching jewelry and poop emoji bean bag. 

But most importantly. Thank you for being you. 

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings! :)

{Sacrament}

One of my favorite things about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in that I have the opportunity to be perfected each week, through Jesus Christ, by taking the Sacrament. 

Unfortunately, it is also one of the parts of the Atonement that I take the most for granted. Sometimes the opportunities that are so readily accessible to me and are utilized the most often are the things I don't think about each time I use them. Driving my car for example. I don't realize how much I use my car, until it is in the shop, or completely breaks down. (Driving old cars are kinda lame. haha. Good thing I have a new one)

I am so lucky to be able to take the Sacrament every week and repent of my sins. Because I make mistakes all the time and it is truly wonderful that Jesus Christ will forgive me for all of my sins. 

I work in a Skilled Nursing Facility. As you can imagine, a lot of the people that live in my facility are really sick and need assistance to do most everything. I can only imagine how difficult asking others for help is for all of the resident's there. I try my hardest to do everything on my own without the help of others. This is one of the many thing that I can learn from the residents there, sometimes it is okay to ask for help. 

At my work we take turns working a Sunday to ensure that everything is going well over the weekend. I am lucky to live in a state where LDS services being offered at the Skilled Nursing Facility are common. So I was able to do my duties as the Manager there that weekend, and still was able to go and partake of the Sacrament. And While I was there, I (no surprise) learned something from the Residents at my facility. 

Taking the sacrament was for difficult for them. Some of them were assisted in drinking the water and needed a lot of encouragement to eat the bread.  The Sacrament is so important to them that they are willing to go to the meeting and partake of the sacrament even though it is difficult for them. And here I am, being an able body'd person, and I sometimes take that sacrament without any thought. 

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend church services while I was at work. It was definitely a blessing and a great reminder to never take such an important ordinance for granted. 

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings. :)

My {Experience} at a BYU Basketball Game

Heidee? At a BYU game? Did she get lost?

I know, it is actually kind of crazy to me that I went as well. 

Here is a little bit of background information. I dislike BYU. To avoid further questions, Here is a glimpse of my reasoning. I don't have a real reason behind this dislikery. (Yup, I just made that word up. Deal with it.) Meaning, I wasn't rejected of going to school, I have never personally known anyone that went there that was a completely awful person, and I don't think that a school having a religious prerogative is a bad thing. However,  I don't think it is right to require a student to take a religious course, regardless of their major, and then insist that they pay for the courses When you could go to any other school and take these courses for free. I don't like that there is a price difference in tuition on members vs non-members. And I also feel that those who have grown up in Utah should not be able to go.  I feel that those who have not grown up in a state that holds that level of spirit and comfort should get first, if not all, dibs. 

I also, am a little defiant by nature. (I know, shocker.) So when someone says, "Heidee, you like BYU!" and I say, "Uh, no I don't." Their response will go one of two ways. 

"What? Aren't you Mormon?" 

Or

"Heidee, that is like the symbol of our religion.""

You see my dilemma... I have been going to church for a long time, and I don't remember reading anywhere that liking BYU brought me eternal salvation, and I also thought that the symbol for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was Christ.

Weird.

Anyway, I have a friend, Sara, who loves sports more than most people I know. She sometimes gets a little crazy about Gonzaga, but that's okay. 

Here begins our real story.

Gozaga and BYU have a pretty big rivalry, from what I am told. And Gonzaga came to Utah to play basketball. Sara was dying to go, and honestly I'm up for going to any event and I am usually up for a place that gives me and excuse to Boo BYU. :) 

So, our evening started with eating at Carabas, obviously. Good Italian food is a MUST!

Then we went to the stadium. Which, is a nightmare to try and get parking, even if you are super early. 

Now, comes the actual experience.

Honestly, it was incredible how many people were there. The place was jam packed and the student section took up nearly a quarter of the stadium. Everyone knew the fight song (Which isn't hard when it consists of 9 "Raws" and a "GooooOOOOOO Cougars!") and it was kind of cool to see a college have that much support. But it also made me really, really sad. Because if people like us had chose to go to Weber State, who also has an excellent basketball team, then Weber would have the money and capabilities of being as strong as a team as Gonzaga or BYU. But, instead, people have this mentality that they need to support BYU for one reason or another. So, while there were 15,000+ people at Lavell Edwards Stadium, there were probably 1,000-2,000 at the Dee Events Center that same night. 

On top of all those sad feelings, anger was easily arose in us because of the people sitting around us. Now, don't get me wrong, We obviously were the minority of Gonzaga wearing individuals. But the fans were rude and condescending to us for the majority of the game. It almost felt like because I was a young girl wearing a Gonzaga shirt, all of the sudden my ability to have any knowledge in any subject was irrelevant.  It was frustrating to be surrounded by so many people that were so negative against any call that was made for the opposing team or against their own. It was almost as if they had never been to a basketball game before. Fouls happen and sometimes the team you are playing is better than you. Deal with it. 

In review, there were things that I loved and hated about going to the basketball game. Being at such a full stadium was cool, Carabas in only in Provo, I got to see my best friend, Michaela when I was down there, and I got to watch a decent basketball team and be a part of a history making win for Gonzaga. But, I wished that the fans were kinder, that people supported such an amazing school 60 miles north, and that a rivalry could have some class, instead of a bunch of malarkey. 

Until Next Time...

Peace & Blessings.  :)