sad

Yesterday, while mom and I were on our way back from buying stuff for my class BBQ and talent show, she got a phone call.

I could hear Sydney crying...

One of her closest friends from San Marcos had passed away.  From what I understand, he had had a seizure while playing basketball during 6th period.

Mom and I headed to Syd's work.  When I went to hug her, I could feel the pain in her heart and then I was crying with her because I know what it feels like to loose a friend.  I had flashbacks of the night Robi passed away - still one of the hardest nights of my life.

I didn't know Anthony, but he was obviously loved by everyone.  Syd had the best things to say about him.  He seemed to light up Mission Hills and could get everyone to laugh.  It was heartbreaking to watch her tell Dad who loved Anthony as well.  Here is an article that a newspaper in San Diego has on him.

How blessed I am to know that there is life after death, that our Heavenly Father created the Plan of Salvation so that we could return to live with Him again.  We can take comfort knowing that Anthony, Robi, and all of our loved ones who have passed on are truly in a better place.  Though, with the peace we can find there, it doesn't mean death doesn't bring sadness.

My heart goes out to the family and friends on Anthony.  I am sorry for that hole you are feeling in your hearts.  The pain of losing someone so young and so suddenly is almost unbearable.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.

To the Sundells - I still think of your Robi everyday.  I love you guys.

my mom

I have one amazing mom.

There are no words to adequately describe her.  No words to express the love that I have for her.  She is my example.  She loves with all of her heart.  She believes and lives to show how much she believes.  She has raised four pretty great girls and one of the strongest, bravest boys in the whole world.  She fights with us - especially now.  She never complains and she has every right to.  She takes the trials with stride and gives all of us the support we are looking for.  She loves my dad and we know it.  She loves us and we are told that everyday.

Mother's Day 2011

Every other Friday, Porter goes into the hospital for chemo.  This Friday marked the start of round three.  It is hard.  You never want Fridays to come and that makes the weekdays drag on forever.  But, there is nothing like driving to the hospital after work on Friday to find your mom and dad sitting there with Porter.  He is my brother, my one, studly brother, but he is their son...their only son.  And the way they have taken this trial and kept going is not only an example to me, but to everyone who knows my parents.

Mom and Porter.

She is my best friend.

My mom is kind.  She is full of charity, always giving and never taking.  She knows each of us better than we know ourselves.  She is grateful.  She is patient.  She is tenderhearted.  Not only is she everything that is good, but she is fun.  She has taught us to enjoy life.  To dance.  To sing.  To not let tests take the fun out of life.   

Oh, and did I mention that she is beautiful!? 

She is everything I hope I can become.

it's her birthday!

I have always been accused for having "too many best friends".  It is true.  Once you have been my best friend, you will always be my best friend...but there is one girl that claims the top spot.  My mom always told me I would meet friends that would I would keep forever at BYU.  I didn't realize how true that was.  I met lots of wonderful people and made friendships that I would cherish forever, but with this lucky lady, I will not only cherish old memories, but constantly be making new ones.

I am pretty sure she is the most talked about person on my blog.  I cannot begin to express how much I love her, how much I have needed her, and how much fun we have together.

Aubrey and I were on the same floor my freshman year and I am pretty sure I terrified her just a few weeks in (maybe I put on a sailor striped booty short pajama set, leggings, and heels and walked down the hall...), but come basketball season and after a few dance parties, we realized that we had a lot in common and were actually pretty fabulous together.

Sophomore year, I didn't know who to move in with.  I finally got Liz to invite me to move in with her and a few other girls at Liberty Square.  Lucky for me, Aubrey was one of those girls.  I loved that apartment.  All of those girls have a special place in my heart.  But it really allowed Aubrey and I to become best friends.

We pretty much lived with each other the rest of our time at BYU (I say pretty much because our senior year we weren't roommates, just neighbors. And no, it wasn't because we had gotten in a fight like so many asked! That's just how it worked out).  We had so many adventures over the next three years!  Road trips.  Real Salt Lake. Urban camping in front of the Marriott.  Late night pillow talks.  Bon fires.  Mechanical bull rides.  Night up until 2:00 am on the floor of S6 working on her advertising program.  Hikes to the Y.  Slip n slides at Rock Canyon.  Boys.  Ice skating accidents (I try not to bring this one up often).  Pulling pranks.  80's Dancing.  Sporting event after sporting event (BYU has never seen two such dedicated girls).  Party throwing.  Aerobic dancing.  Talent show booty shaking. Off roading.


Now that she is in New York, we have added a whole new list to our adventures.

Along with all of that fun, we have also gone through our share of heart break and hard times.  We have experienced the death of a dear friend.  We have gone through dumb boys.  We have conquered hundreds of miles keeping us apart.

But, nothing will change our friendship.

She has just the words I need to hear.  She understands how much more fun it is to sit front row during football, basketball, and sometimes even volleyball.  She listens when I need a listener and talks when I need advice.  She has a giving heart and works hard for everything she does.  She loves the gospel and it shows in the way she lives her life.  She supports me in every aspect of my life and loves my students almost as much as I do (even though she hasn't met my current ones).

She makes me laugh, but we all know I am funnier.

I haven't seen her since October - the longest we have gone since she moved to New York.  I am going out at the end of June and I am beyond excited to spend a few days with her.

Just some stats thanks to fb - Aubrey and I have been friends since September 2006.  We have 273 friends in common and 455 known photos on fb together.

So Aubrey,

Thank you for being my best friend.  My life without you would be dull, boring, and lacking in so many ways.  I hate thinking about it.  I love our emails and gchats throughout the day.  I love that you are just a phone call away.  I love that even from across the country, we are always still on the same page.  I love how  everyone has great things to say about you.  I love the friends that we have made together.

I love to remember everything we have done and accomplished and I look forward to all that we still have coming!

I miss coming home to find you in my bed.  I miss sharing a room.  I miss getting frozen yogurt with you.  I crazy miss you with me at BYU games.  I miss hearing you laugh...ok.  I could keep saying what I miss, but this is starting to sound a little weird.  I miss you.

As always, I am struggling to come up with pictures to adequately show our relationship...It spend the whole day looking through pictures over and over and over - so here are some random goodies I found from our years of best friendship.

Love love love you!

Salem Pond

Today, we went on a field trip to Salem Pond.  This is probably my favorite field trip of the year.  Tons of life skills units all over Utah County come together for fishing, some food, and lots of fun.  This is my third year at Salem Pond and it was the first year that the weather was perfect (it is typically freezing and rainy).

The best part of this field trip is that you get to run into students/coworkers from your past.  Everyone has their eyes peeled - looking for that someone they used to know.  I am no exception.  I ran into lots of my students from last year, some friends from my program, and students that I worked with 4 years ago as an aide!  They have gotten so big.  Most of all, I wanted to see people from first year of teaching.  I got to see one of my aides, Sandy, and we talked for a few minutes.  I was so lucky to work with such wonderful people my first year.  I got to visit with my only girl from my first year.  She is still as beautiful as ever.  Her mom and grandma were there too.  I couldn't believe that they remembered me.

There was one person that I just had to see.  And he was the first one I found.  I have talked about him several times before.  My Alex.  He changed my life and if ever there was a day that I needed to see him, it was yesterday.  I told Cami and Kelsey, both who are familiar with Alex and how much he means to me, to keep a look out for him.  Within 10 minutes of being at Salem Pond, Cami said, "Tati!  Alex.  He is right there!"  I ran to him and hugged him before he had a chance to see it was me.  When I started talking to him, I could feel that familiar hug get tighter and tighter.  He didn't want to let go and maybe that brought a few tears to my eyes.  I love this boy.