For the bravest, best girl I know.

For those of you who don't know the other girl in this picture, I'd like to introduce you to my best friend since I was 14, Alaina Nelson. We met way back in the good 'ol days of Junior High when we were both in the very glamorous and professional school production of "Oklahoma." My family actually moved across town while we were in that play, and I walked into our new ward that sunday in a pretty sour mood. (As a 14 year old, moving was probably the worst thing I could think of. Even though it was just across town.) I knew Heavenly Father really did care about my 14-year-old life because Alaina was in that ward. I had an instant friend. :)

This girl is incredible. She has done so many amazing things with her life! Up until this past year, she has been performing with a group called the Young Americans. She has gone all over the U.S. and the world, teaching children of all ages to not only put on shows, but also instilling confidence in them by giving them a chance to do something they may not have been able to do before. I just think she's amazing, and I really am sometimes envious of the incredible things she has been able to do, and all the places she's been! What a cool life!

She has been home again for just about all of the past year, and it's the first time in 6 or 7 years we've been able see each other on a fairly regular basis instead of just keeping in touch through emails, etc. It's been so great! I've loved it! But then I ruined everything by getting a job here in Provo and moving away. :( Oh, life. :) Now she's leaving tomorrow to go to Russia for the next 5 months to go teach english, and I'm so incredibly excited for her! I am so grateful to have such an amazing friend, and to have had her in my life for so long! I love this girl from the bottom of my heart!

As a going away "present" to you, here are some of my favorite memories:

1. Jumping on the trampoline in my backyard so we could get a glimpse of the Taylor boys. (we were 14! C'mon!)
2. Walking past the Phippens' house on an almost embarrassingly regular basis (ummm...we still do that...lol...)
3. making those bbq chicken rolls...
4. watching CSI, Law & Order, and all other crime-investigation shows with your mom every chance we got. :)
5. Walking past the soccer fields at just exactly the same time the team would be out there practicing. I can still see Kyle's hair blowing in the wind. (BWAHAHAHA!!) :)
6. Chicken Quesadillas with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. (Umm...we clearly have a think for bbq and chicken...)
7. that famous sleepover at my house when Eli, Levi, and Mark "leafed" my parent's yard...AND we caught them listening to our very private girl sleep-over conversations! Scandal!
8. toilet papering the Phippen's yard promptly after chasing the boys away
9. running down the street and hiding in the Peterson's yard after we thought Bob caught us...lol!
10. Every single holiday since we graduated when I knew you would be home. :) And a million other things...you know them all as well as I do. :)
    

Now GOOD LUCK!!! I hope you find Dimitri while you're there. Also please bring back his incredibly attractive identical twin with you when you return. I'll be waiting only semi-impatiently. :)